How to Keep Your Child's Heart Healthy: Simple Tips for Parents

Cardiovascular disease does not only strike adults; children can develop it too. That is why parents need to get kids used to a healthy lifestyle early, and protecting your child's heart health is a big part of that. So where do you start? Here are some practical tips.

Drink enough water
A child's water needs depend on age. Babies aged 7 to 12 months need about 800 ml of water a day.
For children aged 1 to 3, daily needs rise to 1.3 liters, and children aged 4 to 8 need 1.7 liters. From age 9 into adulthood, the requirement is 2.1 to 2.4 liters a day.

Stay active and get enough exercise
The next tip for a healthy heart is regular exercise and physical activity. For kids, that can mean riding bikes together, playing soccer, tennis or badminton, taking morning walks or trying other sports.

It helps to choose activities the whole family can join, since kids tend to be more enthusiastic that way, and everyone gets the health benefits. Exercise is not the only option, either. Everyday chores also help keep a child's heart healthy.
Parents can involve their little ones in housework, such as making the bed, tending the garden, caring for a pet, or helping set and clear the table.

Also read Foods That Keep Your Child's Heart Healthy

Get enough sleep
A healthy heart is not just about exercise; your child also needs enough sleep. Children aged 1 to 2 need 11 to 14 hours a day. For ages 3 to 5, that drops to 10 to 13 hours a day. Children aged 6 to 12 need 9 to 12 hours a day, while teens aged 13 to 18 need 8 to 10 hours a day.

Also read Types of Heart Disease in Children

Limit salt intake
Children over 1 year old should have no more than 1 teaspoon of salt a day. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure in children.
As these tips show, caring for heart health from childhood matters a great deal. Now is the time for parents to help their kids build a healthy lifestyle that protects their hearts. We hope you find this helpful!

For congenital heart disease, the Heartology team includes a specialist in this field, Dr. Radityo Prakoso, who completed his medical and specialist training at Universitas Indonesia. See his profile here: heartology.id/radityo-prakoso-mdfiha-fapsic-fascc