The heart is a pump that is constantly beating to deliver blood through tubes (blood vessels) to all parts of the body. For the heart to be an effective pump, the heart’s “plumbing system” and “electrical system” must both work correctly. The plumbing system of the heart consists of: Tubes bringing blood to the heart…
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Anytime a child or teenager faints, “passes out” or “loses consciousness”, he or she and family members are often worried there might be something terribly wrong. The good news is that fainting or syncope (pronounced sin-koh-pee) in most older children and teenagers who are otherwise healthy does not automatically mean that they have a life-threatening…
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Just as it is often the case, children have their own unique ways of describing symptoms that we, adults, would commonly report as palpitations. A teenager may complain of “fluttering” in the chest or “heart racing,” while a 7-year-old may report his “heart is beeping fast.” A toddler or infant likely will say nothing at…
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When a recent report from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention was released about sodium use by Americans, you may have been shocked by the findings. The average American gets much more sodium than is healthy mainly because of processed foods. According to the CDC, 77 percent of sodium intake comes from processed and…
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Imagine taking your 18-month-old child to see her pediatrician for her regular well-child visit. The doctor listens to her for an extended period of time looking somewhat concerned. He then turns to you and says, “Has anyone told you that your child has a heart murmur?” You tell him no, he then says, “We need…
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