High Cholesterol In Children
You can fight high cholesterol in children with a healthy lifestyle. A good diet and exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol.
High cholesterol is also known as hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia. It is a disorder that can be exacerbated by genetics, but it is usually due to a poor diet.
The risk of cardiovascular disease increases. It is believed that in Sweden only a fraction of cases are discovered and therefore many do not receive the treatment they need. In any case, it is clear that high cholesterol levels have ceased to be just an adult problem and now affect younger people as well.
Cholesterol is a fat (a lipid) that the body needs to produce hormones and cell membranes. It is made in the liver and transported by the blood.
There are three types of cholesterol:
- High density lipoprotein (HDL). This is also known as the good cholesterol.
- The bad cholesterol is low density lipoprotein (LDL).
- Total cholesterol is the combination of both.
The process
HDL collects cholesterol from tissues and carries it to the liver. When your body gets more fat than it needs, the levels of LDL increase.
When there is an excess of LDL, it carries an increased risk of harming your body. Why? Because you then suffer a greater risk of suffering from diseases, especially heart disease and stroke.
- Cholesterol should stay below 110 mg / dl.
- HDL should be higher than 45 mg / dl.
- Total cholesterol should be lower than 170 mg / dl.
- Triglycerides should be below 90 for children aged 10 and up.
Risk factors
Diet, obesity and genetics are three factors that affect and increase hypercholesterolemia. Usually, the main cause is poor nutrition.
Fatty foods with low nutritional value contribute to high cholesterol in children. Red meat and carbohydrates are also contributing factors. Eating too many burgers, too much sweets and drinking too much soda is therefore also harmful.
On the contrary, there is no bad cholesterol in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains such as rice. You can actually eat them several times a day. Fish is one of the healthiest alternatives.
Genetics contribute to high cholesterol
Most children with high cholesterol have one or two parents who also have it. And if you have other inherited diseases, such as diabetes or obesity, you should test your blood.
Obesity
Obesity is one of the reasons why cholesterol levels have risen in children. A sedentary lifestyle also increases children’s risk of high cholesterol.
Other diseases
If you have a kidney or liver disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Kawasaki disease or diabetes, it is even more important for you to live a healthy lifestyle and consult your doctor regularly to check your values.
Between the ages of 9 and 11 (and then between 17 and 21), many people do not think about cholesterol levels. If your child has risk factors, this should be the first thing you think about.
High cholesterol affects the heart and brain the most
An excess of LDL in the blood builds up in the walls of the arteries that go to the heart and brain. The plaques that form harden and clog the blood vessels. It increases the risk of blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
The importance of a healthy diet
A healthy diet, free of saturated fat, is important in preventing and counteracting high cholesterol in children.
The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish, olive oil and seeds are an important part of this diet. Vegetables, legumes, grains and fruits also play a big role.
We recommend that you use low-fat alternatives when making sauces and desserts, for example. This is as important as choosing a minimum of milk, lean meat and fish. Avoid excessive intake of sugar and whole products as well as red meat.
Exercise and exercise against high cholesterol
It is important to avoid a sedentary lifestyle at all costs. Walking, swimming, cycling or light running increase the good cholesterol and reduce the bad. It also lowers triglyceride levels.
One hour of activity per day is recommended for children over 5 years. Video games or television should not be the only “activities” that children do in their free time every day. They need to spend time out in the fresh air. They must be allowed to run, play and enjoy leisure activities.
Proper treatment of high cholesterol
You can medicate a child with high cholesterol from the time he or she is ten years old and after talking to a doctor. First, it is recommended that you switch to a healthy diet for 6 months, but if that does not work, you will need to take other measures.
When the harmful cholesterol (LDL) is above 190 mg / dl, you must consult your child’s doctor. He or she can evaluate your child to see if he or she needs to adjust the medication. The most important thing is to pay attention and take care of your child’s health.
