Cholesterol level depends on living conditions, nutrition, physical activity, hereditary factor. Deviation usually occurs in people over 35 years old. But there may be increased cholesterol in a child of 10 years or another age. With this phenomenon, additional diagnostics and the appointment of treatment are needed to prevent complications.
What it is?
A fat-like substance called cholesterol is present in humans 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 membrane of cells, are involved in the production of sex hormones and cortisol. The second type still takes part in the exchange of vitamins and forms the placenta of the mother during pregnancy. This substance is required for the development of the brain of children.
"Bad" lipoproteins with a high level in the blood are 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, a narrowing of the vessels appears, which is manifested by their blockage - partial or complete. With partial overlap, an ischemic ailment appears.
With a violation of the blood circulation of the heart and brain, atherosclerosis affects the work of all organs. With complete blockage of the vessels, a heart attack or stroke develops. Atherosclerosis appears when there is an imbalance between the 2 types of cholesterol. During the assessment of total cholesterol, the content of triglycerides is taken into account.
Norm
With age, the norm of cholesterol increases. Diagnostics 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 or more.
If a child has high cholesterol, what does it mean? This means that its level is more than 5.3 mmol / L. The norm is able to increase physiologically, which is determined by individual characteristics, nutrition, level of physical activity. But there is also a pathological deviation from the norm, when the cause is systemic ailments. For each case, a specific treatment regimen is needed. Dangerous is the deviation due to exposure to pathological factors.
Elevated level
A child may have high blood cholesterol due to a genetic factor. In this case, there is a high probability of negative effects and other factors. Elevated cholesterol in a child is an indicator of more than 5.3 mmol / l in a child under 12 years of age and 5.5 - from 13 to 18 years.
If a deviation is detected, a specialist is assigned a secondary analysis and an expanded lipid profile. 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.
Causes
Why does the child have high cholesterol? This may be due to:
- With a genetic factor. It causes other reasons. When the parent revealed atherosclerosis, had a heart attack or stroke, then the cholesterol may be higher than normal in a child.
- Hypodynamia, lack of physical activity. If you ignore physical education, stay at the computer for a long time and do not want to take part in active games, this deviation may appear.
- Obese. The disease occurs with physical inactivity or malnutrition, which negatively affects the metabolism.
- Power mode. The use of transgenic fats in large quantities is also considered a factor in the development of high cholesterol.
Metabolism control starts from childhood, during the formation of habits by parents, the creation of a daily regimen and inculcation of addiction to specific foods. This affects the health and biochemical composition of the blood. Whatever the causes of high cholesterol in a child, it is necessary to normalize it in order to improve overall well-being.
Symptoms
Based on subjective sensations, elevated cholesterol in a child cannot be detected. This deviation has no symptoms, clinical manifestations are associated with a causative disease, which led to an increase in the component in the blood.
You can check the substance content by taking a blood test. With a neglected state, when cholesterol greatly exceeds the norm, this can manifest itself in the form of:
- deposition of cholesterol under the skin, xanthelasma, xanthomas;
- soreness in the legs after a long walk.
Complications
In normal amounts, cholesterol is able to participate in digestion (a source of bile acid synthesis). It is considered a building material for sex steroid hormones. When a child's content increases and treatment is not performed, because of this, the immune defense decreases with the remaining negative consequences.
Elevated cholesterol in a child causes obstruction of the vessels. Plaques appear on their walls, the outflow of blood is complicated, and at an older age this can lead to atherosclerosis. If there is no treatment, a lipid metabolism disorder occurs in adulthood. Complications affect the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands and central nervous system.
Diagnostics
A blood test allows you to determine whether the child’s total cholesterol is elevated or not. The doctor collects an anamnesis of life and associated diseases, the transferred illnesses of the parents are taken into account. The first analysis is performed after 2 years, and if the level is normal, a secondary diagnosis is carried out after 1-3 years. At the request of the parents, the procedure is performed at any time.
Be sure to take an analysis:
- with excess weight, obesity;
- diabetes mellitus;
- unfavorable family history;
- irregular diet, frequent consumption of fatty foods;
- lack of exercise, lack of exercise;
- deterioration in well-being;
- decreased appetite, diseases of the digestive tract.
Diagnosis allows you to detect cholesterol. If there is a deviation from the norm, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. It is necessary to adhere to all the recommendations provided by a specialist.
Treatment
With increased cholesterol in a child of 10 years old, younger or older, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes dieting and taking medications (statins, fibrates). Normalization is provided with a change in lifestyle. The child will need to spend more time actively, play outdoor games and perform exercises.
Medicines are prescribed on the basis of a causative illness. If control of the content of the component can be ensured by diet and physical activity, medications are not prescribed. To normalize the level of fat in the blood, you must:
- prevent secondhand smoke;
- daily exercise;
- consume fiber;
- eat less sugar;
- restore daily routine, healthy sleep.
Food
Nutrition is important:
- Limit foods containing trans fatty acids and saturated fats.
- It is required to reduce the use of sugar and refined, “fast” carbohydrates.
- The diet should be fish, white meat, whole grain bread.
- Instead of hard fats, vegetable oils should be used.
Fats should be consumed sparingly, not completely excluded. Useful plant foods - fruits, vegetables, cereals, in which there is no cholesterol. But in animal products a lot of it.
Physical exercise
The best method of increasing high density lipoproteins that the body needs is considered exercise. 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 a stronger heartbeat. For children, the following activities will be excellent physical activities:
- a ride on the bicycle;
- roller skating;
- long walks in nature;
- jumping rope;
- ball games.
You need to spend as little time as possible on the TV and gadgets. Children who are prone to obesity usually have a low level of HDL and a high concentration of LDL. With normalization of weight, cholesterol gains the desired level.
Smoking exclusion
It is required to prevent smoking among adolescents, as it adversely affects the lipid profile of the blood and many other aspects of health. It is necessary to protect the child in the gathering places of smokers. After all, second-hand smoke is very harmful. To combat smoking and hypodynamia, a personal example of parents is required, and then the child will also have an idea of a healthy 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 a diet or an incorrect lifestyle.
If cholesterol does not decrease after restoring the diet and adjusting the lifestyle, then special diets are prescribed after consulting a specialist. There are also special workouts that eliminate excess cholesterol. But in complex cases, after consultation with 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.
The primary prevention of complications involves maintaining a normal weight and adhering to the principles of a healthy lifestyle. With high cholesterol, a child can be prescribed drugs to normalize this substance, including statins - Prakhavol. This medication can be used in treatment with a genetic predisposition. Usually, following the advice of a specialist, cholesterol levels become normal.