Let's learn more about cholesterol. Will it affect your child?

You've probably heard of cholesterol, right? We often think of it as an issue that only affects adults. But in fact, cholesterol is very important for the health of our little ones. Sometimes, even heart disease that develops later in life has its roots in childhood. So, shall we talk about this in a little more detail today?

What is cholesterol? Let's find out exactly?

Okay, so let's first look at what cholesterol is. Simply put, it's a waxy, oily substance in our bodies. It's mainly produced by our liver. Think about it, cholesterol helps build the walls of our cells, or cell membranes. Not only that, it's also essential for making some hormones, such as estrogen in women and testosterone in men, as well as vitamin D. Now you're probably thinking, 'Oh, what happens to little kids with cholesterol?' Many parents don't really think about this. But, according to doctors, the root causes of heart disease that develop when they grow up can sometimes start at a young age. That means, if a child's cholesterol level is higher than the recommended amount from a young age, the child is more likely to develop serious illnesses like heart disease or stroke when they grow up. That's why we need to be concerned about the cholesterol of young children as well.

How do we get cholesterol?

Our liver produces all the cholesterol our body needs. However, our body also gets cholesterol from some of the foods we eat. This is especially true of animal foods. For example:

• Egg yolk
• Meats (such as beef , pork)
• Chicken
• Seafood (like shrimp, squid)
• Milk and dairy foods (like cheese, ice cream)

Another thing is, if the foods we eat contain a lot of `(Saturated Fat)` and `(Trans Fat)`, our liver may produce more cholesterol. Therefore, it is very important to be careful about oily and fried foods. However, plant foods, that is, vegetables, fruits, and grains, do not contain cholesterol at all. So eating more of such foods is very good for the body.

Are there types of cholesterol? What are they?

Yes, the cholesterol in our blood does not travel through the body on its own. It travels through the blood vessels in combination with proteins. When this cholesterol and protein come together, we call it `(Lipoproteins)`. We often hear about two main types of these, right?

1. LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) – "Bad" cholesterol

This is what we call "bad" cholesterol. Do you know why? This `(LDL)` cholesterol can be deposited in the walls of our blood vessels, that is, the arteries. Just like dirt gets stuck inside a pipe. In this way, the deposits that form when cholesterol and other things in the blood accumulate are called `(Plaque)`.

This `(Plaque)` causes the blood vessels to gradually harden, narrow, and sometimes even become completely blocked.

If a blood clot forms in a narrowed blood vessel like this, it increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Doctors call this thickening and narrowing of the arteries ``atherosclerosis.'' This condition can also reduce blood flow to important organs like the brain, intestines, and kidneys. That's why it's important to lower your ``LDL'' cholesterol levels.

2. HDL (High-density lipoprotein) – "Good" cholesterol

This is what we call "good" cholesterol. Do you know what it is? This `(HDL)` cholesterol removes the bad `(LDL)` cholesterol from the blood vessels and takes it back to the liver. The liver breaks down this cholesterol and removes it from the body. It's like someone cleaning our blood vessels. So, simply put, increasing the level of "bad" `(LDL)` cholesterol in our body and decreasing the level of "good" `(HDL)` cholesterol increases the risk of developing heart disease. What we want to do is keep `(LDL)` low and `(HDL)` high.

What are the causes of high cholesterol?

There are three main reasons why cholesterol levels increase even in young children: 1. Diet: Eating foods high in fat, especially saturated fat and trans fat. For example, some children often eat fried foods, fast food, and sweet foods. Then the chances of cholesterol increasing are high. 2. Heredity: If parents or close family members have high cholesterol, children may also be at risk. That means, if your mother, father, or one of your siblings has high cholesterol, you need to be a little more careful about your child. 3. Obesity:Cholesterol can increase when children gain weight and become obese due to an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. However, children who exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, have no family members with high cholesterol, and are at a healthy weight are less likely to have high cholesterol.

How do you know if your cholesterol level is high? What tests are available?

Most of the time, there are no obvious symptoms of high cholesterol. The best way to find out is to get a blood test. Generally, doctors recommend that all children have their cholesterol levels checked once between the ages of 9 and 11 , and again between the ages of 17 and 21. However, there are times when some children need to be tested earlier, even after the age of 2. When are these times?

• If one of the parents or a close family member has a total cholesterol level greater than 240 mg/dL.
• If anyone in the family has `(Cardiovascular Disease)` ( heart disease and blood vessel disease) (before the age of 55 for a man, before the age of 65 for a woman).
• If the child has any special medical conditions, for example, Kidney Disease , Kawasaki Disease , or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
• If the child is overweight, it means that he or she is obese .
• If the child has diseases such as `(Diabetes Mellitus)` (Diabetes), `(High Blood Pressure)` ( High Blood Pressure ), or if he/she smokes (this is less relevant for young children, but can affect adolescents).

Your doctor may order a blood test to check your child's cholesterol levels. Sometimes, you may be asked to fast for 12 hours before the test (just water is fine). This is called ``fasting.'' Doctors check cholesterol levels according to the guidelines set by the ``National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).'' This is a list of recommended levels for ``Total Cholesterol'' and ``LDL Cholesterol'' for children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 18.

So what do we do about this? (Take-Home Message)

I hope you now have a better idea about cholesterol and how important it is, especially when it comes to the health of our children.

Remember, cholesterol can be a silent enemy. So it's best to be aware and take the necessary steps early.

So, what should we do?

• Healthy diet: Give children as many vegetables, fruits, and grains as possible. Reduce foods high in oil, sugar, and salt, and fast food as much as possible. Home-cooked meals are the best.
• Active lifestyle: Encourage children to play, run, and jump. It is very good to engage in physical activity for at least an hour a day.
• Timely Checkups: Check your child's cholesterol levels at regular intervals as recommended by your doctor. Be sure to pay attention to this, especially if someone in your family has high cholesterol.
• Follow your doctor's advice: If you find out that your child's cholesterol level is high, don't panic and follow your doctor's advice exactly. Sometimes this can be controlled with diet and lifestyle changes. Very rarely, young children need to be given medication.

Every parent wants to see their child healthy and happy. So, if you think a little about cholesterol and do the necessary things, you will be able to further secure your child's future.

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Cholesterol, Cholesterol, Children's Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Heart Disease, Healthy Eating