New research from Lurie Children's Preventive Cardiology Program confirms that protecting children’s heart health does more than guard their arteries. It sets the foundation for a healthy body and mind for life.
Why it matters
Optimal heart health in childhood slashes the risk of cancer, dementia, diabetes, depression, lung/liver/kidney disease, obesity, and hearing loss in adulthood. It also boosts cognitive, dental, and eye health.
How it works
Heart health is measured by eight measurements from the American Heart Association:
- Four lifestyle factors
- Healthy Diet
- Sufficient Physical Activity
- Adequate Sleep
- Avoiding Smoking/Vaping
- Four clinical factors
- Healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Healthy Blood Pressure
- Healthy Cholesterol Levels
- Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
What to do
Parents can shape the four lifestyle habits:
- Build routines for nutritious meals, active play, and protected sleep.
- Set clear no-smoking/vaping expectations as kids age.
- For clinical factors, check at pediatric visits to track BMI, BP, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
“Parents can focus on the four health habits – setting up their child’s daily routines to include a healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, and protected time for sleep, and then making clear their expectations about not smoking or vaping as the child gets older. For the four clinical factors, parents can check in with the pediatrician at each well child visit to make sure that their child’s BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are on track for a healthy future.” —Amanda Marma Perak, MD, MS, pediatric cardiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
By the numbers
- Researchers at Lurie Children's Preventive Cardiology Program reviewed close 500 studies (2010–2021).
- Kids with ideal heart health scores are rare, even at young ages.
The intrigue
A mother’s heart health during pregnancy makes her child 8x less likely to have poor cardiovascular health as a teen.
- Prevention can start before birth.
- Big upside: Better heart habits cut heart-attack risk even in people with high genetic risk or family history.
Critical gaps
- Little research on how to improve kids’ or pregnant moms’ heart health.
- Few studies link mental health to heart health in youth, despite its clear importance.
The bottom line
Optimizing heart health during childhood protects every physiological system long-term. Pediatricians and programs like Lurie Children’s Preventive Cardiology (which treats high-risk kids) can help.
Start early. Start now.
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