by Ray Fauteux

Created on: August 05, 2007

Yes, of course your cholesterol levels can be too low. There are two distinct types of cholesterol and they are very much different from one another. One type should be lowered if it's too high, and another type should be raised if it's too low.

When your doctor sends you for a blood test, he will be able to find out what your total cholesterol level is.

However, treatment decisions are decided by the individual levels of LDL(Low density lipoprotein), the 'bad ' cholesterol and HDL(High density lipoprotein), which is beneficial.

Testing for total cholesterol and HDL can be done at anytime, but LDL blood tests require a 12 hour fasting period for more accurate results.

If your LDL is high, the doctor will decide on the course of treatment to bring it down to acceptable levels. Treatment will be based on many factors. Such as the possibility of heart problems being hereditary, your diet, and perhaps your physical fitness.

Treatment could range from a diet that will help reduce LDL cholesterol or possibly prescription drugs. Sometimes a doctor will combine the two as the treatment.

High bad cholesterol is not the only source of concern when it comes to matters concerning the possibility of heart disease.

HDL is the good cholesterol and higher readings are beneficial and considered a negative risk factor for congenital heart disease.

However, this reading can be too low, and steps may be taken by your doctor to raise the HDL levels. This is especially likely if one has a history of heart disease.

So yes, cholesterol levels can be too low, and by raising your HDL, you are actually helping lower your 'bad' cholesterol.

When HDL molecules pass through the liver and travel through your arteries, they actually "scrape" the walls of the arteries and remover 'bad' cholesterol. This in turn helps prevent hardening of the arteries, that could result in a possible stroke or heart attack.

It's for this reason that just as much attention has to be paid to low HDL cholesterol readings, as is paid to high LDL.

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