The Heart, High Cholesterol, and Blood Circulation Issues / Question
Published: July 24, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
What are the chances of teens having heart disease? Is it possible for a 16 year old teen to have a cholesterol problem?
Signed: Heart Disease and Cholesterol Problems in Teens
Dear Heart Disease and Cholesterol Problems in Teens,
TeenHealthFX is glad to hear that you are taking an early interest in heart health. If you are specifically concerned about your own health, FX suggests that you ask a doctor for a blood test to measure your cholesterol levels. Currently, researchers believe that high levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol in the blood during childhood and adolescence can increase the risk of heart disease in adulthood. While the process is complex, heart disease generally begins when cholesterol sticks to the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Over time, the collections of cholesterol (sometimes called fatty streaks) grow and the arteries narrow. If an artery becomes so narrow that blood can no longer pass through, a heart attack may result. While this is a very gradual process, it is a pretty good idea to start thinking about taking care of your heart in your teenage years. Researchers were quite surprised when, in the 1950's, fatty streaks were found in the coronary arteries of 18-year-old men killed in the Korean War. This finding sparked a great deal of research, and the results have helped many people take better care of their hearts.
Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and not smoking are great ways that teens can help keep their arteries healthy. Also, a number of medicines now exist to help people lower high levels of bad cholesterol in their blood. Your doctor can provide a simple blood test to measure your cholesterol level, and he or she can also talk with you about some specific ways to protect yourself. If you do not have your own doctor and you live in northern New Jersey and would like to access a full range of medical services you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center For Health at 973.971.6475 for an appointment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers; the risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
