Causes of High Cholesterol

High cholesterol can cause a lot of further health problems in children and adults. Among these problems, the one that gets the most attention is the risk of heart disease. There are many potential causes of high cholesterol in children and adults. Generally, with high cholesterol in children, it is important to look into possible genetic factors. This is especially true if there is a genetic history of high cholesterol or if your child has high cholesterol even with healthy diet and exercise.

Poor Diet and Obesity

One potential cause for high cholesterol is a poor diet. Saturated fats, which can be found in animal products, as well as trans fats that are found in some cookies and crackers, can both raise your cholesterol levels. It is best to eat unhealthy foods sparingly, if at all, and to keep track of your intake. Obesity is another factor that can cause high cholesterol, and is also caused by not watching what you eat and how much you are eating. In addition to eating healthier foods, you want to make sure you are practicing portion control.

Poor Exercise

A lack of exercise is another cause of high cholesterol, and a lack of exercise can become a factor of high cholesterol in children as fewer children are playing outside and more are spending their days watching television and playing video games. It is important to monitor how much time your child is spending in front of a television and encourage outdoor activities such as sports and family events that get the family up and moving.

Smoking and Diabetes

For older family members, smoking can also increase your risk of high cholesterol. Diabetes is also a factor that can be found in all ages. If you have a family member with diabetes, make sure to take extra precautions with what they eat so that they are less likely to have problems with their cholesterol.

Sometimes, high cholesterol can be caused by genetics. Although there is nothing you can do to change your genetic makeup, all hope is not lost; there are many ways to decrease the risk of early heart disease, even in those that are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol. If high cholesterol runs in your family, make sure to get tested for high cholesterol in children as well as adults, and speak to a dietitian and exercise specialist about how you can make your family healthier. Also try to avoid the risk factors mentioned above so that the problem doesn’t become worse.