Cholesterol Drugs For Kids Recommended
I honestly thought I was hearing things or dreaming when I heard this news report yesterday. I had to rewind and watch it again--did they say "some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems."
Here I thought I should teach my children how to avoid these problems through nutrition and exercise, now there's a magic pill out there that might or might not do it for them.
I think it's crazy to even consider this concept. Doctors should not be pushing drugs for an unknown event, they should be pushing the obvious, living a healthy lifestyle.
I don't know, but maybe based on this comment, there is good reason to consider this new treatment: "Drug treatment would generally be targeted for kids at least 8 years old who have too much LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, along with other risky conditions, including obesity and high blood pressure. "
The studies show that these drugs are "generally" safe, much like studies showed that Gardasil was safe and as it turns out there are reports now that it has caused severe paralysis and neurological damages in children.
What are your thoughts on this?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/07/health/main4235922.shtml
Here I thought I should teach my children how to avoid these problems through nutrition and exercise, now there's a magic pill out there that might or might not do it for them.
I think it's crazy to even consider this concept. Doctors should not be pushing drugs for an unknown event, they should be pushing the obvious, living a healthy lifestyle.
I don't know, but maybe based on this comment, there is good reason to consider this new treatment: "Drug treatment would generally be targeted for kids at least 8 years old who have too much LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, along with other risky conditions, including obesity and high blood pressure. "
The studies show that these drugs are "generally" safe, much like studies showed that Gardasil was safe and as it turns out there are reports now that it has caused severe paralysis and neurological damages in children.
What are your thoughts on this?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/07/health/main4235922.shtml
Tags: HDL, LDL, cholesterolforkids, exercise, weightloss
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David on -
Many chronic illness' are genetic. I was diagnosed with High-Blood Pressure at 15. Both of my parnets have had heart attacks,by-pass surgeries, and long-term heart disesase. In the situation you describe, if it is not harmful for kids, then I support it. Put another way, if it decreses the chances of them having Cholesterol related problems later in life, what harm can it do? Of course, it must be done in conjunction with leading a healty lifestyle, IMO.
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Permalink Reply by David on
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I agree, Diana. I'm basing my response on a "what-if" scenario. If children at a young age are already demonstrating unusually high or abnormal levels of medically related problems that are not usual for their peer groups, then medication should be considered under the right set of circumstances.
OTOH, I also agree that the use of medication to try and treat what can and should be done through proper diet, nutrition, and exercise is nothing more than Big Pharma and the Doctor's collusion.
It all depends and is on a case by case basis.
The main point of my response is that sometimes genetics play such a powerful role in people's lives--they are doomed before they are able to be able to get out of the starting gate.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on -
Just as David said, there may be hereditary factors that would lead to prescribing the medication, but IMHO, these aren't the norm.
In general, we tend to be a pill popping society, always looking for the easy way out. Unless the prescription is being supplemented with diet and exercise advice, counseling, or even a structured program, I think it's totally wrong of doctors to prescribe it.
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Permalink Reply by Susanna on -
I agree Lisa. My husband has hereditary cholesterol issues, but he has managed to take care of it with diet and exercise.
Too many parents are just not willing to teach their kids how to have a healthy lifestyle. This probably due to the fact the parents do not know how to have a healthy lifestyle. Not that it is especially easy to know how to do that. We are inundated with conflicting information and false advertising.
It is my hope that doctors prescribe such medications after educating the parents and after confirming the child has a healthy diet and exercise using a eating/exercise diary kept by the parents.
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Permalink Reply by Susana on -
Unfortunately, we live in a society where commercials tell us to buy everything because is good, take such pill because is good, eat junk food because it tastes good... people need to start thinking about that and try to avoid the problem before it starts.
I agree that cholesterol could be in the genes. But have a good lifestyle education to prevent that first. Why not try a diet light in fat, more exercise, more knowledge about foods... if not, there would be the pill.
Doctors might be pushing the pill because of the pharmaceutical industry. There are many interests on it.
I have never seen so much obesity in children than in the US. That means that something is wrong!
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Permalink Reply by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H. on -
I agree that it was surprising to read.
The Pediatric Association statement did say that the first step should be a trial of diet and exercise for 6-12 months. Obviously this is, by far, the best treatment. Only after that should meds be considered. There has also been news that the trend toward increased childhood obesity is predicted to lead to early onset of type 2 diabetes.
The American Heart Association has issued a recent statement that the role of diet in adults needs to be pushed harder than it is now.
All meds have potential side effects and should be reserved for those that do not respond to lifesyle changes that can make so much difference in so many. o
James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
www.familydoctormag.com
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Permalink Reply by SpinDiva on -
It is frustrating and painful to see so many middle school and elementary school kids having trouble breathing when they climb the stairs or unable to run or play because they get tired so fast. I know that there are genetic situations where medication is the answer, but we can't deny (and I know no one here does) that living a healthy lifestyle is key in preventing and sometimes treating some of the problems experienced by everyone.
It all starts at home, regardless of what the school cafe offers, or that there are vending machines or that the kid is going to a party. We have to teach our children how to read a food label, how to identify foods that are not good for them, regardless of their fat content, portion control, portion sizes, etc. The problem, as many here pointed out, is that the adults in their lives may not know or may not want to know any of this so there in lies the problem.
I have nothing against medication, when all else fails. Thanks everyone, for you input. As much as I would love to just go out there and change the world, I know we can only do it one parent or one child at a time. ;-)
Thank You all for your contribution to my question about this topic.
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Permalink Reply by Eve on
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High cholestrol is genetic in my family. High triglycerides even more so. I have been on medication for this since I was in my 20's. I recently had to give up my meds because of side effects. I'm hoping after a bit of time has passed I might be able to tolerate them again, but I'm not very optimistic about this. I would hate to see my grandchildren given these same medications. As Christine said, these are powerful drugs with potentially dangerous side effects. Unfortunately there are times when lifestyle changes just don't work.
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Permalink Reply by Susana on
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Sheila, I love your comment!
My husband and I practiced the same lifestyle for our children. I have never let my children to have all the cookies they wanted. I used to give them what I thought it was OK. I felt bad about this but I'm happy now they are OK. We had dinner even later than seven at that time so they needed some snack but not so much.
We always have some kind of schedule for our food... be good on weekdays and have some treats during the weekend.
The most important thing is that I'm so happy for what I did and for what they are now. They have never complained about our diet. They accepted right away to go vegetarians. It was probably because it was the right age to do it. My son always says, "you both taught me what was right"
Congratulations for what you are doing! I hope one day your children can say the same to you!
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