Early childhood literacy has been shown to be a pillar of school success and to set children up to be successful adults. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 34% of fourth graders are below their basic reading level. Being illiterate as a child can lead to difficulties with students graduating from high school…
Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children over 1 year of age. Every year, hundreds of children die, and thousands are injured in motor vehicle collisions. In 2019, 1,053 children under 14 years of age died in a car accident. Of these, 38% were not properly restrained with car seats, booster seats,…
A cardiac murmur is an extra sound realized when listening to the heart with a stethoscope. As blood is pumped through the heart and passes through the valves, normal pumping sounds are heard, but an additional sound often indicates the presence of a cardiac murmur. A murmur can be diagnosed in adults as well as…
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) happens when blood sugar levels are too high because the body cannot use insulin properly. Prediabetes is when the blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to meet the cutoff for diabetes. Prediabetes is usually present before someone is diagnosed with overt T2D. Interestingly, people with prediabetes…
Suns out, buns out. . . hot dog and hamburger buns that is. With warmer days ahead, outdoor gatherings and cookouts are around the corner. Summertime always brings the risk of significant illness from poorly cooked foods or foods left to the heat of the sun and flies. Foodborne illnesses are preventable. The onset of…
Summer vacation is winding down, and families have been busy preparing for another school year. Back to school can be anxiety provoking for parents and students alike. With a little preparation—packing bags and lunches the night before, meeting the teacher before the first day of class—getting back in the swing of things doesn’t have to…
The two most common chest wall problems that cause concern for children or their caregivers are pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Pectus excavatum is more common in boys and is caused by an abnormality of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the sternum (or breastbone). The result is that the sternum is pushed backward,…
October is upon us. With October comes Halloween! Traditionally, Halloween safety is thought of in terms of younger children, trick-or-treating, and supervised school parties. However, Halloween season is not just for the little ones. You may find your teenager wants to help decorate the house. They may want to go trick-or-treating or go a Halloween…
Pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, turkey and dressing, and cooler weather…the holiday season with parties, snacks and family gatherings is here. While this is a favorite time of year for many, it is often stressful with different places to be and events galore! In all the gathering and going, it can become easy to forget…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! If you’re not careful, this can also become one of the most stressful times of the year. The pressure to have a beautifully decorated home, find the perfect gifts, and have smiling, grateful children at holiday gatherings can put a damper on the joy of the holiday…
