I was seven years old when my dad had his first heart attack.  At just 37 years old it was very young for someone who had a healthy lifestyle to suffer a major heart attack.

My dad’s event made our family aware of high cholesterol however we were never informed coronary vascular disease at a young age could be caused by anything other than diet and lifestyle. 

I had my cholesterol tested in my 30’s and it was slightly elevated but as a young woman the doctor wasn’t overly concerned.  There was no link drawn between what happened to my father in his 30’s and my elevated cholesterol in my 30’s.

Years go by and thankfully an informed GP reviewed my continually elevated cholesterol levels and questioned why they were elevated.  The GP took my family history and this together with my elevated cholesterol referred me to a specialist in lipids for further investigation. A blood test looking for genetic variants determined I have FH.  Finally our whole family had an answer to our high cholesterol and dad’s heart attack at a young age.  I was found to have Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) a genetic disorder that if untreated can significantly lessen your life expectancy. 

I was so lucky to be diagnosed quite young.  When my cholesterol levels came back high several times I should have been screened further.  I wasn’t as I was a young woman, and the belief was young women don’t ordinarily have heart attacks.  I now know I have significantly higher risk of heart disease at a younger age.  Thankfully treatment and management have me well cared for and monitored.  As they say, you can manage what you know.