When you hear statistics like “1 in 3,000” or “only 104,000 in the U.S.,” it’s hard to feel like others understand what you’re going through with a rare condition such as arthrogryposis. So, imagine how wonderful it must have felt for the nearly 130 people who gathered for the Arthrogryposis Mini Meet-Up recently held at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. A condition of the joints and muscles, arthrogryposis impairs children’s abilities to use their shoulders, wrists, fingers and lower extremities. There are many variations — some mild, some severe. There is no cure for arthrogryposis, but there are treatments that can help to maintain and maximize a child’s range of motion and function. The goal of the Mini Meet-Up was to bring together kids and adults with arthrogryposis so they could share their stories, their experiences and their support with each other. And, perhaps most important, […]

We don’t usually think of blood pressure as a matter of concern during childhood — and for most kids, it’s not. But blood pressure is an important vital sign and one that your child’s physician should be taking at every check-up. Babies’ blood pressure measurements are taken at birth as part of routine newborn screenings. After that, expert guidelines, including those of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), call for measurements to be taken at well-child visits and sick visits in the pediatrician’s office, starting at age 3. What’s Considered “Normal” Blood Pressure for Kids? Determining normal or optimal blood pressure for children is a bit complex because it depends on a number of factors including age, height and gender. A simplified approach is to use these thresholds: A child from 3 to 11 years should have blood pressure at or below 110/70. From age 12 upward, a measurement of […]

The golf world witnessed a show of grace and sportsmanship amid crushing disappointment this past weekend at the storied Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. Just when he seemed to have back-to-back wins locked down, reigning champion Jordan Spieth, 22, watched his lead slip away in the second half of the final round. In keeping with Masters’ tradition, Spieth had to congratulate the 2016 winner, Danny Willet, and help him on with the customary green jacket just moments after the loss. Though visibly upset, Spieth managed to compose himself long enough to carry out his duties and answer the obligatory post-event interview questions about where it all went wrong. Although Spieth showed his emotions briefly before composing himself, not all public athletes are able to do this. The NFL fined the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly $12,000 for Antonio Brown’s excessive touchdown celebrations. “Dance Moms” television personality Abby Lee Miller screams at her […]

You hear the word “cholesterol” and a child doesn’t exactly come to mind – more like one of us grown-ups fighting the urge to scarf down that double cheeseburger. But, in the wake of the ongoing childhood obesity epidemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says tracking youngsters’ cholesterol levels at an early age may help fend off future heart disease, the No. 1 killer of both men and women. So many adults suffer from heart disease in this country. It can be a scary disease to have and it can cause further health problems too, such as heart attacks and even erectile dysfunction. For men, erectile dysfunction can be worrying, however, there are treatments available at online pharmacies, like Blink Health. Those treatments can help men to experience better blood flow in that area, allowing them to achieve an erection. That’s just one health risk associated with heart disease, […]

At Nemours and elsewhere around the globe, April is the month to shine a light on the autism community. As parents, learning the signs of autism spectrum disorder, observing your child’s development, getting a timely and accurate diagnosis, and beginning treatment as early as possible can make a critical difference in your child’s future. Here are the basics: What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? ASD is a lifelong, neurologically-based developmental disorder that’s described as a ”spectrum” because symptoms can vary in type and severity. No two cases are exactly alike. The core features of ASD are a) social and communication deficits and b) repetitive or restricted behavior, interests or activities. What causes ASD and how common is it? While a precise cause is unknown, a variety of factors, including environmental, biologic and genetic factors, are thought to increase the likelihood that a child will have ASD. The prevalence of autism […]

If you start to take weekly bike rides with your second-grader or go on daily walks with your teen, chances are, the drive to exercise just might start to kick in. A recent study by researchers at Northwestern University found that kids tend to copy their parents’ unhealthy habits. Now this doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to your chill time too, such as sitting and reading a book or playing cheap PC games once in a while. Everyone is entitled to spend some time each day chilling out and doing what they enjoy. However, showing your children that a small amount of exercise each day is important will benefit them in the long run. So your example might have more of an effect than you think. Although some issues such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be genetic, they are also affected by lifestyle. The study found […]