# @iheartveggies on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C45T_Mvucua
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/12811098-iheartveggies-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/a7d838cbd2.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-03-24T11:34:54.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Liz Thomson | Food Blogger (@iheartveggies) — https://gondola.cc/iheartveggies

## Caption

I started a food blog in 2010 as an experiment. I went vegan for 6 months to try to lower my cholesterol. Spoiler alert: It didn’t lower my cholesterol… but I fell in love with food blogging and cooking, so I transitioned back to vegetarianism and kept blogging. 
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8 years later, just before my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). I knew that high cholesterol ran in my family and mine had always been really high, but I didn’t know there was a name for it. I also didn’t know that FH is dangerous if it’s not treated.

Thanks to the fhfoundation, I found a wonderful cardiologist who was familiar with FH and knew how to diagnose and treat it. Now I’m on much-needed cholesterol lowering medication.

It’s estimated that 1 in 250 people have FH, making it one of the most common, life-threatening family disorders. It’s also vastly underdiagnosed – only about 30% of individuals born with FH know they have it.
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This past year, I also found out that I have high lipoprotein(a). This is another important genetic factor that increases the risk for both heart disease and stroke. Even though this genetic disorder affects a lot of people, it is not included on most standard lipid panels. Knowing your Lp(a) levels is essential to understanding your risk factors and making healthy choices.
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Today, the Family Heart Foundation is raising awareness of Lp(a). If high cholesterol or heart disease runs in your family, get your numbers checked. Talk to your doctor about a lipid screening. Knowing your LDL and Lp(a) levels are essential to understanding your risk factors and making healthy choices. ❤️ Feel free to shoot me a DM if you have questions! I’m always happy to share!

#KnowFH #KnowLpa 📸 sandyswaggerjones

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 442
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- **Comments:** 31

## Tags

knowlpa, knowfh

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