High Cholesterol in Teenagers

High cholesterol affects about 15 percent of teenagers and, unfortunately, a growing problem. Left unchecked and untreated, the buildup of cholesterol can continue into adulthood and lead to a significant increase in risk of early heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States today. That is why teens with high cholesterol, and their parents should be aware of how to solve the problem.

Approximately 1.5 percent of teenagers suffer from high cholesterol, because the condition runs in their obitelji.Kolesterol test should also be taken into account if there is a family history of high blood pressure. Teenagers are putting at risk of developing high cholesterol if they smoke regularly. However, the leading cause of high cholesterol in youth obesity. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise can cause fatty build up in arteries which can lead to serious health problems in adulthood.

To reduce the risk of your teen develop high cholesterol or lower it if it has already become a problem, one of the first things you will need to do is encourage them to become physically active. People need to weigh at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 days a week. If you are overweight, or experiencing health problems should build up to 60 minutes of exercise most days of the week to improve your health.

Diet is also important faktor.Najveći culprit for high cholesterol is processed food, so meals should be cooked from scratch whenever possible. Saturated fats, which come mainly from animal products like meat and dairy products, and hydrogenated fats, found in some oils should be limited. Good alternative "bad" fats are liquid margarine and olive oil.

Teenagers should also ensure that all their 5 servings of fruits and vegetables today as these often have features that can help lower cholesterol. Apples, pears, plums and brussell sprouts contain all the soluble fiber, which breaks down the bad cholesterol. Soybeans, oats, legumes and nuts may also help reduce cholesterol. However, because of its high calorie content of nuts intake should be limited to a handful or less per day.

If you are trying to lower cholesterol through diet and exercise does not yield results after a year then ended May be prescribed medication. It is usually work by blocking cholesterol production, increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and reduce cholesterol absorption. As with any form of medication, these drugs can have unpleasant side effects and should only be considered if all other measures are not.