I Knew I Had High Cholesterol—But I Thought I Had Time
By Gigi Campos
I was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia when I was five years old. My cholesterol was always dangerously high—sometimes over 380—but I thought I had time. My mom had it too, and she never had a heart attack. I figured I’d be okay like her.
At 36, I had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest. I was on a low-dose statin and trying to manage it, but my LDL was still at 399. Doctors didn’t think it was my heart because I was “too young” and “only 120 pounds” but I knew something was wrong and advocated for myself. Recovery came with emotional and physical challenges. I dealt with brain fog, medication side effects, and questions about how treatment might impact my ability to have children someday. But with therapy, support from a peer support group and AHA, and starting a second-line cholesterol-lowering medication, my LDL dropped into the 30s. I finally felt hopeful.
If you have a family history or high numbers, don’t wait. Don’t assume you’re safe just because nothing’s happened yet. Get your cholesterol checked, speak up for yourself and know you’re not alone. There’s help and there’s hope.
For more information on this topic, visit www.heart.org.
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