Asthma, Allergies Increase Children's Risk Of Heart Disease

Children with asthma or allergies may be at a greater risk of heart disease, according to a recent study.

The study showed that children surveyed with asthma and hay fever were more likely to be obese or overweight and had a two-times higher risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, researchers say.

"You have common health problems that turn out to have a lot more serious consequences in some kids," said study author Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, via Health Day.

During the study, researchers examined the results of 2012 U.S. survey of households--specifically looking at 13,000 children 17 and younger. The survey showed that 14 percent of children in that age group had asthma, while 12 percent had eczema and another 16 percent had hay fever.

Researchers found that even after adjusting to account for obesity as a factor, the risk for heart disease remained. However, this was not the case for a higher risk of diabetes.

It's not yet clear why children with asthma, seasonal allergies and/or eczema may have a higher risk of heart disease. However, the link might be because children with these health issues could have lower levels of physical activity and a greater risk of obesity. On the other hand, inflammation related to certain health issues, such as asthma and eczema, may increase the risk of heart disease.

The study is published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.

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