Familial Hypercholesterolemia

An inherited disorder that increases a person’s risk for high cholesterol

People with familial cholesterolemia have a genetic mutation that changes how the body processes cholesterol. This can increase your risk of atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, and heart disease at a young age.

The gene mutation is passed on from parent to child. If one parent has familial hypercholesterolemia, each child has a 50 percent risk of having the disorder. If both parents have the genetic mutation, their child may have a more severe form of the disorder.