Familial Hypercholesterolemia Essay

Familial Hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder, which means that it is a disorder that is carried on from someone's biological paternal and/or maternal link, that causes low-density lipoprotein to increase. Lipoprotein – abbreviated LDL – is known as the bad cholesterol that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Taken from its roots, it means that it is a genetically active disorder that leads to the elevated levels of cholesterol in the human body. This disorder affects about 1 in 500 people and cause a sudden and fast increase in total cholesterol levels, as well as many biochemical problems in the body. People who are diagnosed with and have Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) carry a risk that is twenty times greater than an average person to have heart disease. However, factors such as eliminating smoking, controlling your weight, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of heart palpitations and related problems. In addition, FH can be classified into two separate disorders: Monogenic and Polygenic, both vary in terms of causes and biochemical findings but for the …show more content…
This can be done by limiting the intake of foods full of saturated fats, trans fats, dietary cholesterol and replacing those foods with fiber-rich foods, protein-rich plant foods, taking supplements, in addition to losing excess weight. Simply, to manage and treat Familial Hypercholesterolemia, one must change their diet, exercise, and in some cases begin drug therapy (intake cholesterol-lowering medications). Certain drugs can include a statin (obstructing the job of the enzyme responsible for producing unneeded cholesterol), a cholesterol absorber (self explanatory, it works in the intestien to decrease cholesterol absorption in the human body), and even a bile acid sequestrant (same function as a cholesterol