What is high cholesterol in children and teens?

Cholesterol is a type of fat in the blood. It is needed for many body functions, such as making new cells. Cholesterol is made by the body and also comes from food your child eats. High cholesterol means your child has too much of this type of fat in their blood.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL. LDL is the "bad" cholesterol that builds up inside the blood vessel walls, making them too narrow. This reduces the flow of blood and can cause a heart attack or stroke. HDL is the "good" cholesterol that helps clear bad cholesterol from the body.

High cholesterol can be caused by eating food with too much saturated fat in it or by being overweight. It can also run in families.

High cholesterol has no symptoms. You may find out that your child has high cholesterol when your child's doctor does a routine cholesterol test.

High cholesterol is diagnosed with a blood test. The test measures the level of total cholesterol plus the level of different types of cholesterol and fats in your blood. These include LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. High cholesterol levels don't cause symptoms. A blood test is the only way to know your cholesterol levels.

• Treatment includes doing the same things you do to prevent high cholesterol. Your doctor may ask that your child eat healthy foods, lose extra weight, and be more active. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to make diet changes so that your child can get proper nutrition while trying to lower cholesterol.
• Less often, medicines, such as a statin, may be used to help lower cholesterol levels. If this is true for your child, have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with the medicine.

If your doctor prescribed medicine, take it as instructed, and have a heart-healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle includes eating heart-healthy foods. Be active. Stay at a weight that's healthy for you. Try to get enough sleep. And if you smoke or vape, try to quit.