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While 'broken heart syndrome' may sound like the theme of a romance novel, it's a very real health condition that mostly affects women. In fact, more than 90 percent of reported cases occur in women ages 58 to 75. 

Also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome is a condition in which the heart muscle suddenly becomes weakened or stunned, and the left ventricle, one of the heart's lower chambers that's responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood to tissues throughout the body, temporarily changes shape. 

This condition was first identified in 1990 in Japan. It

Heading to the hospital with your child? Maybe they need an IV placed or need to stay as an inpatient for a few days? Both you and your child are probably pretty stressed about the whole thing. But help is on the way! Our Children's Medical Center has certified child life specialists to help your family cope with a potentially stressful health care experience. 

So … what is a child life specialist? According to the Association of Child Life Professionals, these heroes among us help infants, children, youth, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, trauma, disability

Is it possible to make an upcoming vaccine or blood draw easier for your child? Yes! Needle sticks, whether they be for vaccines or a blood test, can cause fear and pain for both you and your child. But there is help, and the Children’s Medical Center is spreading the word about ways to make pokes easier. 

Your role as the parent is to help advocate to lessen the physical pain, reduce the fear or stress your child is having, and be a voice for your child. Try some of these simple tools to make the needle stick experience better. 

Download our Making Pokes Hurt Less sheet.

Numb the Skin to Lessen

TikTok. The social media platform that’s all the rage with tweens, high schoolers and college kids. It can be fun and make you laugh. But it can also interfere with brain development and have a negative impact on mental health. 

We asked Jessica Griffin, PsyD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Clinical Psychologist, and Executive Director of Lifeline for Kids, to answer some questions about the impact TikTok and other social platforms are having.

TikTok, Children and the Brain

What impact is TikTok having on children's attention span and ability to focus? 

We need more research in

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” is a common response from parents when they find out their newborn is infected with cytomegalovirus or CMV. CMV is the leading infectious cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disabilities in the U.S., but few states screen infants for it.

What Is Cytomegalovirus?

CMV is in the herpes virus family along with the viruses that cause mono, cold sores and chicken pox. It commonly passes by contact between people of all ages and within communities such as households, daycare centers, or schools, and usually causes mild or even no symptoms. More seriously, CMV can

Being a child or teen seems not nearly as fun as it used to be. Who’s posting what on social media, worries about getting good grades, relationships at school, home environment and peer pressure have today’s kids feeling the stress to perform, fit in and stand out. When it comes to stress and children, know how to identify signs and find solutions.

According to an article published in JAMA Pediatrics, youngsters in 2020 experienced considerably more stress and depression than in 2016. The report states that anxiety rose from 7.1% to 9.2% (a 29% increase), and that the rate of depression went