Even then, my doctors couldn't believe I had heart disease. But a heart catheterization, a kind of imaging procedure, revealed that four of my arteries were 90% blocked. Over the next 2 weeks I had five stents (or tubes) put in my arteries.
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Cholesterol Home Test Kits
Do you know that you can check your cholesterol level at home? Cholesterol home test kits are available to use between appointments with your health care provider.WebMD explores the use of cholesterol home test kits and discusses their reliability. Read on to learn whether using a cholesterol home test kit might be right for you.
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As it turns out, I have familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder that results in a dangerous buildup of LDL, the so-called "bad" cholesterol. The disorder often isn't diagnosed until a person has an early heart attack or stroke. I learned that my son Christian, now 14 and a super-fit kid, also has FH and could have a stroke or heart attack as early as his late teens.
Fortunately, he takes a low-dose statin, which lowers cholesterol levels and helps protect against heart disease. My body reacts badly to statins, so I am enrolled in a clinical trial of a drug that helps the body remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Today I am convinced I was allowed to live because I may be a little person, but I have a great big voice. I write and do public speaking about FH all over the country. I use FH to be bigger and happier, so my children see and hear the joy that comes with giving.
Tips on Children's Cholesterol
Ask for a cholesterol test for your child. The American Pediatric Association recommends testing all children between the ages of 9 and 11. A baby is born with FH every 5 minutes.
Ask for a genetic test or a cholesterol test for yourself if members of your family have had heart attacks when they seemed healthy. A very high LDL level, plus a family history of early heart disease, means you may have FH.
Live a heart-healthy life. Diet and exercise aren't enough to lower cholesterol if you have FH. But eating healthy foods and exercising have other heart-health benefits, help control weight, build strength and endurance, and prevent other diseases.