What All Parents Should Know About Their Children’s Heart Health
Most people think that heart problems are one of those older people things. In reality, however, everybody, regardless of age, can be affected by heart disease. In fact, even some babies are born with inherited heart issues. In the meantime, the number of kids who have obesity in the U.S. and worldwide continues to rise.
Likewise, being overweight or obese could likewise increase a child’s risk of developing heart problems later on. Fortunately, there are various steps parents and children can take to safeguard their heart health now and in the future.
The Problem with Obesity, High Cholesterol, and High Blood Pressure in Children
Extremely high cholesterol levels can negatively impact the heart health of children. Some kids who have high cholesterol have a hereditary condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. For kids who have this condition, a genetic mutation leads to LDL or bad cholesterol buildup, which increases their risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a heart attack at a younger age.
Because of this, experts recommend that all children between the ages of nine and 11 must undergo a fasting lipid profile test, whether they’re susceptible to heart problems or not. This test measures all cholesterol levels — both the HDL, which is the good cholesterol and LDL, the bad cholesterol — as well as triglycerides. But children with a family history of stroke and heart attack should be screened even earlier by their local cardiology professional in Beaver.
Aside from genes, high cholesterols levels are likewise linked to childhood obesity. In the U.S., approximately one in three kids is obese or overweight. Because of this, more and more kids are now being diagnosed with health issues that were not previously observed until adulthood, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
An Important Note on Congenital Heart Defects
Approximately 35,000 babies in the U.S. are born with heart defects annually. Some of these defects are fairly simple and won’t require treatment, while others are more serious and will need prompt treatment. But even kids with serious heart issues can live a normal and active life due to medical advancements in the field of cardiology.
Top Tips to Protect Your Child’s Heart Health
You and your children can take some fairly simple steps daily to minimize their risk of developing heart problems and safeguard their overall health. Below are the basics:
- Eat more veggies, fruits, nuts, whole grains, fiber-rich foods, and lean meat.
- Limit sugar, salt, and fat consumption.
- Engage in an hour of physical activity daily to maintain your weight.
- Don’t smoke.
- Visit your doctor regularly for checkups and screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
- Learn about your family’s health history to see what you can do now to ensure your heart health.
The main thing to keep in mind that your kids must start practicing good health habits as early as possible so they won’t need to break whatever bad habits they developed now in the future. You need to set a good example to your kids to ensure that their heart-healthy habits will last their whole life.