July 2012
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), metabolic syndrome significantly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and/or stroke.
Children and Cholesterol
If you, your parents, or your parents' siblings had a heart attack before age 55 and you have a child, this advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) might surprise you: Have your child's cholesterol tested.
Under certain circumstances, the AAP says, cholesterol-lowering diets, under a pediatrician's supervision, are safe for children.