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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

Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and Cancer Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare, inherited condition. It's passed to a child from a parent. PJS is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. This means you only need 1 copy of the altered (mutated) gene to have PJS. About 3 out of every 4

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

Facts About Diabetes What is diabetes? When you have diabetes, your body has a problem with insulin. It doesn't make enough insulin or can't use the insulin it makes (insulin resistance). Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas. It helps sugar (glucose) enter your cells to

Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides in Children and Teens What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance. It can be found in all parts of your child's body. It helps make cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol in blood comes from 2

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes You've probably heard that people with diabetes are at risk for multiple health complications. These include cardiovascular disease. As it turns out, cardiovascular disease is especially common among people with diabetes. Most people with type

Normal Breast Development and Changes What is normal breast development? Breast development is a vital part of a woman’s reproduction. Breast development happens in certain stages during a woman's life: first before birth, again at puberty, and later during the childbearing years

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

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

Understanding Risks of a Multiple Pregnancy Why is a multiple pregnancy a concern? A multiple pregnancy means being pregnant with more than one baby. It is often a happy event for many couples. But multiple pregnancy has higher risks for complications. The most common problems