FITNESS fan and healthy eater Emma Print is the last person you would expect to suffer from high cholesterol but until less than a year ago she was a ticking time bomb who could have suffered a heart attack at any time.

Mrs Print, 38, from Devizes suffers from familial hypercholesterolaemia but did not realise she was at risk until her mother died from a heart attack aged 66.

She was persuaded to have a test for the disease, which is an inherited form of exceptionally high cholesterol levels, by her GP at St James' Surgery in Devizes and last week she took part in a day of action organised by HEART UK at the House of Commons to raise awareness.

Mrs Print said: "I knew that I might be at risk of FH but I was concerned about the possibility of paying a premium on my mortgage, life and travel insurance.

"After I was diagnosed with FH, the doctors doubled my dose of statins and I have an annual blood test to ensure nothing has changed. Getting diagnosed is really important as there is a 50 per cent chance of me passing it on. FH has little to do with your body size or your lifestyle. I am a personal trainer and eat healthily, it can affect anyone.

"Once you are diagnosed and treated, you can continue to live a normal life. The support available through HEART UK and the lipid clinics is invaluable. Unfortunately awareness of the condition is generally poor in Britain. After receiving a high cholesterol result from a routine test in Italy during my twenties, I was refused a test in the UK because of my age, sex and weight. It took the death of my mother for my test to be approved."

On Tuesday she joined more than 30 other sufferers at a reception in Port Cullis House where they spoke to their local MPs to urge them to push for more testing for the disease.

Devizes MP Claire Perry was not able to attend but Mrs Print spoke to other MPs and found the day worthwhile. She said: "It was a real chance for us to raise awareness and get the message across about the importance of testing." Around one third of patients with FH have no symptoms until sudden cardiac death.

HEART UK is calling for the government to develop a screening programme to improve the identification and diagnosis of people with FH.

HEART UK chief executive officer Jules Payne said: “It’s a tragedy that the diagnosis of FH is so poor, putting men, women and children with FH at risk of early heart attacks and strokes. If diagnosed and treated people with FH and high cholesterol, can live as long as those without the condition.”