High Cholesterol at a Young Age - A Risk You Don't Think About!

When you hear the word "cholesterol," what comes to mind? Most of the time, it's a disease that affects older people and those who are a little overweight, right? But you might be surprised to learn that even a young person, in their 20s, can have a serious heart attack. In fact, high cholesterol levels at a young age are more serious than we think, and many people don't know about it. Today, we're going to talk about this unexpected, but very important topic.

Brandon Wilson had his first heart attack when he was 29 years old. One day, he felt severe chest pain. His mother and best friend rushed him to the hospital's emergency room (ETU). But at first, doctors couldn't believe that someone so young could have a heart attack. Later, tests revealed that Brandon had a 99% blockage in one of the main blood vessels supplying blood to his heart. He had a hereditary condition called high cholesterol. This story shows us that cholesterol is not just a matter of age.

What is cholesterol? Why is it important for young people?

Simply put, cholesterol is a type of fat that is essential for the growth of cells in our body and the production of certain hormones. But problems arise when there is too much of it.

When we talk about cholesterol, we're talking about two main types, right?

• LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol: This is what we call "bad" cholesterol. When it increases, it can build up on the walls of our blood vessels, narrowing and blocking them. This is the main cause of diseases like heart attack and stroke.
• HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol: This is what we call "good" cholesterol. This is because it carries excess bad cholesterol from the blood vessels to the liver and removes it from the body. So, having high HDL levels is good for the heart.

Many young people think that they have to worry about cholesterol when they get older. But that's a big mistake. The main problem is that even if your cholesterol levels are high, they may not show any symptoms when you're young. That means you could be doing a lot of damage from the inside without any problems.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)

Usually, cholesterol increases due to lifestyle mistakes such as the food we eat and lack of exercise. However, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, or FH for short, is a different condition.

It is estimated that about one in every 250 people in the world has FH. But the sad thing is, the majority of these people are unaware that they have the condition.

When should you check your cholesterol level?

This is a very important question, because there are no symptoms, and this can only be detected by testing.

Doctors usually recommend:

• For children: The first test is recommended between the ages of 9 and 11. After that, checkups are done about every 5 years. However, if someone in the family has had heart attacks at a young age or has high cholesterol, the doctor may recommend checking your child's cholesterol levels as early as 2 years old .
• For young adults: It's a good idea to get your cholesterol checked at least every 5 years after age 20. As you get older (after age 55 for women, after age 45 for men), these tests should be done more frequently.

If you have FH, is lifestyle changes alone not enough?

This is the biggest difference between FH and normal cholesterol levels. Remember Brandon's story we told you about earlier? He was diagnosed with FH when he was 8 years old. From that time on, his mother fed him a healthy, low-cholesterol diet. He played sports, was active. He did everything "right." In his 20s, a doctor put him on a cholesterol-lowering drug (a statin).

But even so, he had a heart attack at the age of 29.

What does this mean?

A good diet and exercise are extremely important for someone with FH. But those things alone can never control cholesterol levels. Because the problem is not in lifestyle, but in genes. Therefore, a person with FH will definitely have to take one or more cholesterol-lowering medications for the rest of their life .

Could I have FH too? How do I know?

If someone in your family (parents, siblings, grandparents) has had a heart attack or stroke at a young age (men under 55, women under 65) , that is a major risk factor.

Also, if your cholesterol test report shows LDL levels above 190 mg/dL (or above 160 mg/dL in a child), it could be a strong sign of FH.

If you think you are at risk, there are a few things you can do:

1. See a doctor immediately: Be clear about your family's health history with your doctor.

2. Ask your family: Ask your relatives about cholesterol and heart disease.

3. Refer to a specialist: If necessary, your doctor will refer you to a cardiologist.

4. Inform your family: If you are diagnosed with FH, there is a 50% chance that your parents, siblings, and children will also have it. Therefore, it is extremely important to get everyone tested .

Brandon now lives happily with his five children. His daughter has also been diagnosed with FH. But Brandon says, "I know my daughter won't have any problems." Because now they know what the disease is and what to do about it. Early detection and proper treatment can save a life.