High Cholesterol Not an Adult Problem Anymore

It may not seem so weird when you overhear a couple of 40, 50 or 60-year-olds talking about their cholesterol levels, but would you think the same if you heard the same coming from, say, someone who's 13 or 16? Sadly, that could very well be the case these days.

With skyrocketing obesity in America, and surprisingly the same epidemic creeping up in other nations like Italy and Australia, high cholesterol levels and risks for cardiovascular disease come with it.  Kids, learning habits from overweight parents, are also becoming overweight. High cholesterol levels, which seem like would take some time to elevate and develop, are now showing up in teenagers. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 American teenagers has unhealthy cholesterol levels. Oh the statin drug companies are happy about this one!

But let's pause for a minute before we allow our doctor eagerly write a prescription for us at the slightest mention of a statin drug commercial we've seen. Has anyone ever explained the side effects of Lipitor, Pravachol or Vytorin to you? What may seem as mild as some acute muscle pain is actually muscle tissues degrading and creating a huge burden on your kidneys. The kidneys, overloaded with pressure to process this damaged tissue, begin to fail. Memory loss and cataracts are other side effects of statin drugs. Can you imagine a teenager suffering from these effects? It would be like a 16-year-old suffering from similar pains as a senior!

These side effects are pretty scary, huh? However, there is an easy solution that few people seem to really want to follow: change your lifestyle. Teens: get off the couch, get out from in front of the computer and start substituting fast foods and sweets for some fruits and veggies, otherwise bad cholesterol is coming for you. In addition to changing your diet, there are natural supplements out there that work towards keeping your good and bad cholesterols in check. Look for omega-3s and supplements that contain cholesterol-supporting compounds like aged garlic, plant sterols and antioxidants. If you take a red yeast rice supplement, look for ones that also contain CoQ10.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/statin-side-effects/MY00205
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/21/us-cholesterol-teens-usa-idUSTRE60K54I20100121