RE: Q: familial hypercholesterolemia

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

A comment about familial hypercholesterolemia.

This is a term that is thrown around quite a bit. " Familial

hypercholesterolemia " is quite different from high cholesterol that has a

tendency to run in the family due to diet, lifestyle, family history, etc. I

hear students and doctors use the term quite loosely. Familial

hypercholesterolemia is actually a very severe form of hypercholesterolemia

that is due to a specific genetic mutation which results in either a 50%

(heterozygous) or 100% (homozygous) reduction in LDL receptors in addition

to excessive cholesterol synthesis. Homozygotes may have cholesterol up to 6

times normal and MIs may happen even in early childhood.

This condition is of particular interest to me b/c I have a close friend

whose father died when he was 37 of an MI and when checked, she and her

brother (pre-teen at the time) both had EXTREMELY high cholesterol. I

believe hers never gets below 275 or so and that's with daily aerobic

exercise and a pristine diet (she has avoided meds so far). Her brother runs

closer to 450 or even higher unless he stays on meds.

So, when someone throws out " familial cholesterolemia " , I always identify

what that means. If it is true FH, then I will consider closely whether they

need medication. If they are not fully committed to changing their health

and lifestyle, they may die without meds. This disease is the reason the

statins were developed (they suppress intracellular cholesterol synthesis

and thereby allow an increase in the number of LDL receptors). I hate to say

it, but I think this is one condition that may warrant meds while we begin

with BTGs and miasmic work.

--Deirdre

Dr. Deirdre Orceyre

Naturopathic Physician, Licensed Acupuncturist

Second Year Resident Physician

National College of Naturopathic Medicine

2220 SW 1st Avenue

Portland, OR 97201

503.552.1855

drorceyre@...