Protect your Children from High Cholesterol and Heart Disease

You worry about your children. You worry that they’ll choose the right friends or pick up bad habits at school. You work to ensure they are getting the right vitamins and minerals in their diet, that they get enough sleep at night, and that they get their homework finished. You probably have a financial plan for their future. When they get sick, you probably take steps to get them the treatment they need. Unfortunately, your child could be at risk for premature coronary heart disease and you could miss the signs. This is because children rarely get their cholesterol levels tested. You can take some steps to prevent this health risk by recognizing the common causes of high cholesterol in children and making the necessary changes in your family’s lifestyle. Click here to get more facts about this growing problem and read on to learn about the causes.

Family History

Heredity is the cause over which you have the least amount of control. However, when you’re aware of this fact, you’ll have an important tool in catching your child’s risk early. If you find that you test high in cholesterol levels, then it might pay off to switch your entire family over to a diet and exercise regimen to reduce bad cholesterol. If you are concerned about the risk to your child, contact your family’s health care professional to conduct a quick blood test for your child. If you have a family history of heart disease, this early diagnosis can be particularly important.

Foods High in Cholesterol

The second cause of high cholesterol in children is diet. If you are eating a lot of cholesterol, saturated fats, and trans fats, then your children are likely to be eating the same things. Unfortunately, this diet can lead to elevated cholesterol for each member of the family. The foods that are most commonly linked to risks of heart disease and high cholesterol are those that come from animals, such as meat and dairy products. Fast foods and some baked goods are also suspect if they are full of trans fats.

A Lack of Exercise

An active lifestyle can be very helpful in preventing high cholesterol. Simply by limiting the amount of time that your children spend on their electronic devices and encouraging outdoor, active play you can improve their health. When you combine regular exercise and physical activity with a good diet, you can avoid many of the health problems associated with elevated levels of cholesterol. Your awareness of this situation can be put to good use as you share your concerns with your children. Consider discussing the causes of high cholesterol with your health care provider to share the information in a way that doesn’t increase anxiety.

How to Decrease the Risk

As you become aware of these common causes of high cholesterol in children, you’ll be prepared to make simple changes in your diet and lifestyle to protect your health and that of your children. If you have a history of heart disease or high cholesterol, then this awareness will be particularly important.

Weston Barnes is a write and an avid reader. When he's not writing about business, marketing, health, pets, or relationships, he's immersed in his latest book.