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Teenagers' Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease isn't a major killers of teenagers, but the risk is still there. Certain risk factors can increase a teenager's chance of developing heart disease. According to the Texas Heart Institute, most of the heart disease risk factors that affect teenagers can be controlled and, if controlled, can help to prevent them from developing heart disease as teenagers as well as adults.

  1. High Blood Pressure

    • Teenagers with high blood pressure have an increased risk of developing heart disease. In teenagers, high blood pressure is considered serious. However, according to the Texas Heart Institute, fewer than 3 percent of U.S. children suffer from high blood pressure. Teenage high blood pressure can be caused by genetics or by certain lifestyle habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, high salt intake and being overweight or obese. Making healthy lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet and losing excess weight can help to lower a teenager's blood pressure and his risk of developing heart disease.

    High Cholesterol

    • Teenagers with high cholesterol are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. According to the Texas Heart Institute, fewer than 15 percent of American children suffer from high cholesterol, but cholesterol problems in the teen years can lead to major cholesterol problems in the adult years. Some teenagers have high cholesterol due to genetics, but lifestyle habits are the biggest contributor. These lifestyle habits include high blood pressure, obesity, a high-fat diet and smoking. Losing weight, lowering blood pressure and quitting smoking can greatly decrease their cholesterol and heart-disease risks.

    Smoking

    • According to the Texas Heart Institute, approximately 3 million U.S. teenagers smoke. The Texas Heart Institute also states that smoking cigarettes causes approximately 75 percent of all heart-diseases cases in the United States every year. The only way to decrease this risk of teenage heart disease is to quit smoking.

    Obesity

    • According to the Texas Heart Institute, approximately 16 to 30 percent of U.S. teenagers and children are obese. Obesity is one of the most prominent risk factors of teenage heart disease. To combat obesity a teenager must take the necessary steps to lower her body weight. To lower body weight, teenagers must exercise regularly and eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

    Physical Inactivity

    • Physical inactivity is a teenage risk for heart disease. According to the Texas Heart Institute, this risk factor is a major heart disease risk factor. Physical inactivity also puts teenagers at a higher risk of developing other serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. To combat this heart disease risk factor, teenagers need to increase their physical activity and exercise levels.

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