The Preventive Cardiology program at Texas Children’s Hospital supports our mission to provide excellence in patient care and improve outcomes for our patients. Our purpose is to prevent future cardiac disease and events such as heart attack and stroke through early detection and intervention, and by educating children and families on how to better care for themselves.
The program uses a collaborative approach in treating patients, drawing on the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including experts in pediatric cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, nutrition and physical therapy. We care for patients with a strong personal or family history of cardiac disease, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity or Kawasaki disease. We strive to provide quality service and cost-effective care that will enhance the health and well-being of children locally and regionally.
The Preventive Cardiology program has a commitment to quality service, which is the foundation of ongoing research. Our goal is to provide cutting-edge therapy for patients with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, increase knowledge through research, and translate research findings to clinical care.
Reasons for Early Intervention
Most adult forms of heart disease are the result of a long process that begins in early childhood. Abnormal cholesterol and high blood pressure are well-recognized conditions in adults. It surprises many people that these conditions can also arise in childhood, and that they lay the foundation for heart disease in adulthood.
Some children have liver disease, diabetes or metabolic syndrome in childhood or early adolescence, increasing their risk of early acquired (adult forms) heart disease. While others are at risk because of past chemotherapy, congenital heart disease, Kawasaki or kidney disease. Still another group of children are at risk because of genetic factors. Childhood obesity, poor dietary habits and today’s lifestyle factors (video gaming, high screen time, lack of physical exercise) contribute to risk for early acquired heart disease.
Research shows that maintaining normal weight, consuming a healthy diet and maintaining adequate physical activity reduces risk for adult heart disease. Our research shows that healthy diet and adequate exercise result in improved cholesterol levels and achievement of normal weight. Normalizing cholesterol values and lowering blood pressure in children prevents or slows the development of heart disease as they reach adulthood.