Children and Heart Disease
Updated Spring 2001 by Joni Bosch,
PNP,
Center for Disabilities and Development
The good news is that you can do many things to protect your child from heart disease:
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- Never smoke near your child. Don’t smoke in the house. Don’t smoke in the car if your child is with you. Second-hand smoke can cause heart disease.
- Have your child’s blood pressure checked once each year.
- If you child is thirsty all the time and is eating more but not gaining weight, have your doctor check for diabetes mellitus Early treatment can reduce complications, including heart disease
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a build-up of fat and cholesterol in blood vessels. It can begin in childhood. Blood vessels become thicker and less flexible. The heart has to work harder to pump blood through these blood vessels, and this can cause high blood pressure.
As fat and cholesterol build up in the blood vessels, clots are more likely to form. They can break away and lodge in the heart. This is the cause of most heart attacks.
What are cholesterol, lipoproteins, HDL, and LDL?
| Cholesterol | is a waxy substance found in every human cell. It is made by your body, and is also found in meat and dairy products. A small amount of cholesterol is needed by your body. Too much can cause heart disease. |
| Lipoproteins | move cholesterol through the bloodstream. There are two kinds of lipoprotein, HDL and LDL. |
| HDL | HDL = High density lipoproteins. These transport cholesterol to the liver to be eliminated from the body. |
| LDL | LDL = Low-density lipoproteins. These are associated with atherosclerosis. |
What levels of cholesterol, LDLs and HDLs are safe for children and adolescents?
If a child’s parents have cholesterol levels higher than 240, then the child’s cholesterol levels should be checked. These levels should also be checked if the child's parents or grandparents developed heart disease before they were 55.
Blood cholesterol levels for children and adolescents
| LDL cholesterol | Acceptable | Less than 110 mg/d |
| Borderline | 110-129 mg/d | |
| High risk | More than 130 mg/d | |
| HDL cholesterol | High risk | Less than 35 mg/d |
| Total cholesterol | Acceptable | Less than 170 mg/d |
| Borderline | 170-199 mg/d | |
| High risk | More than 200 mg/d |
Adapted from : Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents, "National Cholesterol Education Program: Highlights of the Report of the Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol Levels in Children and Adolescents, " in Pediatrics : 1992; 89:495-501
