Whether you are likely to have problems with cholesterol and heart disease

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition that causes extremely high cholesterol levels and increases your risk of developing early coronary artery disease (before the age of 50), having a heart attack, or having a stroke. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited form of this condition that affects about 1 in 250 people. It is caused by changes in three genes that are inherited.

Unfortunately, only about 10-20% of people with FH are aware of their condition, so genetic testing for FH may be a good idea if a family member has hypercholesterolemia or your doctor suspects you do. This will help them find out the problem and solve it as soon as possible.