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| Teen heart risks 'can be tackled', a study suggests | Teen heart risks 'can be tackled', a study suggests |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Health campaigns targeted at teens could help reduce their risk of heart problems as adults, a study suggests. | Health campaigns targeted at teens could help reduce their risk of heart problems as adults, a study suggests. |
| Concerns have been raised that warning signs like high cholesterol are being seen in the young, laying the foundation for future health problems. | Concerns have been raised that warning signs like high cholesterol are being seen in the young, laying the foundation for future health problems. |
| But the study of more than 500 people found those with high cholesterol at 15 could normalise it by their mid-30s. | But the study of more than 500 people found those with high cholesterol at 15 could normalise it by their mid-30s. |
| The Australian research is published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. | The Australian research is published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. |
| Participants in the Australian study had levels of cholesterol and other blood fats measured in 1985 when they were aged 9, 12 or 15. | Participants in the Australian study had levels of cholesterol and other blood fats measured in 1985 when they were aged 9, 12 or 15. |
| They were measured again between 2004 and 2006, an average of 20 years later. | They were measured again between 2004 and 2006, an average of 20 years later. |
| High risk levels in this study were defined as a total cholesterol level of 240 miligrams per deciliter or higher (6.2mmol/l). | High risk levels in this study were defined as a total cholesterol level of 240 miligrams per deciliter or higher (6.2mmol/l). |
| The average total cholesterol level in the UK is 5.5mmol/l for men and 5.6mmol/l for women. | The average total cholesterol level in the UK is 5.5mmol/l for men and 5.6mmol/l for women. |
| Height, weight, waist circumference, skin-fold thickness, smoking habits and cardio-respiratory fitness were also measured in the study. | Height, weight, waist circumference, skin-fold thickness, smoking habits and cardio-respiratory fitness were also measured in the study. |
| Good and bad | Good and bad |
| Of those participants who had high-risk cholesterol levels in their youth, those who stopped smoking or lost weight became low-risk in adulthood, while those who increased their body weight or who started smoking were more likely to maintain those high-risk levels 20 years later. | Of those participants who had high-risk cholesterol levels in their youth, those who stopped smoking or lost weight became low-risk in adulthood, while those who increased their body weight or who started smoking were more likely to maintain those high-risk levels 20 years later. |
| Costan Magnussen, lead study author from the University of Tasmania, said their findings were important. | Costan Magnussen, lead study author from the University of Tasmania, said their findings were important. |
| "They suggest that beneficial changes in modifiable risk factors in the time between youth and adulthood have the potential to shift those with high-risk blood lipid and lipoprotein levels in youth to low-risk levels in adulthood," he said. | "They suggest that beneficial changes in modifiable risk factors in the time between youth and adulthood have the potential to shift those with high-risk blood lipid and lipoprotein levels in youth to low-risk levels in adulthood," he said. |
| He added that prevention programmes targeted at the young could also benefit those who develop bad habits as they get older. | He added that prevention programmes targeted at the young could also benefit those who develop bad habits as they get older. |
| Dr John Coleman, chairman of the Association for Young People's Health, said: "This reseach gives a very clear example of why we need to invest more in adolescent health and make it a higher priority. | Dr John Coleman, chairman of the Association for Young People's Health, said: "This reseach gives a very clear example of why we need to invest more in adolescent health and make it a higher priority. |
| "It is clear that young people's lifestyle choices have a long term impact on their health and it is cost effective and sensible to work with them to encourage healthy habits." | "It is clear that young people's lifestyle choices have a long term impact on their health and it is cost effective and sensible to work with them to encourage healthy habits." |
| Mike Knaptonof the Brtish Heart Foundation said: "All teenagers can do something to improve their cholesterol. | |
| "We should all be eating five portions of fruit and veg a day. And, most importantly, the message is don't smoke." |