Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)
Advocating for Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) on Capitol Hill
Familial Hypercholesterolemia causes approximately 1 in 5 heart attacks in Americans under the age of 45 and takes a heartbreaking toll on families across generations.

FH needs to be made a public health priority, to prevent the unnecessary complications and deaths of early heart disease. On January 28-29, the FH Foundation and 28 FH Advocates for Awareness from 20 states will meet with Congressional offices on Capitol Hill  to drive awareness and the urgency to identify and treat FH, the most common genetic cause of early heart disease.  

Our goal is to assure Federal lawmakers understand the financial, medical, and emotional costs of FH, and the need for government commitment and funding of FH as a public health priority.

The FH Foundation’s visit to Capitol Hill is just one of the ways we are advocating on a local, national, and global scale for FH. Lend your voice to our efforts by sharing our social media posts and newsletters, or helping us to connect with your local elected officials.
6th Annual FH Advocates for Awareness Training
A new group of volunteers have stepped up to join the Community as FH Advocates for Awareness. They will participate in a 3-day training in Arlington, VA later this month. FH Advocates for Awareness are individuals living with FH who volunteer to share their stories and increase FH awareness within the medical community and the public at large. During this inspiring three-day event, FH Advocates will learn about key policy issues, understand cutting-edge science, meet others living with FH from around the country, have face-to-face meetings with members of Congress or their staff, and strategize on how to bring FH awareness back to their communities. 
 
The FH Foundation will have over 110 trained individuals participating in national and local outreach efforts including speaking about early diagnosis and optimal management of FH at medical conferences, health fairs, community organizations, and media outlets. In addition, Advocates provide peer support, both in-person at FH Foundation events, and online through the FH Foundation’s  Familial Hypercholesterolemia Facebook discussion group .
 
Want to join us? There are multiple ways to get involved with the FH Foundation. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering and supporting our efforts, please email  info@theFHFoundation.org   or call (626) 583-4674.
Casey Walsh, FH Advocate for Awareness, recently spoke on WNYT (Albany,NY) about her FH story, the impact FH has had on her family, and why everyone needs to have their cholesterol checked.

FH Foundation co-hosted joint workshops and sessions on FH with the World Heart Federation and International Atherosclerosis Society in December in Dubai.

The AHA/ACC announced new cholesterol treatment guidelines. If you missed our highlights on what you need to know for FH, check it out.

Save the date for the 2019 FH Global Summit being held on October 20-21 in Atlanta, GA. Registration and call for poster abstracts coming soon!