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HowToPreventHeartDisease.com |
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Can One Born With High Cholesterol? Cholesterol is carried through the blood, attached to proteins. This combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein carries. The most common quoted ones are low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is the so-called bad cholesterol that builds up in the walls of the arteries, making them hard and narrow. HDL, or good cholesterol, picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver. Although human body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, high levels of LDL cholesterol can raise the risk of heart disease. High LDL cholesterol causes fatty deposits to be developed in the blood vessels. These deposits will grow and make it difficult for sufficient amount of blood to flow through the arteries. These deposits can sometimes break and form a clot that triggers a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is often the result of unhealthy lifestyle such as poor diet consisting of saturated fat, trans fat; lack of exercise; and smoking. Aging, obesity and diabetes can cause cholesterol to raise, too. High cholesterol can, however, be inherited. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited defect that makes it harder for the body to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood. It occurs because of a genetic defect on chromosome 19.
If one inherited FH from one parent, there is a 50
percent chance that he or she will pass it to the children. If both of the
parents passed the FH trait to their child, this child’s children will
definitely have FH. That is why it is vital to get children with a family
history tested at an early age and begin cholesterol-reducing treatment for
those with FH.
For people with FH, the risk of premature heart disease (chest pain, heart attacks, strokes) is increased by up to 20 times over people without the condition. Compared to people with average LDL cholesterol levels, people with FH have a 5 times higher risk for coronary heart disease over a 30-year span. Men with FH may get coronary heart disease up to 20 years earlier. Half of men with untreated FH will have a heart attack or angina before they turn 50. For some, it will be as early as their 20s. In women, coronary heart disease appears up to 30 years earlier. 30 percent of untreated women will have a heart attack before they turn 60. These increased risks are independent of other risk factors, which can make things worse. The good news is, once diagnosed, FH is treatable with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Some people with FH may have physical symptoms. One symptom is lumps forming under the skin. These fatty deposits, called xanthomas, are noticeable around tendons in the hands, knees, Achilles tendons and elbows. People with FH can also develop cholesterol deposits in unusual places, such as around the eyes. Sometimes an ophthalmologist may spot signs of cholesterol deposits in the eyes. For people without physical symptoms, FH can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and a reported family history of early cardiovascular disease. Genetic testing can be used to confirm if doctor suspects its presence. Treatments, including medications and healthy lifestyle behaviors, can help achieve a healthy cholesterol level and prevent premature heart attacks and strokes. However, people with FH could eat an extremely low-fat diet and still not be able to control their cholesterol because they are genetically unable to handle it.
Luckily, there are medications that can
substantially lower LDL cholesterol levels. The most common treatment for FH is
statin drug therapy. Statin drugs work by blocking an enzyme that produces
cholesterol in the liver and increases the body’s ability to remove cholesterol
from the blood. They can lower the LDL cholesterol levels by 50 percent or more.
Statins have been safely used to reduce the risk of heart disease for 30 years
and continue to be the excellent option in helping people with FH. Other
treatment options include medications that block cholesterol from being absorbed
from the intestines into the bloodstream, or drugs that block an enzyme called
PCSK9, which reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Date: July 10, 2020
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