Heart Disease

Heart attacks or strokes always happen unexpectedly and more often than not, unnecesarily. There is a type of high cholesterol that is inherited, called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia. Heart attacks can occur at a very young age in those individuals with this condition. Most people, however, in families with inherited high cholesterol, do not even know that they are at high risk. The good news is that prevention of ongoing heart disease is perfectly possible. A healthy lifestyle in combination with the right medicine keeps your heart healthy for many more years!

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Risk Factors

Coronary heart disease (CHD) manifests itself in two main forms; angina and heart attack, and is the major cause of death in most developed countries. Its development is influenced by a number of risk factors. Coronary heart disease is more likely with increasing age, in men rather than in women (before the menopause) or if close relatives have suffered CHD early in life. These risk factors cannot be changed but there are other risk factors that can be modified.
 
The main modifiable risk factors for CHD are:

• Elevated blood cholesterol level
• High triglyceride level with low HDL
• Elevated blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Inactivity
• Excessive alcohol
• Excessive stress

When several such risk factors exist together, the risk of CHD is much increased. It is not enough to consider just one risk factor. All aspects of diet and lifestyle should be kept under review.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is essential for life and present throughout the body. It is abundant in the brain, nervous tissue, skin and adrenal glands. The body produces its own supply of cholesterol, mainly in the liver. It is also present in foods of animal origin, such as eggs, meat and dairy products.

Too much cholesterol is dangerous. As cholesterol levels rise so does the risk of heart attack! The current European Guidelines state that everybody's total cholesterol level should be 5 mmol/l or below. If, however you have been told you are at higher risk, it should be 4 mmol/l or below.

What is Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)?

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) occurs in about 1 person in every 500 and is one of the most frequently occurring inherited conditions. It is caused by an abnormal gene resulting in exceptionally high cholesterol levels, usually between 8 and 12 mmol/l but sometimes is excess of 20mmol/l. High cholesterol levels start from birth and are present throughout life. People with FH are at high risk of early coronary heart disease (CHD). Many people with FH go undetected with tragic consequences. People with FH may be disabled or die from CHD early in life, often in their 40s or 50s, sometimes earlier.

FH is a genetic problem and can be passed from parent to child. Each family member has an even chance of inheriting the problem (like tossing a coin). Whenever FH is diagnosed, it is essential that all close relatives have their cholesterol levels measured so they too can start preventative treatments.

Treatment for high cholesterol and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

Diet is an essential element for the treatment and management of high cholesterol. If you have Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), medication is generally also necessary. There are several cholesterol lowering drugs available on prescription that are effective in treating the condition. It is important to maintain a heart healthy diet and lifestyle, even when prescribed medication, as the two complement each other. There are currently plant sterol and stanol products that can be used in the healthy diet to help improve cholesterol lowering. These products work by blocking cholesterol absorption in the gut and can lower LDL cholesterol by up to 14%.