Heart disease affects an estimated 62,000 million Americans, more than any other illness. Healthcare professionals agree obese adults are at increased risk for heart disease, but now researchers are finding the same risk is true for obese children.
With cases of childhood obesity in the United States tripling between 1980 and 2000, there is great cause for concern. Heart disease is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart. This causes chest pain, heart attacks and even heart failure. Heart disease is already the leading cause of death in the United States and now there is strong evidence that children who are obese or have high cholesterol show early warning signs of this disease.
Studies have found that the thickness of artery walls of children and teenagers with obesity or high cholesterol resemble the thickness of artery walls of an average 45 year old. Just a small increase in body weight substantially increases the risk of developing heart disease and the older the child, the higher the chance of developing heart disease later on in life.
The link between childhood obesity and heart disease is alarming but the good news is we know how to treat, prevent and reverse childhood obesity. By helping children maintain a healthy weight, parents and other caregivers can help children avoid developing heart disease.
The final free blood pressure screening offered by the Marion Regional Healthcare System will be Thursday, Feb. 25 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in A Woman’s Pace. For information, call (843) 431-2080.
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