HEART

What can be done to maintain a child's heart health?

It is during infancy that the body develops little by little. It is also during this period that parents must do their best to help them be healthy. If there are diseases that can threaten a child's health, cardiovascular disease would be in the top 10. Decades ago, no one would have thought that children could also suffer from cardiovascular disease that is not genetically related. In fact, today's lifestyle, combined with the evolution of technology, is making children's heart health more fragile. And in what follows, you'll find all the information you need to help children maintain good cardiovascular health.

What weakens a child's cardiovascular health

Usually, when parents have young children, they make sure they protect them from falls. To this end, parents do everything in their power to minimize the risk of falls and injuries. They may even go as far as forbidding them to run. But what parents don't know is that their children are at greater risk if they stay still at home. Indeed, to preserve a child's cardiovascular health, it is important to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. In other  words, they need to be physically active.

In fact, with the current mode of travel, adults and children no longer walk enough. But the biggest threat to children's health is technology. The same goes for games. Indeed, with the almost annual release of new game consoles, children remain cloistered inside their homes  and in front of the screen. It is well known that sitting for hours in front of the screen can be harmful to the health of the heart and the eyes. Also, this highly sedentary lifestyle promotes overweight and obesity in young children. It's important that young children strengthen their heart and vascular health. In addition to the increasingly sedentary lifestyle, a child's diet can also influence cardiovascular health. Recent decades have been marked by the appearance and development of high-calorie, but nutrient-poor fast food. Currently, access to this type of food is very easy, especially since the whole family can have it delivered in a few minutes without having to travel. This is a real time bomb for the deterioration of the heart health of very young children.

How can we protect the health of the cardiovascular system in very young children?

Protecting children's heart health starts with getting them back to physical activity. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 60 minutes of physical activity daily for children aged 5 to 17. This helps strengthen cardiovascular health and invigorates the body. And if you have a young child, don't be afraid when your child takes small falls. Physical exertion is good for your child and helps him or her get stronger. For older children, don't hesitate to encourage them to go cycling, soccer, swimming or running. In fact, even if the  risk of falling is real when doing these activities, it is not during these hours devoted to physical effort that your child takes the greatest risk to his health.

What are the effects of the activity on their health?

Many people believe that it is only with age that cardiovascular disease occurs. However, arteries and blood vessels begin to stiffen in youth. It is therefore important to prevent the risks associated with this stiffness. That's why it's important to keep children active. Physical activity slows down the stiffness of the arteries. As a result, children, once they are adults, will have more endurance and benefit from better cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity is also very helpful in reducing the heart rate more quickly. However, the extent of these protective effects has yet to be studied. Indeed, scientists are still wondering whether they can be extended into adulthood.

What are the implications for parents in preserving children's heart health?

In order to help their children avoid being overweight, raising blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, parents need to act as soon as possible. Several tips can be applied to help children maintain and strengthen their cardiovascular health.