Early Prevention of High Cholesterol

A large study in England tested 10,000 children around age one for high cholesterol and genetic mutations known to be associated with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) – a genetic disorder that often leads to early heart diseases. 40 children tested positive for FH, at a rate of about one in 270 children.

Their parents were then screened and overall, out of every 125 people tested, one person at high risk of early heart attack was identified. When high-risk children are identified, they can then take preventive measures such as exercising, avoiding smoking, eating healthily and taking statin medication (when older).

Testing the cholesterol of babies during routine vaccination visits could prevent hundreds of heart attacks in young adults each year. However, do note that this is an initial proposition from the study, and more in-depth research should be done first.