Although it may seem like an older person's concern, heart disease--or at least its earliest signs--can begin in childhood, according to the American Heart Association. Parents can take steps to reduce their children's risk factors and give them the best chance at a long, healthy life. Cholesterol is an important item for parents to consider when planning meals and monitoring their children's health.
Definition
Cholesterol is a waxy material that your body uses in making certain hormones and in forming cell membranes. Your liver produces approximately 1,000 milligrams (mg) of the substance each day, which is all that your body needs, according to KidsHealth.org. Cholesterol is a type of fat known as a lipid. You get additional cholesterol from animal-based foods, including dairy products, egg yolks, meat and seafood.
Types
Your total cholesterol count consists of three elements: your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL; your high-density lipoprotein, or HDL; and triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol. LDL can, with other material, stick to your arteries and cause the hardening known as atherosclerosis, possibly leading to a stroke or heart attack, according to the American Heart Association. LDL is this known as bad cholesterol. HDL, on the other hand, protects against heart attack and is known as good cholesterol, helping to remove excess cholesterol from the body. High levels of triglycerides and Lp(a) cholesterol tend to correlate with heart disease, the American Heart Association reports.
Recommendations
For people between age 2 and 19, total cholesterol should be less than 170 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), according to the American Heart Association. LDL should be less than 110 mg/dL. Total cholesterol of 170 to 199 mg/dL and 110 to 129 mg/dL make up the "borderline" range. Levels above those are considered high. HDL should be 35 mg/dL or higher. Triglycerides should not exceed 150 mg/dL.
Risks
By making sure your children's cholesterol stays in check, you may be helping them to stave off heart disease when they get older, according to KidsHealth.org. This is particularly true if they face higher risk of heart disease and stroke based on a family history of those conditions. If your child's cholesterol levels are too high, you can work with a pediatrician to find ways to get them to an appropriate level.
Solutions
KidsHealth.org recommends nutritional and lifestyle counseling for children whose LDL exceeds acceptable levels. The focus should be on reducing fat intake and increasing physical activity levels. If those methods do not work, a doctor can prescribe medications for children age 8 or older.
