The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) has released crucial new guidelines aimed at protecting the long-term heart health of children. The society now recommends that all children between the ages of two and ten undergo cholesterol screening. This move comes after findings that atherosclerosis (the buildup of fats in the arteries), which causes heart attacks and strokes in adults, often begins as early as childhood.
Studies indicate that approximately 1 in 300 children may have Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)—a genetic condition causing high cholesterol that can only be identified through testing. For children with high cholesterol that cannot be managed through lifestyle changes alone, medication can be started as early as age eight. Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Michael Khoury noted that this intervention could prevent up to 95% of severe heart-related issues in adulthood.
By screening early, experts hope to prevent heart attacks that often strike undiagnosed individuals in their 30s and 40s. “We are treating the child today with their 30-year-old and 40-year-old self in mind,” Dr. Khoury explained. Health experts believe this proactive plan to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) will significantly secure the future health of the younger generation.
