Should I be concerned about my child's blood cholesterol?
Answer: Children from families in which a parent or grandparent has developed heart disease at an early age (before age 55 in father or grandfather, or before age 65 in mother or grandmother) should have their cholesterol levels tested. If a child from such a "high-risk" family has a cholesterol level that is high, it should be lowered under medical supervision, primarily with diet. By following a low- saturated fat and low-cholesterol eating pattern, by being physically active, and by avoiding obesity, even healthy children can lower their risk of developing heart disease as adults.
