health sectionhealth sectionHigh cholesterol affects both men and women; however it has a tendency to affect men earlier, typically beginning while they are under the age of 55. On average, women don't begin suffering from high cholesterol until they are over the age of 55. For a variety of reasons, cholesterol levels affect men and women differently, and because of these differences, the treatment plan used to decrease cholesterol levels in women also is different.
High cholesterol and its associated health risks have become a major health concern among women. Women are more susceptible to developing high cholesterol during times of pregnancy and menopause but, unlike many medical conditions, high cholesterol does not exhibit any visible symptoms in women. Because of this, cholesterol levels should be frequently monitored by your doctor.
High testosterone in women can be caused by disease in the adrenal glands or ovaries, tumors in the pituitary gland or use of hormone therapies or anabolic steroids. Women with high testosterone levels may develop characteristics usually associated with men and may be at increased risk of diseases more common in men such as heart disease before menopause. Treatments for high testosterone in women can reduce or prevent negative health effects.
Cholesterol is a lipid compound that is necessary for the body but can be dangerous to the heart and arteries when cholesterol levels in the blood are too high. Cholesterol is usually divided into two types: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is considered bad cholesterol, since it is the primary cause of blockages of arteries which leads to heart disease, while HDL is considered good cholesterol, since it facilitates the breakdown of LDL. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, those with high cholesterol are well advised to take steps to reduce cholesterol.
