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  • Mending the Hole in His Heart

    When Julia Montgomery Stewart was pregnant with her second child, she never imagined that she could pass on a hereditary trait causing her baby to be born with a hole in his heart.

  • How post-traumatic stress disorder affects families in the NICU

    Within our hospital system, we care for patients with all types of illnesses and health concerns. One of the things many people probably don’t recognize, though, is that along with the treatment of physical issues, our caregivers also provide for the mental and emotional needs of our patients and their families to ensure the health and wellbeing of the whole person. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we have a great opportunity to learn a little more about what mental health professionals do in our hospital and learn important information about some of the mental health issues that patients or their families may face.

  • How to prevent accidental poisoning in your home

    One million children in the U.S. under the age of six years will suffer from some type of poisoning this year. Exposure to toxic substances can occur in the home, at school, at a grandparent’s or friend’s house- anywhere your little ones can roam. These unfortunate events tend to happen when a parent or caregiver is with a child, but not necessarily paying close attention.

  • A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist

    For a child life specialist at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, no two days are the same. The Child Life Program offers

  • Is My Period Too Heavy?

    Having a heavy period can be uncomfortable and keep you from living your life to the fullest. You may lose time at school or work, miss hanging out with your friends or be sidelined from sports and other extracurricular activities.

  • Is violence an infectious disease?

    Newtown. Aurora. Oak Creek.

  • What is the Cinnamon Challenge?

    Perhaps more commonly known as an ingredient in your favorite banana bread recipe, cinnamon has now gained traction as the favorite ingredient in a popular dare among kids and teens: the “Cinnamon Challenge.” And thanks to social media, the dare has gone viral. As of August 2012, there were over 51,000 YouTube videos of individuals partaking in the challenge, and one of these videos has been viewed over 19 million times! The Cinnamon Challenge even has its own website, and in January 2012 the phrase was mentioned an average of 70,000 times on Twitter daily. If you aren’t heavily involved in social media, trust me, the Cinnamon Challenge is a big deal and kids just want to be a part of the craze.

    What is the Cinnamon Challenge?

    The challenge is actually quite simple, or so it seems. It requires a person to swallow one tablespoon of cinnamon in 60 seconds without drinking any liquid. Sounds easy, but as you can see in the videos that are publicly displayed for viewers’ entertainment, the victims of this challenge usually end up coughing and choking, as the spice triggers a severe gag reflex in response to a burning sensation in the mouth and throat. This challenge is known to be nearly impossible and potentially harmful, as stated on the cinnamon challenge website, but this doesn’t keep kids from wanting to try it themselves.

    The dangers behind the challenge

    A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics took a closer look at the potential dangers of the popular dare. As noted in the study, eating cinnamon in small amounts and mixed with other foods does not cause a problem for most people. However, problems can arise when large amounts are consumed in isolation from other foods. The coughing, choking and gag reflex that occurs in response to consuming cinnamon in this way can cause the spice to make its way into the lungs. While most side effects are temporary, there can be long-lasting lesions, scarring, and damage to the fragile airways. Those who are allergic to cinnamon or have other diseases, such as asthma, may be at a greater risk for developing these long-term side effects.

  • Is your child lactose intolerant?

    Lactose intolerance is a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It tends to affect certain ethnic groups more than others, and occurs more frequently in black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian and Ashkenazi Jewish people.

    What is lactose intolerance?

    Lactose intolerance is when your body can’t digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. In order to properly digest lactose, the enzyme lactase must be present within the small intestine. Those who don’t have enough of the enzyme lactase have trouble digesting lactose, which leads to a variety of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, cramping or diarrhea.

    Know the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergy

    Lactose intolerance is not an allergy. Some children do have an allergy to the protein found in cow’s milk, but this is entirely different than lactose intolerance. Allergies involve an overactive immune system, and a milk allergy can result in damage to the digestive tract over time. Lactose intolerance is a deficiency in lactase and doesn’t involve the immune system. While lactose intolerance can be very uncomfortable, it doesn’t usually cause damage to the digestive tract.

    Symptoms to look for in your child

    The symptoms of lactose intolerance can occur suddenly, but more often develop over time. If a child experiences abdominal pain, gas, nausea, bloating or diarrhea after consuming milk or dairy products, lactose intolerance could be to blame.

  • What every parent needs to know about the risk of suicide in young children

    Know the risk factors and triggers

  • Distraction can be a useful tool in helping your child cope with a difficult situation

    As a Child Life Specialist, I often joke about the proverbial “toolkit” that I seem to have invisibly available when I work with children. In it are a variety of ideas, books, toys, and other items that I have used in the past that can benefit children as they go through painful procedures or times in the hospital that are particularly stressful. One of my best “tools” in this kit of mine is distraction.