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Cardiomyopathy and Your Child What is cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle. It makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. There are different types of the disease. Each of these can cause the heart muscle to get larger, thicken, or become stiff

Types of Genetic Testing Genetic tests look for changes in a person's genes. They can also look for changes in the amount, function, or structure of key proteins coded by genes. Genetic tests can look at the DNA or RNA that play a role in certain conditions. Abnormal test results

Breast Health: Preventive Care Breast self-awareness Finding breast cancer early is the main goal of routine breast care. That's why it's so important to follow a plan for preventive care. Finding problems early gives you the best chance of successful treatment. Routine care can

Major Depression in Adolescents and Teens What is major depression? Major depression, also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression, is classified as a type of affective disorder (also called mood disorder) that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs, and has

Disorders of Sex Development When a child's gender is not clear at birth, the child has atypical genitalia (ambiguous genitalia). This means that the genitals don't seem to be clearly male or female. Atypical genitalia can be a difficult experience for families. How do the

Polycystic Kidney Disease What is polycystic kidney disease (PKD)? Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a rare genetic disorder. It causes many cysts filled with fluid to grow in the kidneys. PKD cysts can impair how the kidneys work. It can lead to kidney failure. PKD is the

The Digestive System: An Overview What is digestion? Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and liquid are broken down into smaller parts

Preventing Eye Strain at the Computer If you spend hours each day working at a computer screen or other devices with screens, you may suffer from symptoms of eye strain. Eye strain is a common problem, but you can take steps to reduce your discomfort. What is eye strain? Eye