Health & Wellness, Spine

Wearing a Scoliosis Brace

There’s no way around it: Kids who need to wear a scoliosis brace need to wear it a lot and for a long time. Bracing is intended to halt the progression of a spinal curve while a child is still growing. A scoliosis brace typically doesn’t straighten a curve completely, but wearing a brace as…

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Epilepsy, Health & Wellness, Neurosciences

How to help family, friends be prepared when a child has a seizure

If you’re a parent of a child with epilepsy, you know the fear: wondering if your child will have a seizure when you’re not around, and worrying whether those around them will know what to do. Create a personalized seizure action plan Work closely with your child’s neurologist to develop a detailed seizure action plan….

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Health & Wellness, Prevention & Wellness

Best swimsuit colors for kids’ safety

There’s no end to the choices when it comes to buying a swimsuit for your child. But did you know that certain swimsuit colors are safer than others, and the right color can actually assist in spotting a child who may be drowning?  Sadly, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1…

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Health & Wellness, News

Rates of high blood pressure in kids have nearly doubled in 20 years

High blood pressure, once considered an adult health condition, is becoming more common in kids and teens. A new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that global high blood pressure rates in children have nearly doubled this century. In 2000, about 3.4% of boys and 3% of girls had high blood…

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Epilepsy, Health & Wellness, Neurosciences

Beyond medication: How dietary therapy can help children with drug-resistant epilepsy

If your child has epilepsy that doesn’t respond well to medication, you may feel like you’ve run out of options. But there’s hope in an unexpected place: the foods your child eats. Alternative epilepsy treatments for children have come a long way, and dietary therapy has emerged as a powerful tool for managing seizures, especially…

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Health & Wellness, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Talking to your kids about tragedy

The Rev. Rick Forest, chaplain and bereavement care coordinator at Norton Children’s Hospital, and Clinton Nowicke, Psy.D., clinical pediatric psychologist with Norton Children’s, offer thoughts on how to talk to kids about tragedy in a community. The most important thing is to be there for your children. They look to you for answers and support. If your child…

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Health & Wellness

How to talk to teens about alcohol: A parent’s guide

For many parents, the thought of their teenager experimenting with alcohol can be unsettling. Yet research shows that most teens will be exposed to drinking, whether through peers, social media or even at family gatherings. Knowing how to talk to teens about alcohol in an open, honest way can help protect them from serious risks….

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Health & Wellness

Why your child needs the HPV vaccine: A parent’s guide to cancer prevention

The HPV vaccine represents one of the most powerful tools available to prevent multiple types of cancer in your teenager’s future. Yet many families remain uncertain about this important immunization. Understanding the facts about HPV and its prevention can help parents make informed decisions that protect long-term health. What is HPV? Human papillomavirus, or HPV,…

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Health & Wellness

Teen acne treatment guide for teens and parents

If your teenager is dealing with acne breakouts, they’re not alone. Acne is incredibly common; most teens experience some type of acne during adolescence, making it one of the most universal aspects of growing up. While navigating teen acne treatment might feel overwhelming, understanding the facts can help you navigate this phase with more confidence….

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Gynecology, Health & Wellness, Norton Childrens Medical Group

How long does a first period last?

Bleeding during your first periods may only last a few days and be very light — sometimes as little as a few spots of red or brown blood. If the bleeding lasts more than seven days, you should contact your pediatrician or a pediatric gynecologist. It will take your body some time to get into…

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Health & Wellness

5 ways to help your child breathe easier during cold and flu season

When your child is struggling with a stuffy nose, cough or congestion during cold and flu season, you want to find good strategies for child congestion relief. “It is easy for a parent to get overwhelmed standing in the cough/cold aisle in the drugstore, looking at all those medications and trying to decide which to…

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Health & Wellness, Norton Childrens Medical Group

How parents can help build emotional resilience in children

School-age children can face a variety of new challenges regularly, from playground disagreements to social and academic pressures. These experiences may be frustrating for them, but they’re also important opportunities to help build a lifelong skill: emotional resilience. “Think of emotional resilience like every child’s inner toolkit,” said Heather M. Felton, M.D., pediatrician with Norton…

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