How do you treat familial hypercholesterolemia?

With familial hypercholesterolemia, your doctor likely will also recommend that you take medication to help lower your LDL cholesterol levels. The specific medication or medications depend on various factors, including your risk factors, your age, your current health and possible side effects.

How to lower familial cholesterol?

Human studies have shown that garlic, turmeric and ginger are especially effective at lowering cholesterol when eaten regularly (, , ). In fact, eating just one garlic clove per day for three months is enough to lower total cholesterol by 9% ().

How do I know if I have familial hypercholesterolemia?

Having a high cholesterol level doesn’t make you feel ill.

The most important feature is the development of heart disease at a young age.

Xanthomas – fatty cholesterol-rich deposits in the skin,usually found around the elbows,knees,buttocks and tendons.

Xanthelasma – fatty deposits in the eyelids.

Does familial hypercholesterolemia have a cure?

It’s a serious condition. Without treatment, men with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia can get heart disease in their 40s, and women can get it in their 50s. There’s no cure, so you’ll need to take drugs and follow a heart-healthy diet throughout your life.

How to get tested for familial hypercholesterolemia?

Diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia is based on physical examination and laboratory testing. Physical examination may find xanthomas and xanthelasmas (skin lesions caused by cholesterol rich lipoprotein deposits), and cholesterol deposits in the eye called corneal arcus.

How is familial hypercholesterolemia treated or cured?

There is no cure for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the most severe form of FH.