Dear Dr. Garner,
I have a nine-year-old son who went for his yearly checkup last week. Today I got a notice in the mail that his cholesterol is high. I was shocked! I never thought that young children could have high cholesterol problems. His doctor has asked us to come in for another appointment in a month.
I would like to know if this is common and what I should be doing about it.
High Cholesterol in Canarsie
Dear High Cholesterol,
The first thing I want to stress is that high cholesterol in children is not a rare occurrence. A recent study actually found that a third of children have cholesterol levels that are either borderline or high. These children are at risk for heart disease and strokes as they age. The problems usually occur 20-30 years in the future, so there is time to correct and hopefully prevent the problems.
Many pediatricians don’t check for cholesterol, and the condition is not diagnosed. It may be more common than we think. The most likely indicator that a child will have high cholesterol in adulthood is if he or she has high cholesterol as a child.
An expert panel recently advised that all children have cholesterol screenings. About one to two percent of high cholesterol in children is inherited; the rest is caused by being overweight and not having enough exercise or a proper diet.
It is not surprising for children to have high cholesterol, particularly with their sedentary lifestyle and fast-food diets. Some doctors are concerned that medication to treat high cholesterol might be harmful to children in the long run. They feel that more reliance on diet and exercise is preferable. In my opinion, it makes sense to lower cholesterol in childhood to then have a better chance of lower levels as an adult and fewer changes in the blood vessels that could lead to stroke or heart disease.
It is a good opportunity to explain to parents what the problem is and to have the child motivated to exercise and to change his or her lifestyle. The plaque that can occur from high cholesterol can narrow the arteries and block the blood flow to the heart causing a heart attack or stroke. A diagnosis of high cholesterol in children is also an opportunity to check the parents as the condition is often inherited.
Screenings: Start at Age 2
Screening is recommended starting at age two but no later than age 10. For children who are overweight, exercise and weight loss should be the primary treatment. For children with extremely high cholesterol levels or a family history of early heart disease, drug treatment should be considered.
As I also pointed out, the medication for treatment may have harmful effects in the long run. Because of disagreement in the medical community regarding treatment of high cholesterol in children, it is important to talk to your child’s doctor to determine what is best for your child.
In summary, your son’s problem is not rare and affects many children in our country. The key is to meet with your doctor and decide what is right for your child. This may involve diet and exercise or medication.
You have the opportunity to correct problems which may affect your child later in life. It is also a good time to check your husband and yourself for abnormal cholesterol as well. The entire family can benefit from a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy Food Choices for Children
Breakfast: Fruit, cereal, oatmeal and yogurt
Lunch/Dinner: Whole-grain breads and rolls, baked or grilled foods, fish and whole-grain crackers with soup
Snacks: Fruit, vegetables, yogurt and cereal
Children should avoid soda and fruit drinks.
Measles Outbreak
Many of you may have heard about the measles outbreak occurring in the city. Here are a few facts to remind people about measles:
1. Measles is one of the leading causes of death in young children throughout the world.
2. It is highly contagious and can last in the air for hours.
3. The signs of measles are a high fever, coughing, a runny nose and redness of the eyes.
4. While this sounds like an everyday cold, a rash helps to differentiate the situation, which can last for up to one week.
5. In the last decade, one out of every four people in the U.S. who got measles had to be hospitalized, and many of these cases were among children.
Make sure all children are vaccinated. There is an erroneous belief that vaccines can cause autism. This has been disproven, and the doctor who tried to propagate this myth has been found to have criminal wrongdoing.
Before the vaccine was developed in the 1960s, about four million people had measles every year. About 500 deaths from complications would occur.
Today we can prevent the serious complications in children and adults. Remember, do not let misinformation hurt you or your family. See your doctor, and ask about vaccinations if your child has not already had them.
Dr. Steven Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital, Park Slope. He hosts “Ask the Doctor” on The NET, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Channel 97 Time Warner and Channel 30 Cablevision.