How early can heart damage start?
Too young.
Recent studies have found that the levels of high cholesterol in adolescents may be putting future generations at risk at an early age. A study found that 14% of children from 6-8 years and 26.9% of teenagers from 16-19 years had abnormal cholesterol levels.
High levels of cholesterol indicate that artery-blocking plaques that can cause heart attack and stroke may already be present. Sugary and fatty foods and low levels of exercise can contribute to high cholesterol.
Preventative care is the most effective medicine. If your child is overweight or obese, start positive lifestyle changes now. Ask for a cholesterol test to monitor levels of cholesterol in their blood.
For more on these studies, read the full article here.
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