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Prevention
Understand Your RiskCardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Americans. While some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Whether it means getting more exercise, quitting smoking or adjusting your diet, you have the power to make a positive change in your health.The first step is to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to understand what puts you at risk for developing heart disease and what you can do to reduce that risk. Your physician can explain lab results, the impact of genetic factors, and partner with you to chart a course for heart health. Another important aspect of preventing heart disease is education. It’s important to know how your heart works and how the choices you make everyday, such as what you eat, affect your heart health. Check out our Health Encyclopedia for more information about heart disease and treatment. If your doctor finds that you are at risk for a heart condition, you should know the symptoms of a heart attack and know what to do if you experience these symptoms. Cholesterol Counts (Even for Children)
Children and adolescents who have high cholesterol levels are more likely than those in the general population to become adults with high
cholesterol levels.
According to Statistics from the American Heart Association, approximately 10 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 have "high" total cholesterol levels (over 200 mg/dl). Among children and adolescents ages 14-19 years, average total cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoproteins or "bad") cholesterol levels are higher in females than in males. These averages also are higher in non-Hispanic black children and adolescents when compared to non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American children and adolescents. Research with families has found that simple dietary modifications can significantly lower total and LDL cholesterol levels in parents and their children.
Choose a Heart Smart Diet
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), it is important to establish healthy lifestyle habits early in life
-- such as healthy eating patterns -- in order to help keep the risk of heart
disease low. The NHLBI has said, "everyone older than age 2 should care about
cholesterol to reduce the risk of developing heart disease as an adult. Children
as well as adults can improve the health of their hearts by following a low saturated-fat
and low-cholesterol diet, avoiding obesity, and being physically active."
Studies have found that 80 percent of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 exceeded dietary recommendations for total and saturates fat. Another 49 percent exceeded recommended intakes of dietary cholesterol; subsequently, these individuals were more likely to show early signs of atherosclerosis.
Aim for a Healthy Weight
According to the American Heart Association, experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) have said that obesity is rapidly increasing and is a threat to the health
of populations worldwide. These WHO experts also noted that obesity affects adults
and children alike.
The well-known Bogalusa Heart Study found that children between the ages of 5 and 17 who were overweight were 2.4 times more likely to have elevated total blood cholesterol levels than children of normal weight. The study also indicated that of those children who were overweight, more than half (58 percent) has at least one risk factor for heart disease. According to health officials, approximately 25 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight, which may place an alarming number of children and adolescents at an increased risk for heart disease.
Focus on Physical Activity
Being physically inactive is as risky as having high blood cholesterol levels,
high blood pressure or cigarette smoking. Health experts recommend at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day
to
reduce the risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease. Regular physical activity
has dropped in high school students from 42 percent in 1991 to 29 percent in 1999.
The American Heart Association notes that physical inactivity is more prevalent among young women then men. Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to be physically active than their Caucasian counterparts. Stop Smoking Today
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