Children as young as 9 should now get cholesterol screenings
The question isn’t just have you had your cholesterol checked, it is also, has your nine-year-old?
New guidelines now recommend children as young as nine have their cholesterol screened, according to a report from NewsWorks’ reporter Taunya English.
According to the report, a universal screening may lead to better preventive care for children with multiple risks for heart disease. Early testing could also help doctors detect a somewhat rare genetic disorder that causes elevated levels of what is called “bad” cholesterol.
Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Samuel Gidding says there is value in knowing your cholesterol at a younger age. Dr. Gidding cares for children at A.I. duPont Hospital in Delaware and helped to write the new guidelines.
Click here to read the entire report.
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