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How dangerous is hypercholesterolemia?
With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.
Is hypercholesterolemia curable?
Hyperlipidemia is treatable, but it’s often a life-long condition. You’ll need to watch what you eat and also exercise regularly. You might need to take a prescription medication, too. The goal is to lower the harmful cholesterol levels.
Does hypercholesterolemia affect the brain?
Most people think of heart disease when they hear the words “high cholesterol,” but your brain’s health may also be at stake. The evidence is still limited, but studies show that high levels of cholesterol may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia.
Can I live a long life with FH?
FH has no cure, but it’s treatable. Life expectancy with FH is lower without treatment, but the sooner you receive a correct diagnosis and start medication, the better your outlook and life expectancy. FH is inherited from one or both of your parents and requires treatment with medication to lower your LDL cholesterol.
Is hypercholesterolemia the same as high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol can increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, and other problems. The medical term for high blood cholesterol is lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia, or hypercholesterolemia.
How bad is 300 cholesterol?
An ideal total cholesterol level ranges from 140 to 200mg/dl. When it reaches 300, the risk of having a heart attack more than doubles.
Why is hypercholesterolemia bad?
Familial hypercholesterolemia affects the way the body processes cholesterol. As a result, people with familial hypercholesterolemia have a higher risk of heart disease and a greater risk of early heart attack. The genetic changes that cause familial hypercholesterolemia are inherited.
How does high blood cholesterol affect you emotionally?
When people have high cholesterol, the walls of their arteries experience changes. Sometimes, these changes make the arteries less elastic, so the blood vessels are less able to open up in response to stress.
Can high cholesterol affect your memory?
Studies Find Low HDL or High LDL Raises Memory Loss Risk A study in 2002, published in the Archives of Neurology, found that women with high levels of LDL had increased degrees of cognitive impairment, including memory loss.
Why can FH not be cured?
It’s caused by a genetic mutation that means your liver is unable to remove excess ‘bad’ cholesterol, known as LDL. This means the LDL level in your blood remains high. Having FH means you’re at a greater risk of getting heart and circulatory disease at an early age if it’s left untreated.
How long can you live with hypercholesterolemia?
A: Without treatment, the life expectancy of those with familial hypercholesterolemia can be reduced by approximately 15-30 years. However, in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the life expectancy may only be 20 years or less.
Is hypercholesterolemia a disability?
According to the CDC, more than 73 million Americans have high cholesterol and therefore have double the risk of developing heart disease. Despite the risks high cholesterol carries, the condition alone is not enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.