Advocacy for individuals and families with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Our vision
Is to spread awareness of the diagnosis "Familial Hypercholesterolemia".
Our mission
Is to provide a general guide to both patient and general practitioners.
Why is early diagnosis so important?
If this genetic condition is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can increase the risk of developing premature coronary heart disease (CHD) due to elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. High levels of LDL in the blood leads to accumulation of plaque in the coronary arteries at earlier stages in life.
Studies have shown that the risk of having a heart attack is up to 20 times higher in people with untreated FH.
Frequently asked questions
Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited defect in how the body recycles LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. People with FH are born with high LDL cholesterol. Everyone's cholesterol levels tend to rise with age. But those with FH have LDL levels that start high and get higher over time.
High level of “bad” cholesterol levels increases the risk of coronary artery disease leading to heart attack and death. Although elevated levels of “bad” cholesterol in our blood are commonly due to bad lifestyle choices. In some individuals, it may be due to their genetic composition, which is not influenced by lifestyle choices or aging.
It is considered as "bad" cholesterol due to its tendency to accumulate in the walls of blood vessels, increasing the risk of health issues such as heart attacks or strokes.
Statistically, 1 in every 300 Australians are known to have familial hypercholesterol, meaning in Australia there are about 100,000 people, and 20,000 of these are children.
Did you know...
Early diagnosis and treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia can delay or prevent cardiovascular disease and early death.