Who is affected by hypercholesterolemia

You can lower the amount of cholesterol you eat by eliminating egg yolks and organ meats such as liver. It may help to talk to a dietitian who can give you advice about changing your eating habits.

Weight loss and regular exercise may also help lower your cholesterol level. If lifestyle changes do not change your cholesterol level, your provider may recommend that you take medicines. There are several types of drugs available to help lower blood cholesterol level, and they work in different ways. Some are better at lowering LDL cholesterol, some are good at lowering triglycerides, while others help raise HDL cholesterol.

Many people will be on several medicines. Statin drugs are commonly used and are very effective. These drugs help lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. People with a severe form of the disorder may need a treatment called apheresis. Blood or plasma is removed from the body. Special filters remove the extra LDL cholesterol, and the blood plasma is then returned to the body.

How well you do depends on how closely you follow your provider's treatment advice. Making diet changes, exercising, and taking your medicines correctly can lower cholesterol level. These changes can help delay a heart attack, especially for people with a milder form of the disorder. Men and women with familial hypercholesterolemia typically are at increased risk of early heart attacks. Risk of death varies among people with familial hypercholesterolemia. If you inherit two copies of the defective gene, you have a poorer outcome.

Goldman L, et al. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Elsevier; My cholesterol guide. American Heart Association. Bonow RO, et al. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Rosenson RS, et al.

Management of low density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Rosenson RS. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering with drugs other than statins and PCSK9 inhibitors.

Tibuakuu M, et al. American College of Cardiology. De Ferranti SD, et al. Dyslipidemia in children: Management. Cholesterol management at a glance. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. When you have FH, early detection of high cholesterol levels is key to getting the treatment that can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition to family history of early cardiovascular problems, you may also notice lumps forming under your skin.

These fatty deposits are called xanthomas, and are particularly noticeable around tendons in the hands, knees, Achilles tendons and elbows, and under the skin around your eyes. Sometimes an ophthalmologist may spot signs of cholesterol deposits in your eyes as well.

Whether or not you have obvious signs of high cholesterol, you should get checked if heart disease runs in your family. Talk to your family doctor about your concerns; a simple blood test is all it takes to see if your cholesterol levels are in the healthy range. A high cholesterol level at a young age is a particular red flag that you may have FH.

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