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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 Rogers, MD: 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) Normally, the heart muscle squeezes and relaxes in a steady, predictable pattern, controlled by electrical signals. When something goes wrong with the heart’s electrical system, the heart may feel like it’s beating too fast (sinus tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or out of 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 Condition
Ebstein Anomaly Ebstein anomaly is a birth defect that affects the tricuspid valve, which connects the heart’s right chambers and helps control how blood moves through the heart. Normally, blood flows through the tricuspid valve on its way from the heart’s upper right chamber to the lower right Condition
Heart Tumors (Cardiac Tumors) A heart tumor, also known as a cardiac tumor, is an abnormal growth in the heart. It can develop almost anywhere in the heart: inside one of the heart’s chambers, in the outside wall, or in the heart muscle itself. Heart tumors are rare in children. Most are noncancerous (benign) Condition
Heterotaxy Syndrome (Isomerism) Heterotaxy syndrome, also known as isomerism, is a rare disorder that affects where organs are located in the body. During pregnancy, a baby’s heart may develop in the right side of the chest instead of the left. Other organs like the lungs, stomach, liver and spleen may form in Condition
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare birth condition that affects the left side of the heart. It’s one of the most complex heart problems seen in newborns. With HLHS, the heart’s left-sided valves (the aortic valve and the mitral valve) are either too small or didn’t Condition
Myocarditis Myocarditis is a condition that causes inflammation in the muscles of the heart, the myocardium. As a result of illness or a bad reaction to a chemical, the myocardium becomes swollen, or inflamed, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. This can also disrupt the heart