Most parents probably don't think about what cholesterol means for their kids. But high levels of cholesterol are a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke, and medical research shows that cardiovascular disease has its roots in childhood. And with the dramatic increase in childhood obesity, more and more kids are at risk.
Problems associated with high cholesterol generally don't show up for years, so making the connection between kids' health and cholesterol can be difficult. But it's important to know your child's cholesterol levels, especially if there's a family history of high cholesterol or premature heart disease.
Identifying high cholesterol now will let you and your doctor work together to make changes that will lower your child's risk of developing heart disease later.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver. It's one of the lipids, or fats, the body makes and is used to form cell membranes and some hormones.
If you never ate another bowl of ice cream or another cheeseburger, your body would have enough cholesterol to run smoothly. That's because the liver makes enough for healthy body function. In fact, the liver produces about 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol a day. The rest comes from the foods we eat.
Although vegetables, fruits, and grains don't have any cholesterol, these foods from animals do:
Cholesterol doesn't move through the body on its own. It has to combine with proteins to travel through the bloodstream to where it's needed. Cholesterol and protein traveling together are called lipoproteins.
Two kinds — low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) — are the ones that most of us have heard about.
Low-density lipoproteins, or "bad cholesterol," are the primary cholesterol carriers. Too much LDL in the bloodstream can build up on the walls of the arteries that lead to the heart and the brain. This buildup forms plaque — a thick, hard substance that can cause blood vessels to become stiffer, narrower, or blocked. Plaque buildup makes it easier for blood clots to form. If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, the result can be a heart attack or stroke.
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) can also diminish blood flow to other vital organs, including the intestines or kidneys.
High-density lipoproteins, or "good cholesterol," carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's processed and sent out of the body, and might even help remove cholesterol from existing areas of plaque.
High levels of LDL increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, whereas high levels of HDL can help protect the circulatory system.
Three major factors contribute to high cholesterol levels:
Kids who are physically active, eat healthy foods, don't have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, and aren't overweight have a lower risk for high cholesterol. Your doctor will help decide when your child's cholesterol level should be checked.
Current guidelines recommend that all kids be screened for high blood lipids at least once when they're between 9 and 11 years old and again between 17 and 21.
In addition, kids 2-8 years old and 12-16 years old who are at risk for high cholesterol should be tested. Screening is recommended for kids who:
Your doctor can order a simple blood test, usually done fasting (nothing to eat or drink, except water, for 12 hours), to tell you if your child's cholesterol is too high. When screening healthy kids without risk factors, a non-fasting blood test can be used.
According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, the ranges of total and LDL cholesterol for kids and teens 2-18 years old are:
|Category||Total cholesterol (mg/dL)||LDL cholesterol, (mg/dL)|
|Acceptable||Less than 170||Less than 110|
|High||200 or greater||130 or greater|
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter
Children with LDL cholesterol levels 130 mg/dL or greater should receive individual nutritional counseling that focuses on reducing dietary fat and cholesterol and increasing physical activity. They should be tested again after 3 to 6 months of lifestyle intervention.
Medication might be considered for kids 10 and older with LDL cholesterol levels of 190 mg/dL or higher if changes in diet and exercise haven't worked. For kids with additional risk factors, treatment may be considered at even lower levels.
Here are 10 ways to help keep your family's cholesterol at healthy levels:
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: July 2013
|National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI provides the public with educational resources relating to the treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases as well as sleep disorders.|
|American Heart Association This group is dedicated to providing education and information on fighting heart disease and stroke. Contact the American Heart Association at: American Heart Association|
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231
|Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Offering nutrition information, resources, and access to registered dietitians.|
|American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP is committed to the health and well-being of infants, adolescents, and young adults. The website offers news articles and tips on health for families.|
|ChooseMyPlate.gov ChooseMyPlate.gov provides practical information on how to follow the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It includes resources and tools to help families lead healthier lives.|
|Figuring Out Food Labels Find out how to make healthy food choices for your family by reading food labels.|
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|Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a signal that someone could be on the road to serious health problems. Find out more about it in this article for teens.|
|Figuring Out Fat and Calories From all you hear, you'd think fat and calories are really bad for you, but we all need a certain amount of them in our diets. Find out the truth about fat and calories.|
|Learning About Fats How much fat should be in your daily diet? Find out in this article for kids.|
|Heart Disease Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, mainly affects older people. Find out more in this article for kids.|
|What Is Cholesterol? Before you start chomping on those cheese fries or that greasy burger, you might want to take a closer look at whether you're getting too much cholesterol.|
|What's Cholesterol? Chances are, you've heard about cholesterol a lot lately, but you might be wondering what it is. Here's your chance to get the lowdown in our article just for kids.|
|When Being Overweight Is a Health Problem A couple of pounds of extra body fat are not a health risk for most people. But when people are severely overweight, it can cause health problems.|
|Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that put kids at risk for heart disease and diabetes. With lifestyle changes, however, many kids are able to improve their health and reduce their risk of disease.|
|Long-Term Complications of Diabetes Talking or thinking about the long-term complications associated with diabetes can be scary for parents and kids. But being aware of diabetes complications can help prevent them.|
|Blood Test: Lipid Panel Results from a lipid panel enable your doctor to evaluate the levels of different kinds of fats in your child's blood.|
|Healthy Eating Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow up healthy. Here's how to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits.|
|Your Child's Weight "What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple one, but it's not always easy to answer.|
|High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) High blood pressure, or hypertension, is usually associated with older people. But some kids do have it, and it can be life-threatening if left untreated.|
|Figuring Out Food Labels The food label on a food package is a lot like the table of contents in a book - it tells you exactly what the food contains. Read our article for kids for more about food labels.|
|Food Labels Look at any packaged food and you'll see the food label. This nutrition facts label gives the lowdown on everything from calories to cholesterol. Read more about food labels.|
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