How Is Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia Diagnosed? Diagnosis And Treatment

Hyperlipidemia is a condition in which people have high cholesterol. It means the blood contains many lipids (fats) in it. High cholesterol will increase the chances of a heart attack. what is  Familial Hyperlipidemia?

Symptoms Of Familial Hyperlipidemia 

Usually, the condition is an inherited genetic disorder present from birth, and it causes high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It is also known as bad cholesterol. Due to this genetic disorder, the high LDL level prevents the body from removing LDL cholesterol from the blood. This increased LDL cholesterol level can further lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries, and it is a type of condition known as atherosclerosis. It can cause a heart attack and sudden death of the patient. 

Familial hyperlipidemia is a progressive disease, so initially, the symptoms can’t be identified. But with the time when the health is not well, it shows some signs like:

• Sores on the toes which is not heal
• Chest pain
• Cholesterol is collected on the eyelids
• Coronary artery diseases
• Fat increases in the body.

Diagnosis

The patient who suffers from familial hyperlipidemia is confirmed through a lipid test. It is usually taken in the morning when the stomach is empty, and if the test shows a high lipid level, it is confirmed. In the beginning, you can’t see any physical symptoms, but if all people have the problem of heart disease in your family, you should do a test. The test is usually conducted by taking blood samples.

However, the test will show some results that indicate you may have familial hyperlipidemia:

• Lower than average HDL cholesterol level
• Higher levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B100

Before the test, you should ask the doctor what you should follow, like if you are taking any medicine or supplements that you should take or not. The doctors may conduct a carotid ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for checkups. It helps them predict the heart condition and risk of a future heart attack.

Treatment For Familial Hyperlipidemia 

The purpose of the treatment is to prevent the risk of atherosclerotic disease. One option to avoid this is to make changes in your daily life routine.

👉Lifestyle Changes 

The foremost step is to change what you eat. People will try different diet plans to control the cholesterol level before the doctor starts the medicine. Diet changes include reducing the quantity of saturated fat and refined sugar. Some of the changes you make are:

• Consume less chicken, beef, and lamb
• Limiting egg yolks and organ meats
• Substitute low-fat food from total fat
• Avoid cookies and baked products

However, weight loss and physical exercise also help reduce the body’s cholesterol level. 

👉Medicines 

If you don’t see any difference in your cholesterol level by adopting healthy lifestyle changes, you are at high risk for atherosclerotic heart diseases and then doctor-prescribed medicines. Various types of drugs are available in the market that helps reduce cholesterol level. The medication work by lowering LDL cholesterol levels and achieves healthy lipid levels. 

The practical and used medicines that treat high LDL cholesterol are called statins. The medicines are: lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pitivastatin (Livalo).

👉Prevention

People should consume that food which is low in cholesterol and saturated fat. It may help to control LDL levels in people at high risk. If your family is suffering from this condition, you should be careful. Sometimes the younger children may suffer from hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion

Those who do not treat this familial hyperlipidemia on time may have double the risk of developing coronary heart diseases as those with mild cholesterol levels. Coronary disease will increase the chances of stroke, heart attack, and other significant health-related issues.