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Happy 25th Anniversary, Connecticut Children’s! By Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE: Today, Connecticut Children’s celebrates 25 years! That’s 25 years of partnering with your family and community to help kids grow healthy. To mark the occasion, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, joins the Growing Healthy blog with a special
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Meet Dr. Enos: “We Offer Hope” Connecticut Children’s Heart Center is with patients for life, starting from before they’re even born and continuing into adulthood. We’re also right around the corner, with six convenient locations throughout the state, and a team made up of leaders in pediatric heart care. That
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Should Parents Be Worried About the Recent Increase in COVID-19 Cases in Kids? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: The American Academy of Pediatrics recently reported a significant increase in COVID-19 infections in children across the country. The overall infection rate among kids is still relatively low. But we know that this news has raised questions – and concerns – for families Article
What Are the New COVID-19 Variants, and Do They Infect Kids More Easily? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: In addition to all the news about the COVID-19 vaccine , you’ve probably been hearing a lot about new variants of COVID-19 . Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, shares what we know so far. What does it mean when there’s a new “variant” of COVID-19? A Article
First in the World: Haresh’s Story Haresh Surti may be young at heart, but at 62 years old, he is no kid. So at first, it might seem unusual that he receives heart care at Connecticut Children’s – known far and wide as the state’s only health system 100% dedicated to children. The truth is, lots of adults receive
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Grow Unique: Youssef’s Story There is no one else quite like Youssef Shahine. Sure, when he’s blasting music on his headphones or glued to a video game, he’s a typical 14-year-old. But ask him a question about life, and he’s wise beyond his years. “I like to look at the good stuff,” says Youssef. “Yes, there
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A New Normal: Lauren’s Story One day last October, 15-year-old Lauren Riley was climbing the stairs to class at her West Hartford high school and felt it again: out of breath, dizzy and like she might faint. This was the third time in recent weeks she’d nearly fainted from a flight of stairs. Soon after, she
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Aortic Valve Stenosis Aortic valve stenosis (also known simply as aortic stenosis) is a condition that affects the aortic valve, a part of the heart that plays an important role in how blood is pumped to the body. The aortic valve connects the heart’s lower left chamber to the body’s largest artery Article
The Best Way to Prevent Youth Suicide? Talk About It By Steven C. Rogers, MD, MS: This article was originally published in September 2020 and last updated in December 2023. Youth suicide has been on the rise for the past decade, so prevention is more important than ever. Dr. Steven Rogers, medical director of Emergency Behavioral Health services at Connecticut
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Arrhythmia (Abnormal or Irregular Heart Beat) An arrhythmia is a problem with the heart’s electrical system that affects how the heart beats. It can cause the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or in an irregular pattern. While many arrhythmias are harmless, some can lead to symptoms or long-term Condition
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole between the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. The most common is called an ostium secundum ASD, located in the center of the wall separating the atria. Depending on an ASD’s size and location, it can allow blood to mix between the atria Condition
Atrioventricular Canal Defect (Atrioventricular Septal Defect) An atrioventricular canal defect (also known as an atrioventricular septal defect, or an AV canal defect or AV septal defect) is a condition that develops before birth, when the central area of a baby’s heart doesn’t form properly during pregnancy. With this condition, the wall Condition
Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. It can disrupt the heart’s rhythm, and cause extra fluid to build up around the lungs and body. There are several different types of Condition
Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Most of the conditions in this list are congenital heart defects – a heart problem that a baby is born with. They’re sometimes referred to as congenital heart disorders, or birth defects. Condition
Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) Usually, the aorta is attached to the left side of the heart, and another artery called the pulmonary artery is attached to the right. This allows blood to flow through the lungs to receive oxygen, and then for that “oxygen-rich” blood to flow through the rest of the body. But in