Heart Healthy Kids

PATRICK MOODY Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

The habits your children learn now could affect their heart health later in life. February is American Heart Month. Every year more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease.

Do you think heart health is solely an adult topic? Think again. Research suggests that the risk factors for heart disease begin to develop during childhood years.

Heart Disease Risk Factors That Can Affect Kids

Some conditions that increase heart disease risk can actually begin in childhood. Among them:

„ Unhealthy cholesterol levels. American children and adolescents have higher blood cholesterol levels than young people their age in most other developed countries. The rate of heart disease tends to keep pace with cholesterol levels, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). One study found early signs of hardening of the arteries in 7% of children between the ages of 10 and 15 years. The rate was twice as high among those between the ages of 15 and 20.

„ High blood pressure. An estimated 3.5% of all children and teens in the U.S. have high blood pressure, according to the AAP. Because it often has no symptoms, the AAP recommends children have blood pressure checks every year, starting at age 3.

„ Overweight and obesity. By age seven, more than half of high blood pressure is due to obesity, according to the AAP. This number rises to as high as 95% by the teenage years. Nearly one in three kids or teens in the U.S. are overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

What Parents Can Do

There are a variety of steps parents can take to help kids establish good heart health at an early age.

To start with, be a good role model. Not only will your kids likely follow your lead, your heart will benefit as well. Also:

Play every day. Exercise can strengthen the heart and help with weight management, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Health experts generally recommend children and teens do 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day.

Eat heart-smart foods. Like exercising, eating well can help kids maintain a healthy weight and control cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Foods like low-fat dairy products, skinless chicken, fish, lean red meats, whole grains and fruits and vegetables.

Avoid tobacco. Smoking is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital sponsors a number of free educational events during Heart Month. To see a list of events visit henrymayo. com/heartmonth. „