Articles

When I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2014, I didn’t know my life would change so drastically. The impact it has had on my life is beyond belief —...

On the outside, I look like a healthy, 30-something-year-old — fit, energetic, active. But on the inside, there’s a constant, invisible weight I carry. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) isn’t something people...

There are many misconceptions about heart disease, but the fact of the matter is it can be an invisible disease — meaning that we don’t look sick, and most of...

When I had a stroke and was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, I didn’t know what kind of twists and turns I would have to go through. When I had the...

Most people think of cholesterol as a number they can change with diet or exercise, but those of us with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) know it’s not so simple. This genetic...

When I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy after suffering a stroke, I thought it was because I was pushing myself too hard. I used to compete in fitness competitions, and...

When I was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), it was a lot to take in. Knowing I had a genetic condition that put me at high risk for heart disease...

Receiving a diagnosis can be shocking and very difficult to deal with. Like most people, we all have plans and goals that we want to reach and are currently working...

The holidays are such a fun and festive time — but, let’s be real, they’re also bittersweet when you’re dealing with a chronic health condition like familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). There’s...

Every day I wake up, I realize that I’m blessed, because I have beaten everything meant to destroy me. Life is a gift and is one of those things where...

I have a minor surgery coming up in a couple of weeks, and I’m going through the steps of getting ready for it. Some of those steps relate to being...

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a type of heart disease that affects the coronary arteries. These are arteries that supply blood to the heart. CAD is usually caused by atherosclerosis...

Living with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) has always been a journey of highs and lows, but I am currently in a season of being unmedicated, and it feels particularly raw. FH...

I honestly don’t remember much about the days following my discharge from the ICU. As vivid as the days leading up to — and being admitted into — the ICU...

The holidays are a season to be with family, friends, and loved ones. It is a joyous season filled with fun and tradition. It is a time when strangers become...

Coronary angiography, also called coronary angiogram, is a test used to see how the blood flows near the heart. It can be used to diagnose heart problems like coronary artery...

My first pulmonary embolism was pretty significant, and it needed to be addressed as soon as possible. After receiving the official diagnosis of PE, I was given a few options...

Living with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a unique challenge, not just because of the physical condition itself, but because of the emotional weight it carries. For me, FH isn’t just...

As anyone with a chronic illness will tell you, new symptoms pop up all the time. A random joint pain here, a new palpitation there; it can all feel rather...

As we embark on the holidays, I start to think about everyone who is in the hospital for cardiovascular disease. Not only cardiovascular disease, but other diseases as well. When...