High cholesterol symptoms: Three signs you could have familial hypercholesterolemia

High cholesterol: Nutritionist reveals top prevention tips

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Good cholesterol is called high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

This type of cholesterol absorbs bad cholesterol and carries it to the liver to flush it out of the body.

Bad cholesterol is known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

LDL cholesterol lines the walls of your arteries and is the type of cholesterol that can increase your risk of heart disease.

The condition will be present from the moment a person is born rather than developing later on.

As a result, those with this cholesterol condition will have a higher risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a heart attack.

Symptoms of the condition start in childhood; if the condition isn’t treated then the person born with the condition will likely die before the age of 20.

For this time pertinent reason, knowing the symptoms, present in the skin, eyes and tendons, is crucial.

With regard to symptoms, familial hypercholesterolemia, will exhibit itself in cholesterol deposits.

When it comes to the skin, these deposits are most often found on the hands, elbows and knees.

As mentioned, familial hypercholesterolemia deposits can also be found in the tendons.

Specifically, the Achilles tendon, which will grow larger in size, and the tendons in the hands.

The third symptom area is the eyes.

In cases of familial hypercholesterolemia this can cause the corneal arcus.

This is a white or grey ring around the iris of the eye.

Fortunately, there are treatments available to people with this condition, mainly through medication.

Statins, Ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors are all medicines designed to lower a patient’s level of LDL cholesterol and treat familial hypercholesterolemia.

Other conditions include undergoing a procedure that filters the excess cholesterol from the person’s blood.

Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating a healthy and balanced diet, regular exercise and quitting smoking are also recommended both to patients who do and don’t have familial hypercholesterolemia.

For more information about how to have healthy cholesterol levels contact the NHS or consult with your GP.

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