Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic (PPCC)
Clinic Information
Pediatric Specialty Clinic, American Family Children's Hospital
Contact Information
(608) 263-6420
(800) 323-8942
Our Services
Adult Services
In the News
Our Pediatric Preventive Cardiology team specializes in the care of children with heart-related conditions. Our team consists of physicians, nurse practitioners and dietitians.
Referral Guidelines
Referring a Patient to the Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic
Your Clinic Visit
In our Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic, we seek to reduce or eliminate risk factors in children in order to prevent adult cardiovascular disease. We use nutrition, physical activity, tobacco cessation and medical treatment of abnormal cholesterol if needed.
Our Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Team
Meet Our Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Team
Education
The cardiology team strives to provide families with comprehensive education regarding their child’s diagnosis and care. It is important that you feel comfortable with the care of your child before you leave the clinic. Always feel free to call us with any questions or concerns.
Research shows that atherosclerosis begins in youth and is progressive, and cholesterol levels are clearly linked to atherosclerosis. When cholesterol levels are very high in children, normalizing their cholesterol levels reduces the amount of plaque that builds up in arteries and improves the function of blood vessels as they become adults.
New guidelines recommend screening all children at least once between ages 9 and 11 regardless of risk, and again between 17 and 21 years. Children do not need to be fasting for these screening lipid profiles. Children at higher risk should be screened at least every five years with a fasting lipid profile.
For more information on cholesterol, healthy eating and exercise, visit HealthDecision and click on “Handouts."
Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Familial Hypercholesterolemia (also called FH) is a genetic disorder that results in severe high levels of blood cholesterol and an increased risk of early heart disease (defined as starting in men before age 55 and in women before age 65). FH is caused by changes in a gene that lowers the body's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) from the blood. This makes the levels of LDL cholesterol very high. FH is inherited. In most types of FH, a parent with FH has a 50% chance of passing the gene that causes FH to their child. If someone is found to have FH, their parents, siblings, and children should also have their cholesterol checked. Children who have an LDL > 160 may have FH. Learn more about FH
Lifestyle Factors