Month: October 2025
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Fay’s Story
Read More: Fay’s StoryIt was the 1990s and cholesterol was everywhere in heart news. I didn’t want to know about it. I was tucking into Camembert cheese, pastries, butter, and big fat steaks. Besides, I was a female in my 20s, a non-smoker and in good health; cholesterol didn’t apply to me. Or maybe it did? My family has…
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Inherited Cholesterol and Heart Scans
Read More: Inherited Cholesterol and Heart ScansInherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or high lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. These conditions may lead to early plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, even in people who feel well. In some cases, non-invasive scans can help to provide a personalised picture of risk and guide treatment decisions.…
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Brian’s Story
Read More: Brian’s StoryLp(a) awareness saves lives. I first discovered I had high cholesterol at the age of 17. It came about by chance, after routine blood tests for an unrelated issue revealed unusually high levels for someone my age. My doctor kept a close eye on me over the years and, while my cholesterol remained on the…
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Genetics 101 for FH
Read More: Genetics 101 for FHGenetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) starts by sequencing specific genes in the person first diagnosed (called the proband or index case). The key genes tested are LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9. Instead of using the word “mutation,” we now use “variant” to describe any change in a gene. Since we inherit two copies of each gene (one from each parent),…