Previously thought as something older people get, high cholesterol is being seen more and more in children. At the American Heart Association conference over the weekend, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute announced the release of new guidelines recommending that the screening of children for high cholesterol beginning at nine years of age. Previously, screening in young children was only recommended if they had a strong history of heart disease or high cholesterol, or if their medical history was not known.
The guidelines were developed due to previously conducted studies that suggested the damage leading up to heart disease in adults may begin as early as childhood. Their guidelines not only include recommendations on screening and management of high cholesterol in kids, but also address other medical conditions that also pose as cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
These recommendations were published in the journal, Pediatrics., on Friday.
Ways you can help to keep your child's heart healthy:
Photo credit: Nate Maxfield, istockphoto
No comments:
Post a Comment