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Duration: 6 ms, Number of Results: 25

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Acrocyanosis

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is acrocyanosis? Acrocyanosis is the bluish discoloration of the extremities (usually the hands and/or feet) due to decreased oxygen being delivered to those areas. The small blood vessels in the

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Diagnostic Overshadowing: "All Is Not Down Syndrome"

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Many families have reported that, when they have told a health care provider about a symptom their loved one with Down syndrome is experiencing, the provider has, in effect, said, “It is jus

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Using First/Then Boards

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We like to use visual supports to set or manage expectations. One type of visual support that can be helpful is a first/then board. When using a visual support, there can be words, pictures, or a comb

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Individualized Visual Schedules

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Visuals tend to be most effective when they are individualized. What works for one person may be different than what works for another person. Schedules are one example of a type of visual that may va

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Low Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - "Ask Dr. Chicoine" LuMind IDSC Foundation

Blood pressure and heart rates/pulses that are on the lower end of normal or even a little lower than normal are common findings in people with Down syndrome (see this article on hypertension

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When Veins Don't Work

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is the vascular system? Our vascular system includes blood vessels (including veins, arteries, and smaller blood vessels) as well as the heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart towards th

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Tips for Successful Blood Draws

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Do you or does a family member or friend with Down syndrome dread getting blood drawn? Here are some tips to help with blood draws:  Make sure to be hydrated ! This will help the phl

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Supporting People with Down Syndrome in Living a Healthy Lifestyle Webinar Recording (5/12/2021)

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L and Laura Chicoine, BA - Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L and Laura Chicoine, BA on May 12, 2021. Dr. Frank is the occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center and L

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My Health Passport

Author: Florida Center for Inclusive Communities

This health passport can be filled out by individuals with Down syndrome and their families to share information with health care professionals about how they can best support the individual.

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Vasovagal Syncope (Fainting)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is vasovagal syncope?  Vasovagal syncope is what we commonly think of as fainting in response to emotional upset or pain. Chen-Scarabelli and Scarabelli (2004) define it as “a

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Use of Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attacks

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We were sent a question about the use of aspirin to prevent heart attacks in people with Down syndrome. We have provided some information below. Please note that this information is for educational pu

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Visual Supports

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

When I was trying to figure out how I was going to share information about visual supports, I came across someone who used the following poem (author unknown) to describe what it feels like when visua

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Down Syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, and Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We were sent a question about Down syndrome and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and Bicuspid Aortic Valve. WPW is a heart condition in which there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart. The

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Modeling, Imitation, and Mutual Participation

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Observing someone demonstrate appropriate behavior, watching a parent or friend model healthy activity, or having a mentor to observe and imitate are all ways we learn a variety of healthy behaviors i

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Promoting and Assessing Health

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

7 Keys to Promoting Health and Assessing Change in Health Assess contributing medical conditions Assess contributing psychological conditions Optimize communication Assess and optimize sensory issues

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People First

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

When we started the clinic, families spoke to us about what they needed as well as what they expected and what was most likely to help us connect with families and people with Down syndrome. One of th

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Food Choices in Group Settings, Workshops, and at Community Events

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

One of the areas our patients find challenging to making healthy choices is in the availability of food options in group settings, workshops, and community events. The limited choices in vending machi

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Memorial/Life Celebration

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

I spoke at a patient’s memorial/life celebration a few days ago and I would like to share some of my words. I would like to go back to 1954, the year Don was born. Life expectancy of a perso

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Down Syndrome and Heart Disease

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

If a 45-year-old man presents to the emergency room with chest pain, what is the big concern? Coronary ischemia (low blood flow to the heart muscle) and possibly myocardial infarction (heart attack).

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Hypertension and Hypotension

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major health problem – except not for people with Down syndrome. There has recently been much discussion about reducing the salt consumption of the Un

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Expectations

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

As we mention in our resource on “ Two Syndromes ,” there seem to be four main reasons for the differences noted in the different generations of people with Down syndrome &ndas

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Goals

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

As we mention in our resource on “ Two Syndromes ,” there have been changes over time that have contributed to some of our families with younger children with Down syndrome not rel

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Life Expectancy

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

As we mention in our resource “ Two Syndromes ,” there are four main areas that we see are affecting people with Down syndrome in a positive way. The effect has been so great in so

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Opportunities

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Over the years, some families have approached us after presentations and reported they couldn’t relate to a story or a point we made. We have found that it was typically a family of a younge

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Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.

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