In many cases, preventing heart disease in children can be accomplished with lifestyle changes. Preventable heart disease in children is increasing, likely tied to a widespread increase in childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 children ages 6 to 19 is obese. Children in the U.S. typically…
You occasionally hear about it on the news: A seemingly healthy child suddenly collapses or dies after cardiac arrest on the football field or basketball court, or during another sporting event. But any teenager can have sudden cardiac arrest, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends screening all children, not just those involved…
State-of-the-art technology is helping save the lives of some of Louisville’s youngest patients. Cardiologists are using a new device to help treat micro-preemies — babies born before the 28th week of pregnancy and/or weighing less than 2 pounds — who have a heart defect caused by part of the fetal structure that remains at birth. Joshua…
Some pediatric patients with bleeding disorders may have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, especially if they have serious underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity or asthma. Although most bleeding disorders are not associated with impaired immunity, COVID-19 can be a concern for children who are taking immune-suppressing medications, as…
Although babies can go outside when it’s cold, their bodies aren’t equipped to handle the extreme temperatures yet. They shouldn’t be out in the elements for very long, and there are some precautions to take when dressing babies for cold weather. “Parents should keep in mind that babies aren’t able to regulate their body temperatures…
A healthy diet that includes foods — not dietary supplements — rich in antioxidants can help kids undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) reduce the risk of infection and inflammation in the digestive tract, according to a recent study. A diet with foods rich in vitamin A, alpha and beta carotene, and carotenoids resulted…
In October 2009, Clayton Fackler was “a pretty typical 3-year-old,” according to his mother, Susan Fackler. The family was outside playing when Clayton suddenly collapsed, going into cardiac arrest. From there, Clayton would begin a health journey that would include a brain injury that has caused a number of issues, including spasticity. Sudden collapse leads…
Specialty care for patients experiencing a variety of pregnancy-related health conditions is now available in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, from Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The practice’s new office is located at 1301 Ring Road. “With our ability to provide diagnoses of issues that can affect a pregnancy and an unborn baby, we can make a significant difference…
Pediatric cardiologist Delwyn E. McOmber, M.D., has advice for couch potatoes, athletes sidelined by COVID-19 and heart patients alike: Just get started. “Let’s get rid of the standard definition of exercise — the stuff you learn in PE. It doesn’t matter what you do. It’s just as simple as increasing your heart rate through physical…
Many people spend family night having dinner or playing games, but for the Chrismans, family togetherness also involves glucose monitoring and changing insulin pumps. When their identical twin daughters, Quinby and Stella, were born, Natalie Chrisman and her husband, David, knew very little about Type 1 diabetes. There was no known family history of the disease….
Leukemia bruising occurs more easily and frequently than typical bruising, may show up in odd places, tends to take longer to clear up and can be part of a number of symptoms seen on a child’s skin, according to a Louisville pediatric hematologist/oncologist. “Bruising from leukemia may occur for unclear reasons, and the bruises could…
A toddler’s heart rate while resting is normally between 70 and 110 beats per minute (bpm), with the rate gradually moving toward the lower end of the range as a child gets closer to age 3. It’s normal for a child with a fever to have a higher heart rate or pulse as well as…