THe Kiddie Cholesterol Debate

[tulip]

I had my first cholesterol test back in the 70s when I was 11 years old back in the good ole days when they had health clinics in the schools. My cholesterol was very high but I was not a fat kid (there seemed to be so few back then!)

For me, it's something that I have to keep an eye on. It's mainly genetic for me. I've been able to keep it reasonable on my own, but it'll always be borderline at best.

[KnottedYet]

I have the DVD's of the first seasons of Sesame Street.

Man, folks were skinny back then!

My cholesterol was in the 270's as a teenager. I've gotta get SKnot's checked soon. I hate to have to do that to a kid, but it's a genetic thing in my family: thin active people with high cholesterol and early heart attacks.

[OakLeaf]

I don't know, I just really have a problem with this.

Maybe if cholesterol tests become a motivation for parents to develop a healthy family lifestyle, they're beneficial.

But the existing cholesterol drugs are SO toxic - AFAIK they are not approved for pediatric use - AND they are not proven to reduce heart disease, only markers for heart disease.

Sorry if it just sounds to me like the drug companies' riposte to the consumer/FDA backlash against overmedicating kids with psychiatric drugs. They have to find another way to sell more drugs.

I'm sure there are individual cases (like yours obviously Knot!) where it may be appropriate, but as a general thing, it just makes me mad.

[maillotpois]

Yeah I really worry about the damage to other parts of the body from the drugs. (DH has genetically high cholesterol as well, even when he's skinny as he is now. He always has to go get liver function tests to make sure no damage is being done from the drugs.) I don't know what I'd do as a parent.

Our doctors here in my IPA all seem VERY reluctant to push meds - they don't like giving antibiotics unless absolutely needed (we've had several instances of this from our pediatrician - and even yesterday from my gyn!). I have to hope they'd be very conservative about something like this.

[Jolt]

Holy cow. Unbelievable that they are looking to start prescribing statins for kids when there's not even any real info as to what the effects might be. I agree that there's a huge (no pun intended) problem as far as childhood obesity and that it may not be a bad idea, in light of the situation, to look at cholesterol levels in kids if they're overweight or have a family history of cholesterol problems. That said, the way to fix this isn't to push the "quick fix" of medications that have side effects and may affect growing children differently than adults. Parents need to take responsibility for making sure they and their children eat a healthy diet (occasional treats are OK, sitting in front of the TV eating Twinkies every day isn't) and get sufficient exercise, and health professionals need to give them information and support to do so. Pretty simple, but unfortunately not so easy in our society. However, it needs to happen in order to keep kids healthy.

[Jolt]

Our doctors here in my IPA all seem VERY reluctant to push meds - they don't like giving antibiotics unless absolutely needed (we've had several instances of this from our pediatrician - and even yesterday from my gyn!). I have to hope they'd be very conservative about something like this.

That's great--I wish more doctors were like that. Obviously the meds are needed sometimes, but in a lot of cases they're prescribed when not necessary and in the case of antibiotics that can result in their not working when they really ARE needed and bad things happening due to an uncontrollable infection.

[Crankin]

After reading the articles on this and seeing some doctors being interviewed on TV, I am pretty sure that the intent is to use the statins only AFTER exercise and diet changes don't work in kids. Both of my kids were tested for cholesterol when they were toddlers and kids. They were fine, but I wish my husband had been tested. He is like Knott... skinny people with horrible levels of cholesterol and many heart attacks and strokes. On both sides of his family! If he had been aware of his high cholesterol from an early age, he might have avoided the 2 80% blockages and resulting stents he had put in 3 years ago.
I agree that changing kid's lifestyle is the most important thing, but I think some of those kids might need a little more than that so they don't end up with coronary disease at age 25.