Stress, Heart Health, and High CholesterolI remember learning about "eustress versus distress" in middle school, and since then, I have easily been able to differentiate between the 2 in my own life. "Eustress" is the...reactionscomments
How Having a Stroke Affected My MindThe mind is a powerful thing. We use it to think, make decisions, learn, and even recall memories. I never thought my mind would be affected by having not 1...reactionscomments
My Statin Intolerance Journey: Not Every Patient Fits the MoldSeveral years after my myocardial infarction (heart attack) in 2001, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and had high triglycerides. My primary care doctor (PCP) put me on Lipitor for...reactionscomments
Prioritizing Heart Health While TravelingLiving with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) hasn’t stopped me from exploring the world, but it has made me more intentional about how I travel. Over the years, I’ve learned how to...reactionscomments
Overcoming Mental Hurdles of AnemiaEditor’s Note: This article was written by Josh Samudre and originally appeared on our partner site InflammatoryBowelDisease.net. Unpredictability reigns supreme in my experience with chronic illness. Each success in managing...reactionscomments
Foods That Help With Iron Deficiency AnemiaEditor’s Note: This article was written by Elizabeth Alvarez and originally appeared on our partner site InflammatoryBowelDisease.net. Since I was a child, I've always struggled with slight anemia. I remember...reactionscomments
Iron Infusion Life HackEditor’s Note: This article was written by Elizabeth Alvarez and originally appeared on our partner site InflammatoryBowelDisease.net. Lately, I have been struggling with iron deficiency anemia, and have been prescribed...reactionscomments
What to Expect: Iron InfusionsEditor’s Note: This article was written by Elizabeth Alvarez and originally appeared on our partner site InflammatoryBowelDisease.net. Iron deficiency anemia is something I've experienced as a comorbidity to my other...reactionscomments
How Heart Disease Changed the Way I EatWhen I was diagnosed with a form of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, I never thought it would change the way I ate. It was a shock at first when...reactionscomments
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My DiagnosisIn 2014, I was diagnosed with a form of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy. This is when the ventricles become enlarged and can no longer pump blood efficiently. Before the...reactions1comment
Exercise, Heart Health, and FHFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that causes abnormally high levels of cholesterol. This elevation significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Most people who...reactionscomments
My Second Pulmonary EmbolismIt happened about a year and a half after my first one. Thankfully (?), I had the experience to know what was happening, so it didn’t turn into a massive...reactionscomments
What It Means for Me to Still Be StandingWhen 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 —...reactionscomments
The Invisibility of FHOn 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...reactionscomments
Myths and Misconceptions About Heart DiseaseThere 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...reactionscomments
My Stroke Rehabilitation ExperienceWhen 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...reactions3comments
Comorbidities of Statin IntoleranceSome people with high cholesterol are prescribed statins to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. However, some people experience side effects from their statin medicine. This is known...reactionscomments
Being Resilient and AcceptingMost 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...reactionscomments
Treatment Options for People With Statin IntoleranceStatins are medicines that help lower cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Doctors prescribe statins to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by preventing the development...reactionscomments
Living With a Statin IntoleranceMany people take statin drugs to lower their cholesterol. Statins help prevent heart attacks and strokes. But some people cannot tolerate these medicines due to side effects like muscle pain...reactionscomments
