Doctors: Test all kids for cholesterol by age 11
Every child should be tested for high cholesterol as early as age 9 — surprising new advice from a government panel that suggests screening kids in grade school for a problem more common in middle age.
The idea will come as a shock to most parents. And it’s certain to stir debate.
The doctors on the expert panel that announced the new guidelines Friday concede there is little proof that testing now will prevent heart attacks decades later. But many doctors say waiting might be too late for children who have hidden risks.
Fat deposits form in the heart arteries in childhood but don’t usually harden them and cause symptoms until later in life. The panel urges cholesterol screening between ages 9 and 11 — before puberty, when cholesterol temporarily dips — and again between ages 17 and 21.
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Health Tip: Creating a Smoke-Free Home
Smoking while a child is in the room isn’t the only way to expose the youngster to second-hand smoke. The American Academy of Pediatrics says smoke can linger long after you put out a cigarette.
The academy offers these suggestions to avoid exposing your child to second-hand smoke:
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