Common Symptoms of Familial Hypercholesterolemia

When you experience high cholesterol in young age, it could be for a few reasons, many of which are serious health conditions that you should address sooner rather than later. For instance, high cholesterol could be indicative of familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition where the liver’s ability to filter out harmful cholesterol is compromised. Left untreated, it could result in heart disease in ages as young as twenty. Early signs of familial hypercholesterolemia are varied, but if caught early, could save your life.

High Levels of LDL Cholesterol

There are two different types of cholesterol in your body. High-density lipoproteins are typically known as the good kind of cholesterol. Their main function is to carry cholesterol to the liver where it is then filtered, processed and removed from the body. Low-density lipoproteins, however, are the bad kinds of cholesterol that can build up and clog your arteries. Too many low-density lipoproteins are what boost your cholesterol number and put you at risk for heart disease and other health conditions. If you’re experiencing high cholesterol in young age, this could be a major indicator of a more serious problem.

No Improvement With Lifestyle Changes

Because familial hypercholesterolemia is genetic, you won’t see any noticeable change in your cholesterol levels even if you change your diet, begin exercising more or control your weight. The only thing that is going to improve your levels if you have this condition is medication and careful monitoring of any changes. This is not to suggest that you shouldn’t be making these lifestyle changes. Even if you do have a genetic cholesterol deficiency, putting less strain on the heart will help keep it running efficiently.

Family History of Condition

When you’re young, you might not have a broad understanding of your family’s health problems, but if you have high cholesterol, it might be worth a discussion with your parents and extended family to see if they struggle with it as well. Ask about heart attacks, heart disease or other cardiovascular events. If there is a genetic predisposition, the chances of you also having the condition are strong. Make sure you share with your doctor your family’s history. This might make it easier for him or her to positively diagnose and treat familial hypercholesterolemia.

Physical Symptoms

Be on the lookout for various physical symptoms that appear when something is wrong with your body. Pay special attention to what are called cholesterol deposits. These typically occur around your knuckles, elbows, knees or Achilles tendons. You might even notice puffy spots underneath your eyes that are not usually there. When your body is storing too much cholesterol, it only has so many places to put it, so it ends up depositing it in pockets all over the body. Additionally, you might notice orange, yellow or white areas around the colored part of your eye. Get regular eye exams to monitor any changes or new developments.

See the Doctor

If you have high cholesterol in young age, be sure to get it checked out right away. Your doctor will be able to tell you if it’s genetic or something that can be fixed with lifestyle changes and recommend medication or treatments.

For more information visit at: https://thefhfoundation.org/high-cholesterol-indicate-something-serious/