Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) also known as mixed hyperlipidemia is a genetic disorder causing high cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids in the blood. It can contribute to heart disease and early heart attacks. Hyperlipidemia is treatable, but it’s often a life-long condition. You’ll need to watch what you eat and exercise regularly. You might need to take a prescription medication, too.
Causes
The exact cause of familial combined hyperlipidemia is unknown, as scientists have not yet identified the gene responsible. Cholesterol a waxy substance is a type of fat your body makes. It can also come from what you eat.
Foods with cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can raise your blood cholesterol level. These include:
Cheese
Egg yolks
Fried and processed foods
Ice cream
Pastries
Red meat
Don’t exercise much? That can lead to putting on extra pounds, which can raise your cholesterol. As you get older, your cholesterol levels often creep up too.
Hyperlipidemia can run in families. People who inherit the condition can get very high cholesterol. That means they have a much greater chance of having a heart attack, even when they’re younger.
Risk factors
People inherit familial combined hyperlipidemia. Having this type of hyperlipidemia can push your lipid levels even higher if you also have conditions such as:
Hypothyroidism
Obesity
Alcohol use disorder
The high lipid levels from mixed hyperlipidemia and underlying health problems might increase your risk of:
Coronary heart disease
Peripheral vascular disease
Stroke
Diagnosis
Your doctor should check your lipid levels regularly. It is a blood test called a lipoprotein panel. The results show the levels of:
LDL cholesterol:
The bad cholesterol that builds up inside your arteries
HDL cholesterol:
The good cholesterol that lowers your risk for heart disease
Triglycerides:
Another type of fat in your blood
Total cholesterol:
A combination of the other three numbers
The American Heart Association recommends that adults 20 and older have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. You may have to fast 9 to 12 hours before the test.
Total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or more is out of the normal range. Your doctor will consider things like your age, whether you smoke, and whether a close family member has heart problems to decide whether your specific test numbers are high and what to do about them. To learn more about FUPA see this article.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes that can lower cholesterol include a healthy diet, weight loss, and exercise. You should:
Choose foods low in trans fats and saturated fats.
Eat more fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, apples, bananas, pears, prunes, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and lima beans.
Have fish twice a week
Avoid surgery drinks and added sugars
Avoid fried and processed meat
If you have any questions about mixed hyperlipidemia ask your doctor or pharmacist.
