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  You’ll rarely see the effects of high cholesterol in a child, but the silent buildup of fatty plaque in blood vessels can start young – and cause trouble later.
“That’s why good cardiovascular habits, including regular exercise and an active lifestyle, as well as an appropriate diet, are so important to instill in childhood and adolescence,” says Dr. Sarah Blumenschein, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Several risk factors in the young relate to heart disease later in life. Besides high cholesterol, they include obesity, inactivity, smoking and high blood pressure, says Dr. Blumenschein, who has seen children’s activity levels drop as obesity levels rise. “It’s a clear epidemic,” she says. Besides offering children a balanced diet, try to limit snacking and serving sizes. “The trend toward super-sizing everything is resulting in super-sized American kids,” says Dr. Blumenschein. As for exercise, she says, it need not be complicated: “A body simply needs to move.” Genetics also plays a role in heart health. “The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends performing selective screening in children whose first- or second-degree family members have had evidence of coronary artery disease before the age of 55 or for children whose parents are known to have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, even if they have not yet developed coronary artery problems,” Dr. Blumenschein says. Doctors usually prescribe medication only as a last resort in treating high cholesterol levels, she says. “The initial strategy is first to do diet modification and start a formal exercise program.”
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