Heart health urgingsResidents advised to monitor cholesterol By Jill Coley (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, September 8, 2008
State health officials are urging residents to know their cholesterol numbers and adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol affects 37 percent of South Carolina adults, said Dory Masters, director of S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control's Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division. Chest pain, pulmonary ailments and heart failure are among the top 10 reasons South Carolinians are admitted to the hospital, according to the S.C. Office of Research and Statistics. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL, the bad kind, which should be under 100; and HDL, the good kind, which should be more than 50. Too much LDL or not enough HDL can put you at risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Heart disease can start really early, even in toddlers. Colleen Boylston, a pediatrician with Sweetgrass Pediatrics in North Charleston, said, "We're seeing elevated cholesterol in 3-year-olds. There's a definite increase in all socio-economic levels." It's not the overweight babies Boylston worries about. "They usually slim out," she said. "It's age 2 to 3, their risk for obesity in adulthood increases." In July, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended all high-risk children get cholesterol screening at age 2. The academy also recommended prescribing LDL-lowering and HDL-raising statin drugs for children as young as 8. Boylston said she has not yet prescribed statins for pediatric patients. She prefers trying diet modification to bring down levels naturally, especially when patients are young enough to alter their fate. Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 3 comment(s)
Posted by oldglory on September 8, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's so sad what we are doing to our children through teaching them bad habits, not to mention what we do to ourselves. I think it's even more important today to set very strong priorites--good health being at the top of the list.
Dr. Boylston, I applaud you for your good common sense in not using drugs to cure these high-risk children, but rather encouraging a healthy diet. It can be done, but it does take vigilence with food purchases and all family members practicing what they preach.
Posted by oldglory on September 8, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A bit of encouragement and truth - -
It's the day of the quick prep in the microwave! I love the microwave (thought I'd never say that as for years I was such a real cook in the kitchen!). But . . .
We all need to be aware by reading labels (something I used to think ridiculous). Manufacturers of food are remiss and lack conscience when we holler that we want 'good-tasting' food, and they give us just that by adding unnecessarsy and gross amounts of fat, salt and sugar to which our pallets have adjusted. Most are unaware that pallets can go the other way too: ergo, our pallets adjust to the tastes we give them.
Recently a substitute egg product advised me that my favorite which I used daily had increased the fat to make it taste good--right on the front of the container! I sent a complaint to customer service and was advised that it's what sells off the shelves that controls what's in the product.
Come on people, let's fight these manufacturers. We are killing ourselves, our children and actually allowing these manufacturers to feed us poisons!
Posted by RTC on September 8, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The right diet and plenty of exercise should always be tried first. I suppose if a child's cholesterol is at a dangerous level then there would be no choice, but they have no idea what the long term effects of these drugs are on children. Blood tests for liver function have to be done on a regular basis for anyone taking statin drugs. I cannot imagine what a lifetime of statin drugs could do to a person's liver.
As far as getting a LDL level of below 100 without drugs...good luck, unless you are a triathelete or just have great genes.