Cholesterol in Children

A Wake-Up Call: All Children Should Be Tested for High Cholesterol

Expert Panel Presents Heart Disease Prevention Strategies for Children

By Matt McMillen
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, FAAP

Nov. 11, 2011 -- When you look at a child, you don't think heart disease. But in a sign of the times -- these obese times -- new guidelines today are urging that all children between the ages of 9 and 11 be screened for high cholesterol.

In addition, the guidelines call for the same children to again be screened between the ages of 17 and 21.

Why? Because keeping children's cholesterol in the healthy range may help prevent the onset of heart disease later in life.

High cholesterol is a chief cause of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a major cause of heart disease.

SOURCE: WebMD.com. A Wake-Up Call: All Children Should Be Tested for High Cholesterol.