The level of cholesterol depends on living conditions, nutrition, physical activity, hereditary factors. Deviation from the norm usually appears in people over 35 years of age. But there may be high cholesterol in a child of 10 years or another age. With this phenomenon, additional diagnostics and treatment are needed to prevent complications.
What is this?
A fat-like substance called cholesterol exists in the human body in the form of 2 fractions - “good” high-density lipoproteins and “bad” low-density lipoproteins. Each part has its own functions. The first is involved in the metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates. "Bad" make up the shell of cells, are involved in the production of sex hormones and cortisol. The second species is still involved in the exchange of vitamins and forms the mother's placenta during pregnancy. This substance is required for the development of the brain of children.
"Bad" lipoproteins with high blood levelsare deposited inside the vessels in the form of plaques. This leads to the gradual formation of atherosclerosis, due to which diseases of the heart and blood vessels develop. With atherosclerosis, vasoconstriction appears, which is manifested by their blockage - partial or complete. With partial overlap, ischemic disease appears.
When the circulation of the heart and brain is disturbed, atherosclerosis affects the functioning of all organs. With complete blockage of blood vessels, a heart attack or stroke develops. Atherosclerosis appears when the balance between 2 types of cholesterol is disturbed. During the assessment of total cholesterol, the content of triglycerides is taken into account.
Norma
With age, the rate of cholesterol increases. Diagnosis is performed from 2 years. The indicator happens:
- Acceptable - less than 4.4 mmol/l.
- Borderline - 4, 5-5, 2 mmol/l.
- High - 5.3 mmol/l and more.
If a child has high cholesterol, what does it mean? This means that its level is greater than 5.3 mmol/l. The norm is able to increase physiologically, which is determined by individual characteristics, nutrition, and the level of physical activity. But there is also a pathological deviation from the norm, when the cause is systemic ailments. Each case requires a specific treatment regimen. Dangerous is the deviation due to the influence of pathological factors.
Advanced Level
A child has high blood cholesterol may be due to a genetic factor. In this case, there is a high probability of a negative impact and other factors. High cholesterol in a child is an indicatormore than 5.3 mmol / l in a child under 12 years old and 5.5 - from 13 to 18 years old.
When a deviation is detected, a specialist prescribes a secondary analysis and a detailed lipidogram. The concentration of high and low density lipoproteins is detected. If their increase or decrease is established, drug therapy is prescribed and lifestyle correction is performed.
Reasons
Why does my child have high cholesterol? It may be related:
- With a genetic factor. It causes other causes. When a parent is diagnosed with atherosclerosis, had a heart attack or stroke, then the cholesterol may be higher than normal in the child.
- Physical inactivity, lack of physical activity. If you ignore physical education, stay at the computer for a long time and have no desire to take part in active games, this deviation may appear.
- Obesity. The disease occurs when physical inactivity or malnutrition, which adversely affects the metabolism.
- Meal mode. The use of trans fats in large quantities is also considered a factor in the development of high cholesterol.
Metabolic control begins in childhood, during the formation of habits by parents, the creation of a daily routine and instilling addiction to specific products. This affects the he alth and biochemical composition of the blood. Whatever the reasons for high cholesterol in a child may be, it is necessary to normalize it in order to improve overall well-being.
Symptoms
Based on subjective feelings increasedcholesterol in a child can not be detected. This deviation has no symptoms, clinical manifestations are associated with a causative disease that led to an increase in the component in the blood.
You can check the content of the substance by taking a blood test. In a neglected state, when cholesterol greatly exceeds the norm, this can manifest itself in the form:
- deposits of cholesterol under the skin, xanthelasma, xanthomas;
- pain in the legs after a long walk.
Complications
Cholesterol in a normal amount is able to participate in digestion (a source of bile acid synthesis). It is considered a building block for sex steroid hormones. When a child's content is increased and treatment is not performed, the immune defense decreases due to this, with other negative consequences.
High cholesterol in a child causes vascular obstruction. Plaques appear on their walls, the outflow of blood becomes more difficult, and at an older age this can lead to atherosclerosis. If there is no treatment, in adulthood there is a violation of lipid metabolism. Complications affect the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands and central nervous system.
Diagnosis
Determine whether the child's total cholesterol is elevated or not, allows a blood test. The doctor collects an anamnesis of life and concomitant diseases, the transferred ailments of the parents are taken into account. The first analysis is performed after 2 years, and if the level is normal, the secondary diagnosis is carried out after 1-3 years. Byat the request of the parents, the procedure is performed at any time.
Be sure to take the test:
- overweight, obese;
- diabetes;
- adverse family history;
- irregular meals, frequent consumption of fatty foods;
- physical inactivity, lack of physical activity;
- feeling worse;
- loss of appetite, diseases of the digestive tract.
Diagnosis allows you to determine the level of cholesterol. In case of deviation from the norm, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. It is necessary to adhere to all recommendations provided by a specialist.
Treatment
In case of high cholesterol in a child 10 years old, younger or older, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes diet and medication (statins, fibrates). Normalization is provided with a change in lifestyle. The child will need to spend time more actively, play outdoor games and exercise.
Medicines are prescribed based on the causative ailment. If the control of the content of the component can be provided by diet and exercise, medications are not prescribed. To normalize the level of fats in the blood, it is necessary:
- do not allow passive smoking;
- exercise daily;
- eat fiber foods;
- eat less sugar;
- restore daily routine, he althy sleep.
Food
Food matters:
- Foods containing trans fatty acids and saturated fats should be limited.
- Required to reduce sugar and refined, "fast" carbohydrates.
- The diet should include fish, white meat, whole grain bread.
- Use vegetable oils instead of hard fats.
Fats should be consumed in moderation, not completely eliminated. Vegetable products are useful - fruits, vegetables, cereals, in which there is no cholesterol. But there is a lot of it in animal products.
Physical activity
Exercise is considered the best way to increase the high-density lipoproteins that the body needs. At least 20-30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week will be enough. It is important that there is a load on different muscle groups of the legs and the heartbeat increases. For children, the following activities will be excellent physical activity:
- cycling;
- roller skating;
- long walks in nature;
- jumping rope;
- ball games.
You need to spend as little time as possible behind the TV and gadgets. Obese children usually have low HDL and high LDL. With the normalization of weight, cholesterol acquires the desired level.
No smoking
Smoking is required to be prevented among adolescents, as it negatively affects blood lipid profile and many other aspects of he alth. It is necessary to protect the child in gathering placessmokers. Passive smoking is very harmful. To combat smoking and physical inactivity, a personal example of parents is required, and then the child will also have an idea of a he althy lifestyle.
Statins
These funds are prescribed to children very rarely, only in the presence of those forms of high cholesterol that appeared from a genetic disease, and not because of diet or poor lifestyle.
If cholesterol is not lowered after the restoration of the diet and lifestyle adjustments, then special diets are prescribed after consultation with a specialist. There are also special exercises that eliminate excess cholesterol. But in difficult cases, after consulting a doctor, statins can be used. It is necessary to adhere to the treatment prescribed by a specialist. After 2-4 months, an examination is performed on the composition of lipids in the blood. This will allow you to evaluate the result of therapy.
Primary prevention of complications involves maintaining a normal weight and adhering to the principles of a he althy lifestyle. With high cholesterol in a child, funds may be prescribed to normalize this substance, including statins - Pravachol. This medication can be used in the treatment of genetic predisposition. Usually, if the recommendations of a specialist are followed, the cholesterol level becomes normal.
