vaping epidemic

JUULs and Teens: The Vaping Epidemic

Being the daughter of a pulmonologist, I was taught to never smoke around the same time I was learning my ABCs. My mom found a photo I drew when I was about 5 years old that depicted a scribbly version of the “no smoking” sign. I had to have been the youngest spokesperson for “Tobacco

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Benefits of Reading as a Family

By Natalie Richoux There are numerous benefits of reading: strengthens the brain, improves health, and has an influence over the decisions we make in real life. With so many wonderful benefits, we should all be reading each day, but reading with your family has even more benefits! So, read this blog together or grab a

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Overcoming the Stigma: One girl’s journey with gastroparesis, celiac disease and an autoimmune disorder

By Colleen McTiernan | Photos by Tanya Consaul Photography When at 14 days old Allison Leonard still had not had her first bowel movement, doctors knew something was wrong. They determined that something was wrong with her gastrointestinal system. They eventually misdiagnosed her with Crohn’s disease, but just what the real problem was eluded them

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The Heart of Pregnancy: Understanding peripartum cardiomyopathy

Pregnancy is difficult enough with weight gain, hormonal mood swings and morning sickness. But there is a condition that can put pregnant women in a lethal position. Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is also known as postpartum cardiomyopathy. It is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy. It can also

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Could Your Kids be JUULing?

By Christy Piña Have you heard of JUULing? Right now, this e-cigarette is very popular among teens and college students. A JUUL resembles a USB flash drive, is small enough to fit into a closed hand, and comes in all kinds of flavors like crème brulee, mint and mango. JUULs are essentially straight nicotine. Each

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Type 1 Diabetes

Our Life With Type 1 Diabetes: Surviving the First Year

Conor, one of our sons, was 9 years old when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease that leaves patients unable to regulate their blood sugar levels without giving themselves tightly controlled doses of insulin. Looking back at the weeks prior to his diagnosis, we had noticed some changes in his

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