Cholesterol: a practical teaching plan for children and adolescents

Hypercholesterolemia is a problem not only shared by many adults but also by their children. It has been hypothesized that fatty streaks in the aorta may be established by 10 years of age, thus aiding in the process of calcification later in life. Autopsy exams on young U.S. soldiers killed in Viet Nam and Korea revealed coronary calcification in 45-77%. Pediatric nurses can do much to assist both parents and their children in learning the appropriate diet and exercise regimen necessary to help reduce the cholesterol-heart disease risk in identified children.