MADISON, Wis. -- The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control shows more kids are experiencing high cholesterol.
As many as 1 in 5 kids now have what's considered abnormally high cholesterol, but the only way to know is to screen for it since children do not show symptoms of high cholesterol.
It's generally recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Heart, Lung and Bluud Institute for kids to have their cholesterol checked between the ages of 9 and 11 and again between the ages of 17 and 21.
"If kids with high cholesterol get medical care early, they have a great chance of lowering their risk for heart disease before they grow into adulthood," UW Health cardiologist and director of the UW Health Kids Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic Dr. Amy Peterson said. "Lifestyle changes are never easy, but it can be less challenging for someone to change their lifestyle as a child or teenager rather than as a person in their 40s and 50s."
UW Health says its Pediatric Preventive Cardiology clinic, which began in 2011, has seen about 2,500 pediatric patients since launching, and about 75% of those kids would not have had their high cholesterol levels identified if they weren't screened during routine check-ups.
Luckily, catching high cholesterol early in life can make it easier to manage as kids reach adulthood.
"Most children with high cholesterol acquire the condition over time and can improve their cholesterol by paying attention to their eating habits, reducing their screen time and getting physical activity,” Dr. Peterson said.
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