Private MD News

Experts: Children need cholesterol testing, too

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Cholesterol tests are a staple for adults during a medical examination, but a growing number of doctors are recommending the test for children as young as two years old.

Doctors say that family history plays a large factor in their decision to test children for cholesterol, but individual risk factors, like obesity, is also an indication that children should be tested.

Dr Jennifer Shu recently told local NBC affiliate, WLBT, that high cholesterol can be an easy problem to turn around in children with simple adjustments to diet and exercise routines.

However, a growing number of children require statin medications, the same as prescribed for adults. These are used only as a last resort because once children start the treatments they often have to say on them the rest of their lives, Shu told the news source.

The American Heart Association says that regular aerobic exercise can help children avoid cholesterol problems, and that they are more likely to suffer the symptoms of heart disease at a young age if nothing is done to avoid the problem.