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Preventive Cardiology Program

Cholesterol and Your Child

High levels of cholesterol have been shown to be a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke, and medical research shows that these diseases have their roots in childhood. More pediatricians are screening lipid and cholesterol values in children, especially if there's a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease in parents or grandparents. “Early” means before 55 years old in women and 65 years in men. Furthermore, with the increase in childhood obesity, more kids are at risk for problems with fat and sugar metabolism that affect cholesterol.

If there are known risk factors for abnormal cholesterol or early heart disease in your family, it is important to know your own and your kids' cholesterol levels. But it can be hard to know exactly what the results mean and what should be done about them.

Learn about Cholesterol

About Cholesterol

Cholesterol Lipoprotein Packages

10 Ways Everyone Can Keep a Healthy LDL and HDL Balance