Monday, July 07, 2008

Our poor children!

I don't even know what to say about this!
For the first time, an influential doctors group is recommending that some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems.
Mind you, there is little if any evidence that cholesterol medications prevent heart disease!

It is the strongest guidance ever given on the issue by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which released its new guidelines Monday. The academy also recommends low-fat milk for 1-year-olds and wider cholesterol testing.

Dr. Stephen Daniels, of the academy's nutrition committee, says the new advice is based on mounting evidence showing that damage leading to heart disease, the nation's leading killer, begins early in life.

It also stems from recent research showing that cholesterol-fighting drugs are generally safe for children, Daniels said.

Wow...."generally safe"? Really? Many adults that have been damaged (or died) from statins may disagree. Can we at least have a citation for the "recent research"??
Several of these drugs are approved for use in children and data show that increasing numbers are using them.
Oh well.....if more kids are using them, then I guess it's ok for most kids?

"If we are more aggressive about this in childhood, I think we can have an impact on what happens later in life ... and avoid some of these heart attacks and strokes in adulthood," Daniels said. He has worked as a consultant to Abbott Laboratories and Merck & Co., but not on matters involving their cholesterol drugs.

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.

For overweight children with too little HDL, the "good" cholesterol, the first course of action should be weight loss, more physical activity and nutritional counseling, the academy says.

Pediatricians should routinely check the cholesterol of children with a family history of inherited cholesterol disease or with parents or grandparents who developed heart disease at an early age, the recommendations say. Screening also is advised for kids whose family history isn't known and those who are overweight, obese or have other heart disease risk factors.

Screening is recommended sometime after age 2 but no later than age 10, at routine checkups.

We've been SOOOOOO successful with adults, now we have to work on the kids!

Read more here and for the New york Times article click here. (Registration required for NYT article.

We have GOT to get some sensible people in charge!

4 comments:

. said...

OMG!!!! that makes me so mad!!!

Alcinda (Cindy) Moore said...

Me too Sherrie! I'm glad my kids are grown....I would refuse to allow them to be tested, let alone go on meds!

Unknown said...

Cindy,
Happ from Tender Joints Forum here. I apologize for using your comment function to contact you, but in my defense I have not *seen* you and just checking in to ask if you are OK.

Peace and happiness! Happ

Alcinda (Cindy) Moore said...

Hi Happ!! I'm doing good....off meds for a few more days due to testing, but hope to get back on them soon. I've been busy....work has been a pain and I've been working with some ladies trying to get a support forum up and running.

I've got a day off this weekend....I'll try and get on the forum and get caught up!

Thanks for being concerned!! How are YOU doing??