How To Lower Cholesterol - Premature Heart Disease In Children

The sad fact today is there is a rising trend of children with cholesterol problem, we may not like it, but we have to face this fact. According to some studies, many children are considered in the group of high risk premature coronary heart disease and some of them are suffering from high cholesterol at a much younger age then before. As a guide, health care professional do not check children's cholesterol levels routinely.

Cholesterol build up in the arteries can lead to either heart attack, stroke or both, depending on where the arteries are in the body. The American Heart Association states that there is research finding to support cholesterol buildup starts in early childhood.

The perfect time to introduce and intervene with healthy life style changes are childhood. These will provide healthier habits for the rest of their life.

Apparently, children who are in the high risk group are those who have family history of high cholesterol or heart disease and who are overweight.

The American Heart Association has a scientific position that, "elevated cholesterol levels early in life may play a role in the development of adult atherosclerosis and that lowering levels in children and adolescents may be beneficial".

Children absorb their dietary cholesterol from food such as poultry, red meat, egg yolks, seafood and full cream dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream

There are contributing factors when it comes to kids and cholesterol risk:

If their diet contain lots of fats, especially so for saturated fats. Example are baked products and snacks.

A family history of parents who have high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol

Children who are obese and lack active exercise.

- Children or teens who smokes, have high blood pressure or type 1 diabetes.

Should you have a child that is active, has a healthy diet that doesn't consist of eating an abundance of baked goods or snack items, and does not have a parental history of risky cholesterol levels and is not overweight; than you have little to worry about regarding cholesterol levels and early heart disease.

Kids who are 2 years and above who are exposed to known risk factors should be screened for blood cholesterol levels. The following are the risks:

Has at least one parent with a total cholesterol blood level of 240 mg/dL or higher

Has a parent or grandparent with a history of early heart disease (before age 55)

If there is any family history that is "unknown"

The child is overweight or is clinically obese

A simple blood test can determine what your child's cholesterol levels are. The acceptable total cholesterol level for children ages 2 - 19 are less than 170 mg/dL. Borderline total cholesterol levels are from 170 - 199 mg/dL. High levels are those that are 200 mg/dL or higher.

By: Meng

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