Is Your High Cholesterol Genetic?
You may remember Gina Torres as a spy in Alias or as a paramedic in 9-1-1: Lone Star, but she also recently starred in a commercial about high cholesterol.
Both her parents have high LDL levels, and while she jokes it’s due to their Cuban-based diet, it poses an interesting question: Could Torres have high cholesterol, too?
According to the CDC, 86 million Americans have cholesterol levels above the recommended 200 mg/dL. That reading includes both types—low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
LDL is the “bad” cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup and increase heart disease risks. HDL is the “good” cholesterol. It’s made naturally by your body and helps remove LDL cholesterol from your bloodstream.
High LDL levels are often caused by being overweight, a diet high in salt and saturated fats, a sedentary lifestyle, pre-existing conditions and age (it’s more common in those 40 to 59). However, genetics also can play a role.
What’s encouraging is that we can now test for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder that causes high LDL levels that often exceed 190 mg/dL. This condition affects 1 in 311 people, but 90% of those with it remain undiagnosed.
If you have a family history of high cholesterol or have immediate family members who had a heart attack at a young age (55 or younger for men and 65 or younger for women), you might want to talk to your provider about being tested specifically for FH in addition to standard cholesterol panels.
If you have familial hypercholesterolemia, your doctor may recommend multiple medications, as statins aren’t always enough to lower the LDL levels of someone with FH. Your children should also be tested if you have FH, as they have a 50% chance of inheriting it. And if both parents have it, your children can develop a rare but serious form of the disease where LDL readings can be as high as 1000 mg/dL.
However, no matter the cause of your high cholesterol, you can lower LDL levels by:
Losing weight.
Losing as little as 5 to 10 pounds can reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 10%.
Eating a heart-healthy diet.
One study reported that following a Mediterranean diet for eight to 12 weeks reduced LDL levels by up to 10%.
Exercising regularly.
At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity every week can lower LDL and blood pressure levels while increasing HDL levels.
By quitting smoking and limiting alcohol.
Both raise LDL and triglycerides (fats) in the body.
Low-risk adults 20 and older should schedule cholesterol screenings with their healthcare provider every four to six years. If you are high-risk or have FH, your provider may encourage more frequent checks to determine your 10-year heart attack or stroke risk.
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