Preventive Cardiology

Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction

Physical Activity/Inactivity

• Vigorous activity should be recommended 1 hour at least 3 times per week.
• Overall, children should obtain at least one hour of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day.
• Limit screen time to 2 hours per day, less for younger children.

Obesity

• Assess for crossing of percentiles and weight for height tracking in children 0-2 years.
• Track BMI percentiles starting at age 2 years.

Tobacco

• Vigorous activity should be recommended 1 hour at least 3 times per week.
• Overall, children should obtain at least one hour of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day.
• Limit screen time to 2 hours per day, less for younger children.
• Assess for crossing of percentiles and weight for height tracking in children 0-2 years.
• Track BMI percentiles starting at age 2 years.
• Discuss smoking with parents.
• Ask child about smoking exposure starting at age 5 years.

Family History

• Comprehensive review of CVD family history should be obtained at prenatal or first visit and again at ages 3 and 10 years.
• Family history modifies treatment cutpoints for lipid pharmacotherapy and screening recommendations for diabetes mellitus type 2

General recommendations

• Encourage breastfeeding
• Assess family history
• Counsel about healthy lifestyle