September 20th is FH Awareness Day. So you ask yourself; what does this mean to you and your loved ones? FH, or Familial Hypercholesterolemia, is a genetic cholesterol disorder that leads to premature vascular disease. In the most severe circumstances, very young children can experience life-threatening heart attacks and strokes. Typically however, the disease does not wreak havoc until people reach their 40s and 50s. FH is not as rare as you might imagine. It occurs in one out of every 500 people, but in some populations – like French Canadians and South African Ashkenazi Jews – the number can be as high as one in 67! To make matters worse, the disorder often goes undetected.
In an attempt to thwart the dire consequences of FH, organizations like the National Lipid Association, the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, and the FH Foundation are working hard to raise awareness. September 20th was therefore established as National FH Awareness Day. These organizations – and I personally – encourage you to speak to your doctor to see whether you harbor this silent threat. If you do, don’t be afraid; treatment is available for you and your family. Remember, as a genetic disease FH can impact all members of your immediate and even extended family. Consequently all relatives of a single FH patient should be screened with simple cholesterol tests. Please don’t procrastinate. See your doctor soon to be sure you do not have FH.
