“I’M WORRIED THAT MY SON HAS CHOLESTEROL”
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is part of most cell membranes and various hormones. It is therefore necessary for our body and our own body makes all the cholesterol it needs to stay healthy. For this reason, people worry about having high cholesterol.
Cholesterol also comes from the foods we eat. But if you eat foods with a lot of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, the body can produce more cholesterol than it needs.
Saturated fat is found mostly in foods that contain animal fats such as meat, cheese, whole milk and butter. But also, in some vegetable fats such as palm and coconut oil.
Trans fat is found in products such as shortening, stick margarine, fried foods, precooked foods, sweet and savory cookies, cakes and pastries.
¿Why can a child have high during cholesterol during his/her childhood)? (hypercholesterolemia)?
There are a number of factors that can act on cholesterol levels. On some you can act:
Diet
It is the main environmental risk factor. Therefore, it is modifiable and can change cholesterol levels.
The diet influences not only the total amount of fats that are ingested with food, but also the type of fat. The greatest risk is related with saturated fat, cholesterol trans fatty acids and hydrogenated fat (those that solidify at room temperature).
The weight
Childhood and youth obesity has increased greatly in recent years. Today it is a major health problem and has been associated with high cholesterol levels.
The physical activity
As with the diet, in recent years there has been a great change in lifestyle. Both children and adults are more sedentary. Children spend many hours watching television today, playing with the computer or video games. Many almost do not devote time to sports or games that involve physical exercise which translates into lower energy expenditure, which favors childhood obesity and a higher cholesterol index.
¿Are there good cholesterol and bad cholesterol?
Cholesterol moves through the body; it goes from the liver where it forms, to the parts of the body where it is needed. For this, it needs to be combined with carrier proteins. The union of both is what is called lipoproteins.
Low density lipoproteins or LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) are the so-called bad cholesterol. They are the main transporters of cholesterol through the blood vessels from where it forms, in the liver, to the rest of the body. And if there is a lot of LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can accumulate in the walls of the arteries. Thick and hard plaques that are called atheroma plaques form. These plates grow little by little as more and more cholesterol is deposited. The lumen of the arteries narrows. It can even obstruct them. This causes a lack of blood supply to that part of the body. If it is in the heart, it can cause myocardial infarction. And if it is in the brain, a stroke or cerebral infarction. Therefore, if LDL cholesterol is high, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
High density lipoproteins or HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) are what is known as good cholesterol. Its function is to clean the cholesterol in the arteries; they take it to the liver to remove it from the body. Therefore, if HDL cholesterol is high, it protects the body.
Total blood cholesterol is the sum of cholesterol transported in the particles of LDL, HDL and other lipoproteins.
Is high cholesterol worrying in childhood and adolescence?
Researches show that high cholesterol can be started as early as childhood. And this is one of the main factors that predispose to suffer cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction or strokes. It is due to the formation of atheroma plaques, which block blood vessels over the years.
Generally, these diseases associated with high cholesterol are not seen in childhood. But they can appear at the beginning of adult life; especially in children whose families have had hypercholesterolemia or premature heart disease.
It has also been observed that children and adolescents with high cholesterol are more likely than the general population to continue with high levels in adult life.
Hypercholesterolemia may be modifiable and initial atherosclerosis lesions may be reversible in their initial stages; that is why it is so important to maintain healthy lifestyles and exercise from childhood.
Is it necessary to do cholesterol tests on all children?
It is no good to analyze cholesterol routinely to all children and adolescents to find out which children are most at risk of having cardiovascular disease.
Therefore, it will be the pediatrician who will tell you if it is necessary or not to analyze your child’s cholesterol, after assessing their possible risk factors for high cholesterol:
- Possible genetic forms of hypercholesterolemia, such as familiar hypercholesterolemia. Those children whose parents or grandparents suffered cardiovascular disease before the age of 55 in men or before the age of 65 in women. Or also if one of the parents has a cholesterol greater than 240 mg / dl.
- Some disease associated with increased cholesterol. For example, hypothyroidism, obesity, hypertension or diabetes.
Levels of Cholesterol
Cholesterol levels in children vary according to sex, age, race and pubertal development.
Therefore, it is difficult to establish the most appropriate test in children. And what is the cut-off point for the diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia, the best age to do the analysis, the frequency with which there is follow-up, or the long-term benefits.
High-limit levels, a total cholesterol of 170 to 199 mg / dl or an LDL cholesterol of 110 to 129 mg / dl are considered.
In children, hypercholesterolemia is considered when total cholesterol is greater than 200 mg/dl or LDL cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dl.
Cardio-healthy tips to maintain good cholesterol:
- Eat fruits, vegetables, preferably whole grains and legumes every day.
- Eat less fat-rich meat. Replace it with lean meat, especially poultry (skinless) and rabbit.
- Avoid viscera (liver, heart, kidneys, brains …), sausages, pre-cooked food and industrial pastries.
- Eat more fish. White fish and especially blue fish (sardine, trout, tuna, mackerel, salmon …).
- Choose dairy and low-fat derivatives (semi-skimmed and skimmed).
- Cook with olive oil. Avoid other fats such as butter, margarine, bacon …
- Instead of fried foods, use low fat cooking methods such as: boil, broil, oven, steam and grilled.
- Reduces the consumption of sugary drinks and salt.
- Have physical activity on a regular basis. Exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day is recommended, preferably every day of the week. Reduce the time dedicated to sedentary activities (such as watching television, computers and video consoles). Remember: exercise increases good cholesterol.
- Maintain a healthy weight. You have to control the weight in case of overweight or obesity.
- Before putting anything in the shopping cart, read the nutrition facts labels on the food. Choose those that are low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
For more information, visit your doctor; not self-medicate; or write us.