Building Healthy Hearts Early

Taking care of our hearts is important from childhood. With the rise of unhealthy habits in kids today, like poor diets and too much screen time, it’s essential to start teaching heart-healthy habits early. Preventive cardiology for kids focuses on helping children develop habits that protect their hearts and set them up for a healthy future.

Why It Matters

Heart disease develops over time, starting in childhood. The good news is that by making healthy choices early, we can help prevent many heart problems down the road. That’s why focusing on heart health in kids is so important.

Key Tips for a Healthy Heart

• Eat Well:
  Follow Canada’s food guide for your child’s age. A balanced diet rich in whole fruits, non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats helps keep kids’ hearts healthy. Limiting sugary snacks and processed foods is key to maintaining a healthy weight and heart.
• Stay Active:
  Follow Canada’s Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth. Exercise strengthens the heart and helps keep kids at a healthy weight. Encourage at least 1 hour of physical activity each day, like playing outside or participating in sports.
• Keep a Healthy Weight:
  Healthy eating and physical activity help kids maintain a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of heart disease later in life.
• Teach Healthy Habits:
  Kids who learn about the benefits of eating well, staying active, and avoiding unhealthy habits (like smoking) are more likely to make heart-healthy choices as they grow up.
• Ask your doctor to screen your child’s cholesterol:
  Did you know that high cholesterol starts in childhood and can be inherited? High cholesterol can happen to everyone, not just kids with other risk factors, like obesity. The only way to know if your child has high cholesterol is to get a blood test that includes a cholesterol panel.

The Long-Term Benefits

Starting good habits early can help kids stay healthy as they grow older. Teaching kids about heart health sets them up for a future of feeling great and staying active. With a little effort, we can all help kids develop habits that lead to healthy, happy lives!

In short, preventing heart problems starts with simple choices today.

Let’s help kids build strong hearts for the future!