Health Watch -- Cholesterol Testing Health Watch is a Public
Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended
to provide general information only and should not replace the
advice of a medical professional. You should contact your
physician if you have questions about any of these topics. When
should people start getting their cholesterol checked? Probably
earlier than you think. Many of us think of high cholesterol as
something to worry about when we're older. But there may be good
reason to test even young children. Doctors at UT Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas say high cholesterol left untreated is
a major risk factor for heart disease. If potential problems are
found early, there's more that can be done to prevent future
problems. Dr. Sarah Blumenschein, a UT Southwestern
pediatrician, suggests that if heart disease runs in the family
or if family members have had strokes before the age of 55,
children should have their cholesterol checked for the first
time by the age of 6. This is im