Inherited Cholesterol Risk in Children Recognize Early

vol.at · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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22.02.2026 07:02 (Akt. 22.02.2026 07:02) Ärzte schlagen Alarm bei Kinder-Cholesterin. ©Canva (Sujet)Approximately every 250th child is affected by familial hypercholesterolemia and has significantly elevated LDL cholesterol levels from birth. This increases the risk of heart attack or stroke in young adulthood by 20 times.AnzeigeAnzeigeOne in 250 children has elevated LDL cholesterol levels from birth due to hereditary causes. This results in a 20-fold increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke at an early adult age. However, this can be counteracted with early diagnosis through lifestyle modifications such as sufficient exercise and healthy nutrition and/or with medication. This was reported by specialists on Friday ahead of a symposium in Vienna.Defective Receptors Lead to High LDL LevelsIn familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), receptors in the liver are missing or do not function properly, explained pediatrician Kurt Widhalm at a press conference. As a result, LDL is not supplied to the metabolism via the liver but remains in increased concentration in the vessels. There, it can accumulate even in childhood.“The crucial point is that you don’t feel these deposits for a long time until at some point the narrowing of the vessels is so severe that it leads to a heart attack, a stroke, or a circulatory disorder, and these events are usually dramatic,” said the university professor, on the occasion of whose 80th birthday the symposium on familial hypercholesterolemia was initiated on Friday afternoon.Therefore, it is so important to diagnose hypercholesterolemia early and to inquire within the family whether there is a history of it or also of early heart attacks and strokes, emphasized Widhalm. Despite simple diagnosis, many cases of FH remain undetected, it was stated at the media event.Therapy Enables “Normal Life”The first point after diagnosis is always healthy nutrition, the second is physical activity. “We need to get people to engage in intensive exercise,” explained Widhalm. The third step is then – if necessary, but in many cases already in childhood – a medicinal therapy. For example, there are so-called statins to lower LDL cholesterol levels, which according to Widhalm have hardly any side effects. Also promising are PCSK9 inhibitors, which are in development, as well as new “gene methods” that could be available in ten to 15 years, hoped Widhalm.Thanks to an early diagnosis by Professor Widhalm at the age of four, as well as medicinal therapy, healthy nutrition, and exercise, “I am allowed to lead a wonderful, normal life today,” reported the now young adult Lena-Rosa Hanauer at the media event as an affected person. It is important to act early and no family should be afraid of the diagnosis, because it gives the affected people “a good future.”Sport and Nutrition Important for Quality of LifeThe importance of lifestyle modifications was endorsed by sports and exercise scientist Rhoia Neidenbach and Sven-David Müller from the German Diabetes Society. They spoke of “sport as medicine” and “nutrition as medicine.” Smoking should also be avoided, emphasized Neidenbach, and “not only for quality of life, but for the entire vascular system, exercise is of enormous importance.”An additional risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in familial hypercholesterolemia is elevated blood fat lipoprotein(a). Affected individuals should also keep an eye on this value, recommended Oliver Helk, Vice President of the Academic Institute for Nutritional Medicine (ÖAIE), organizer of the symposium and press conference. Furthermore, doctors should not only be seen as “repair physicians,” but also as “health managers,” thus strengthening prevention. “50 percent of chronic diseases are lifestyle-related,” said Peter Lehner, chairman of the Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS). Prevention is important. Teenagers used to exercise for about three hours a day in the 1970s, “today it is about one hour in three days,” he reported. “Exercise means joy of life,” emphasized Lehner.Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.(APA/Red)This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.