Who isn’t worried about developing cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death in Western countries? We think of heart disease as being an adult health problem, but the roots of a damaged heart and blood vessels begin much earlier. How early? Based on the results of autopsies, researchers now know that the characteristic changes to the heart and blood vessels that lead to cardiovascular disease start during childhood.
It’s hard to think of a child as having heart problems, but damage to the inner walls of the coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart first shows up during childhood and adolescence, and lifestyle impacts how much injury the arteries sustain. What’s more, the damage that builds up during childhood increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and stroke as an adult.
How do we know that cardiovascular disease begins early in life? A study of 42,000 children that started in the 1970s looked at risk factors for heart disease and followed the kids into adulthood. The participants are now in the fifth decade of life. Based on who developed cardiovascular disease, scientists determined what risk factors during childhood were most important for the unfolding of cardiovascular disease later in life. Based on statistics, they identified important childhood risks for cardiovascular disease as an adult.
Let’s look at those so we can take steps to manage risk factors as early as possible. Also, it’s important to know if you had any of these risk factors as a child, you may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke as an adult.
Elevated Cholesterol
It’s no secret that childhood obesity is harmful to kids now and later in life. Based on the study, researchers found that each 10% increase in serum cholesterol during childhood was associated with a 16% greater risk of being hospitalized for a heart attack or stroke in the fifth decade of life. Therefore, it is important to know a child’s family history. Some kids have a genetic defect in the LDL-receptor, the receptor that takes up cholesterol and removes it from the bloodstream. This manifests as familial hypercholesterolemia, a powerful risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease early and, if untreated, an early death.
Kids that have two defective copies of the LDL receptor gene linked with familiar hypercholesterolemia are at highest risk. Fortunately, having two copies is rare. Only about one in a million kids have two copies of the gene that leads to a markedly elevated cholesterol. However, it’s more common to have one defective copy, a situation that leads to an elevated cholesterol but not to the same degree. In fact, about one in every 200 to 300 children have one defective copy of the LDL-receptor gene. Beginning treatment early lowers a child’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with a strong family history of cardiovascular disease before age 55 should get lipid testing no later than age 10. Identifying kids who have an elevated cholesterol early and taking steps to lower it can reduce their risk of heart disease later.
Body Mass Index
It’s not surprising that this study links childhood obesity with cardiovascular disease as an adult. Being obese early in life carries the greatest risk. Also, carrying obesity into adulthood increases the risk of cardiovascular disease even more than childhood obesity alone. In fact, the study found that every 2 point increase in BMI increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%.
How does obesity raise the odds of developing heart disease? For one, children who are obese are more likely to have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, and an elevated blood sugar. However, a 26-year study found that obesity is a risk factor independent of other known risk factors such as hypertension and abnormal lipids. The study also concluded that gaining weight as a young adult raised the odds too. With the rise in childhood obesity, we can expect the incidence of heart disease to increase in the future.
Blood Pressure
We know that hypertension places an added strain on the heart and blood vessels and that having elevated blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in an adult. However, kids need to watch their blood pressure too! In fact, the study found that a 10% increase above average in systolic blood pressure during childhood was associated with a 40% greater risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
When should you start checking a child’s blood pressure? Cardiologists recommend taking blood pressure readings starting at age 3. Also, feeding kids a whole, unprocessed diet with lots of fruits and vegetables may lower the risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Smoking
Smoking is a lifestyle habit that damages arteries and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and secondhand smoke matters too. A study that followed 2,500 children for 26 years concluded that children who have parents who smoke are also at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers looked at the arteries of the children with ultrasound to see how much plaque accumulation they had. Kids who lived in a home where their parents smoked had more. It’s another reason for parents not to smoke too!
The Bottom Line
The earlier we control risk factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the better. As you can see, the damage can start early, and many parents are unaware that their children have risk factors such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol since these health problems are less common during childhood. However, the incidence is increasing among kids and adolescent and it’s partially related to the obesity epidemic. The sooner we take action, the better!
References:
- 2006 Nov; 92(11): 1701–1706. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2005.081760.
- 1983 May;67(5):968-77.
- 2003 Mar 25;107(11):1473-8.
- Clin Biochem Rev. 2018 Aug; 39(3): 65–76.
- org. “Children of Smokers Have Increased Risk of Heart Disease in Adulthood”
- “Check Blood Pressure Starting at Age 3”
Related Articles By Cathe:
Beyond Heart Disease: Why Exercise May Lower the Risk of a Variety of Health Problems
6 Surprising Facts about Heart Disease and Women
6 Myths About Heart Disease in Women – Debunked
Heart Disease Isn’t Just a Man’s Disease
4 Things You Should Know about Exercising with High Blood Pressure
Heart Disease Runs in the Family: How Worried Should You Be?
Beyond Sodium: is Sugar What’s Raising Your Blood Pressure?
5 Surprising Facts about Heart Disease You Probably Don’t Know
Is High-Intensity Exercise Better for Your Heart Than Moderate-Intensity Exercise?
