How to Learn About Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition whereby a person has abnormally high levels of cholesterol in his blood. In this condition, LDL, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, cannot be removed from the blood. This leads to a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels, resulting in an increased risk of coronary heart disease. This condition is passed down in the autosomal dominant manner -- that is, it can be passed down if just one parent suffers from it. Some 34 million people in the United States have high cholesterol levels; that is, higher than 240mg/dL. Familial hypercholesterolemia is rarer. About 1 in 500 people are affected, a statistic that is found in most places in the world.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult your physician if members of your family have suffered from heart attacks or angina at an early age. Ask for your blood cholesterol levels to be checked. You will be asked to fast before this test. You will be physically examined. The doctor will look for tell-tale signs of abnormally high cholesterol, such as xanthomas, which are white fatty deposits around the knees, the elbows and the cornea.

• 2

  Ask to be referred for genetic testing if familial hypercholesterolemia is diagnosed or suspected. Discuss your family medical history with your physician and your genetic counsellor. Ask about any familial hypercholesterolemia support groups in your area, or online. If referred to a cardiologist, expect to have specific heart tests, which may include an angiogram or exercise electrocardiogram (ECG).

• 3

  Ask the advice of your physician on diet and lifestyle changes. Ask to see a nutritionist, as you will have to consider some major changes to your diet. You may also need to take statins to help control the cholesterol levels in your blood. Consider discussing this health issue with other of your members of your family who may also need to be tested.