U.S. Study: Children show hardening of arteries

Children with risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and diabetes, are showing signs of narrowing and hardening of the arteries, conditions normally associated with adults, a study said on Sunday. Testing should include regular blood lipid and glucose level testing, said the report's lead author, Sanaz Piran, a resident at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Earlier treatment could include more aggressive use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. Researchers found that children at risk already show signs of heart disease, including arterial wall thickness and decreased flexibility of blood vessels. child-autism-parent-cafe.com