Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common life-threatening genetic condition that causes high cholesterol. Untreated, FH leads to early heart attacks and heart disease.
What is the life expectancy of someone with familial hypercholesterolemia?
A: Without treatment, the life expectancy of those with familial hypercholesterolemia can be reduced by approximately 15-30 years. However, in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the life expectancy may only be 20 years or less .
Can you die from familial hypercholesterolemia?
Risk of death varies among people with familial hypercholesterolemia. If you inherit two copies of the defective gene, you have a poorer outcome. That type of familial hypercholesterolemia does not respond well to treatment and may cause an early heart attack.
Can familial hypercholesterolemia kill you?
Homozygotic FH is found in 1 in 1 million Americans and kills even sooner . “Approximately half of untreated [heterozygote] males will have had a heart attack by 45.
Is familial high cholesterol dangerous?
It stems from an inherited error that can send harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol into the stratosphere. This often undetected condition, called familial hypercholesterolemia, can cause an early heart attack, stroke, or premature death .
Is familial hypercholesterolemia a heart condition?
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 250 people and increases the likelihood of having coronary heart disease at a younger age.
What are the symptoms of familial hypercholesterolemia?
- Chest pain (angina)
- Coronary artery disease.
- Fatty deposits around the body (xanthomas)
- Cholesterol deposits on the eyelid (xanthelasmas)
- Sores on the toes that do not heal.
Can I live a long life with FH?
FH has no cure, but it’s treatable. Life expectancy with FH is lower without treatment , but the sooner you receive a correct diagnosis and start medication, the better your outlook and life expectancy. FH is inherited from one or both of your parents and requires treatment with medication to lower your LDL cholesterol.
How long do you have to have high cholesterol before it causes damage?
The longer you have high cholesterol, the more likely you are to develop heart disease. In one study, people who had high levels for 11 years or more had double the risk than those who had them for 10 years or less. Most people with high cholesterol don’t have any warning signs.
What is dangerously high cholesterol?
Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high .
What are the warning signs of high cholesterol?
- angina, chest pain.
- nausea.
- extreme fatigue.
- shortness of breath.
- pain in the neck, jaw, upper abdomen, or back.
- numbness or coldness in your extremities.
How can I lower my cholesterol quickly?
- Green tea. Green tea contains catechins and other antioxidant compounds that seem to help lower “bad” LDL and total cholesterol levels. ...
- Soy milk. Soy is low in saturated fat. ...
- Oat drinks. ...
- Tomato juice. ...
- Berry smoothies. ...
- Drinks containing sterols and stanols. ...
- Cocoa drinks. ...
- Plant milk smoothies.
Can inherited cholesterol be lowered?
Medication – very few people with familial hypercholesterolaemia
Is familial hypercholesterolemia a disability?
Individuals whose high cholesterol is the result of a genetic disorder , known as Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), are much more likely to suffer from aggressive, early-onset heart disease that can lead to premature disability or death.Is Hypercholesterolemia Hereditary?
What can FH lead to?
Having FH greatly increases the risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other vascular conditions . Untreated individuals with FH have a 20-fold increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).
Is hypercholesterolemia the same as high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol can increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, and other problems. The medical term for high blood cholesterol is lipid disorder , hyperlipidemia, or hypercholesterolemia.
