Heart Health

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First aid and CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in children

While rare, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can affect infants, children and teens and can be fatal if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not administered quickly – usually in a matter of minutes. Structural or functional problems with a child’s heart, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or genetic syndromes can increase the risk of SCA. While some of these conditions are identified, monitored and treated from birth, certain rhythmic or structural problems don’t produce symptoms until SCA occurs. Frequently dangerous heart conditions are recognized when a family history of SCA is present.

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Is your child's heart rate healthy?

Your child's heart rate (also called pulse) can vary wildly throughout the day. Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats each minute. Daily activities can change how fast or slow the rate fluctuates – from a slow, steady beat while resting or sleeping to a higher rate during exercise.

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The power of a hopeful heart

When Casey speaks about her heart condition, it's easy to forget that she’s just a teenager. With bravery, poise and knowledge, she shares how she was born with a heart defect and how now, 15 years later, she's grateful to have received a heart transplant. Casey's mom, Bethany, always knew that a transplant would be the ultimate "fix" for her daughter's condition – she just never imagined it would happen this way.

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A new heart for a one-in-a-million girl

Though she seemed perfectly healthy during her first year of life, Ellie's pediatrician noticed she wasn't growing at her 12-month appointment. The doctor placed Ellie on a special diet and asked her mom, Michelle, to bring her back in a month. It was at this appointment that the pediatrician first heard a murmur in Ellie's heart.

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A young athlete moves forward after sudden cardiac arrest

From the moment she was born, Amanda had been a perfectly healthy child. For 13 years, she experienced and enjoyed all the things a young child experiences – friendships, school and sports. Nowhere along the way was there any indication Amanda may have a heart condition.

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Heart-healthy recipes: One day, three meals

Foods that are good for our heart health are good for our overall health. A heart-healthy diet can help prevent or manage conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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The biggest misconception about heart health in kids

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among men and women in the U.S. Approximately one in 200 of those individuals have an inherited form of heart disease – meaning that individuals who look healthy, eat healthy and get plenty of exercise can still be at risk of having a heart attack.

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What parents should know about heart murmurs

When it comes to your child's heart, anything “irregular” can seem scary. Heart murmurs can certainly fall into that category, but most of the time, murmurs are not anything to be afraid of, according to Thomas Zellers, M.D., pediatric interventional cardiologist at Children's Health and Professor at UT Southwestern.

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What is radiation-free heart catheterization and how does it protect young patients?

Children born with congenital heart disease often need multiple tests and procedures, including X-ray-dependent cardiac catheterization. While these procedures can be helpful in diagnosing and treating heart conditions, they can also cause overexposure to radiation, especially in patients who will need multiple procedures over their lifetime — which can be harmful to your child's health.

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Screening for heart disease in children

In another recent post, you learned how childhood obesity can be a significant risk factor for heart disease, especially when it’s accompanied by factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or prediabetes, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet. The first line of defense against childhood obesity includes incorporating more physical exercise and nutritious foods into a child’s lifestyle.

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10 Ways to keep your child's heart healthy

Take charge of your child’s heart health by developing habits now that will reap benefits later in life. According to Dr. Colin Kane, pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Health℠, the most effective way to do this is to make healthy living a priority for the whole family.

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Your kids obesity and heart health [Infographic]

Infographic: Your Kids, Obesity and Heart Health

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What causes chest pain in children?

If your child complains of chest pain, you may feel alarmed or concerned about your child's heart. But according to Colin Kane, M.D., pediatric cardiologist at Children's Health and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern, there are many possible causes of chest pain in children.

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3D heart imaging: A new dimension to cardiac care

When your child has a heart condition, you want to understand everything about that condition, their treatment options and the procedures they undergo. What if you could see your child's heart in order to visualize exactly what’s happening? Now, you can.

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The heart of innovation

As technology progresses, physicians at the Heart Center at Children's Health are passionate about using innovation to make life better for children with heart conditions. From pioneering the use of the minimally invasive Impella ventricular assist device (VAD) in children to leveraging 3D-printed and interactive virtual heart models to study every detail in a child's heart, the team explains the latest advances in pediatric cardiac care.

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Four lives changed in one week, without missing a beat

From just 12 weeks to 12 years old, four special patients received new hearts all in the same week at the Heart Center at Children’s Health℠. Watch the video above to meet Abby, Adriel, Alex and Phoenix – and celebrate their incredible journey to a renewed opportunity for a happy, healthy life.

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How AEDs can save a life

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It can affect people of all ages, anywhere – and left untreated, can cause death in just minutes.

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High cholesterol in children

Though you might think of cholesterol as an adult-only health concern, it is an essential part of your child's health. Understanding cholesterol and making simple lifestyle and dietary choices can help prevent serious health risks in your child's future.

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Which heart screenings are necessary for athletes?

Every parent wants to keep his or her child safe. For many parents of athletes, it's not just sprains and strains that cause anxiety; it's the possibility of an undiscovered heart condition.