familial hypercholesterolemia

[Thinny]

Yeah, I've got it. No, it's not catching, just heritable. Several years ago, it was so high, along with my tri's, that my doctor almost had a stroke. Unfortunately, I did. I stayed on a lowfat diet for another 3 years, but finally abandoned it when my cholesterol continued to rise. In the fall of 2000, I started on Atkins, and got an absolutely horrible cholesterol test. The next one was even higher, taken 3 months later. But my tri's had started dropping; so I resisted my new medico's efforts to put me on any drugs, and kept going. Today, 65 lbs lighter, my cholesterol overall is still higher, my triglycerides are normal, my HDL has gone way up, and my LDL has gone up somewhat.
Nor will I take Lipitor, since it gives me severe leg pains. I am a perfect candidate for fatal drug interaction (rhabdomyalysis) ; so I'll take my chances with high cholesterol, thanks. :D

[Sheldon]

What exactly is the definition of familial hypercholesterolemia?

Sheldon

[Sheldon]

To answer my own question (drawing on Uffe Ravnskov's The Cholesterol Myths (http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm)), FC afflicts less than 1 percent of the population. Those who suffer it have cholesterol readings of over 350. It's a genetic condition in which a person cannot metabolize cholesterol because of too few receptors (or a lack of receptors) in his cells. Thus the person cannot move cholesterol from his blood to his cells. It is completely different from mere elevated cholesterol, and the clogged arteries look different from non-FC artereosclerosis.

Sheldon