Category: News

🍎 🥑 🫛Have you heard of plant sterols? Plant sterols (or phytosterols, phytostanols), are compounds naturally found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrains. Plant sterols act similarly to cholesterol lowering medications like Ezetimibe, by blocking cholesterol absorption in the gut. Research has shown that intake of 2-3 grams per day of plant sterols can…

If so, we’d love to hear from you 👇 Researchers from UNSW Sydney are seeking parents and caregivers to share their experiences and perspectives on:🧪 Possible changes to Australia’s newborn screening programs🤝 The best ways to support parents and families Am I eligible?You can take part if you are a parent/caregiver of a child under…

📢 Are you living with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) or caring for someone who does? Researchers from The University of Sydney are conducting interviews to understand people’s experiences with FH care in Australia. 🕐 About 1 hour online (Teams or Zoom, English or Mandarin) 💳 $25 digital gift card as thanks 📝 To take part, please…

I’m a huge fan of patients being at the centre of their own care, and the more you learn about your condition and how it’s treated, the more you can make good decisions in conjunction with your clinical team! But there’s a lot of really unreliable information on the internet, so just be careful about…

Expanded PBS access to PCSK9 inhibitors may offer new options for people with FH. For people living with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), lowering LDL-cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) is essential to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. While diet and lifestyle changes are important, most people with FH need medication to reach safe cholesterol levels.  In…

A lipid panel, or lipid profile, is a blood test that measures the amount of fat molecules called lipids in your blood. These substances are important for your body to function, but when they are at unhealthy levels, they can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke by causing plaque to build up in…

Inherited 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.…

Genetic 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),…

Visit our pop-up stalls in Perth and Sydney this FH Awareness Week for a free heart health snapshot, quick cholesterol test and have your cholesterol questions, including family history of high cholesterol answered. Perth Tuesday 23 – 9am – 12pmFiona Stanley Hospital Wednesday 24 – 9am-12pm St John of God Midland Thursday 25 – 8am –…