Trading television time for physical activity time is something family members can do together. According to the AHA, physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In fact, each year about 250,000 deaths in the United States are attributed to the lack of physical activity. For cardiovascular fitness, the AHA recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity, three to four days a week. High blood pressure tends to run in families and can develop as a risk factor for CAD as early as the pre-teen or teen years, although it is more common later in life.
Analysis is in progress.
The normal rise in blood pressure from childhood to adult years is one of the areas of focus for this research. Children should, however, have their blood pressure checked on an annual basis as part of their routine pediatric care after age 3. Pediatricians and other caregivers can help by educating families about the importance of being physically active. Diseases like diphtheria, rheumatic fever and congenital rubella that caused childhood heart disease just a few generations ago are rarely seen today because of advances in preventive medicine.