Just found out an interesting fact about my low cholesterol levels!
I knew it was from thallassemia, and that thallassemia was supposed to be some protective mechanism against malaria, but I never knew how.
Well, new research suggests that one of the way mosquitoes are attracted to you is the amount of cholesterol in your skin, and if you have low cholesterol in your blood there is low cholesterol in your skin. Bingo!
Mosquitoes also target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, such as uric acid. These substances can trigger mosquitoes' sense of smell. Mosquitoes can smell their dinner from a distance of up to 50 meters. This is also bad news for people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.
Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer adults to small children. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide. Movement and heat also attract mosquitoes.