High Cholesterol Levels Discovered in One Third of Preteens

Pediatricians might have just signed up for some extra work in the coming years. A recent comprehensive study that analyzed over 13,000 children found that many preteens possess high cholesterol levels.

The study will be presented this weekend at an American College of Cardiology conference in Washington. Dr. Thomas Seery of Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine led the study, which found that one-third of the 13,000-plus children had borderline or high cholesterol after tested for a routine physical exam.

The CDC's most recent guidelines were no joke; it's definitely imperative that children between the ages nine and 11 receive a cholesterol test. With obesity, diabetes, and heart disease affecting an overwhelming percentage of the American population, every precaution should be taken to avoid further risk factors for these diseases.

The study was fairly diverse, analyzing children in Texas, particularly the Houston area. One-third of the participants were Hispanic, one-third were white, and 18% were black. A total of 34% of the children were found to have unhealthy cholesterol levels (either high "bad" cholesterol or low "good" cholesterol). Boys were more likely to suffer from high cholesterol, as were Hispanics.

Approximately 71 million Americans have high cholesterol, which puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke. Being that there are no symptoms for high cholesterol, it's imperative that it is routinely examined through blood work. The CDC reports that adults with high total cholesterol have been in smaller numbers over the past decade, but this new study suggests there is a rise in children, which poses a bigger problem. Such health issues should not be of concern in children.

If this is not monitored properly, health care costs can skyrocket and the current state of affairs regarding heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes could worsen. The study projects that 10-13 percent of children will have high cholesterol by fourth grade. Further studies must be conducted to verify such a prediction, but this one was undoubtedly comprehensive, which is troublesome.

To read more about the preteen cholesterol study, visit this Washington Post article. You can also visit the National Institutes of Health website to check out guidelines for taking care of your cholesterol.