... for the Kids
Creating a heart healthy life for your kids starts now...
Pregnancy & Birth
Preventing heart disease should start at an early age - how early? Well as soon as you know you're pregnant - stop smoking, don't drink and check with your doctor about how to have a healthy pregnancy to give your child the best chance at a heart healthy life. Low Birth weight has been shown to be linked with increased risk of heart disease as an adult. So even during your pregnancy you may be able to help protect your child from having heart disease as an adult; by working with your doctor to avoid a low birth weight.
You can begin to assess you child's risk of heart disease by talking to your family. Talk with your parents and siblings about their medical concerns, especially any family history of heart disease or diabetes.
Early Life
The environment that surrounds your child at a very early age can affect their risk of getting childhood diseases such childhood obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure or cholesterol. Eating behaviors, such as eating at home and with family, form the base of your child's relationship with food. As a parent you are the model for how your child will interact with the world, decreasing time in front of the computer or television screen can go a long way to prevent childhood obesity. Also eliminating exposure to tobacco, drugs and alcohol can also help to keep your kid healthy.
Elementary School
- Picking a school - Look to see if you child attends a school with a School Breakfast Program. Children who start their day with a healthy meal eat more fruits, vegetables and protein.
- With your child, focus on controlling weight, this is an important step to preventing obesity and childhood diabetes.
- Health education in school can have great effects. Talk with local teachers, parents and school boards to make sure your children are getting the extra education they need
The Doctor's Office
Kids with high blood pressure or a higher risk of childhood diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease as adults. So just like it is important to know your numbers - the same goes for your children. Talk to your Pediatrician and make sure your child's is screened for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other risk factors that can cause heart disease.
- Tanrikulu M, Agirbasli M, Berenson G. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 2016.
- Agirbasli M, Tanrikulu A, Berenson G. Metabolic Syndrome: Bridging the Gap from Childhood to Adulthood.Cardiovascular Therapeutics. 2016;34(1):30–36.
- Berenson G. Cardiovascular Risk Begins in Childhood A Time for Action. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2009;37(1):S1–S2
- Steffen L, Dai S, Fulton J, Labarthe D. Overweight in Children and Adolescents Associated with TV Viewing and Parental Weight Project HeartBeat! American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2009;37(1):S50–S55