Private MD News

High cholesterol is a growing problem among youths

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

The obesity epidemic has quickly spread across all corners of the country. One of the most troubling aspects of this trend is that children have not been spared. Obesity rates among adolescents are skyrocketing. This has prompted some health experts to suggest that more children should receive cholesterol testing.

While young people are generally not at risk for heart attacks or strokes, elevated cholesterol levels in childhood often persist into adulthood. This may put individuals at an extremely elevated risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Dr. Juan Kupferman, of Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital in Brooklyn, told New York's WABC that the lack of immediate risk has caused health officials to seriously underestimate the number of children who suffer from high cholesterol.

"It is alarming that we see so many kids," he told the news source. "And it's alarming the feeling that we are not evaluating many of them and under-diagnosing them."

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children who have high cholesterol at a young age are significantly more likely to suffer heart health problems as adults.