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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.

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Duration: 11 ms, Number of Results: 21

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Urinary Retention

Author: Agni Vlahos, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine

Key Points Urinary retention is the build-up of excessive urine in the bladder. It appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. A common reason for urinary retention in people with Down syn

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

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

Key Points Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and/or kidneys. People with Down syndrome have risk factors for getting a UTI due to issues related to not e

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Urinary Incontinence

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

Key Points Urinary incontinence or urinary "accidents" are more common in people with Down syndrome. There are many potential causes.  The inability to empty the bladder com

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Hypertension and Hypotension

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

Key Points  The blood pressure of people with Down syndrome tends to be on the lower side. High blood pressure (hypertension) is much less common in people with Down syndrome. Blood pressures

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Elevated Red Blood Cell Count (Polycythemia)

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

Key Points Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.  An elevated red blood cell count (polycythemia) occurs when there is an excess of red blood cells in the bloods

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Iron Deficiency and Down Syndrome

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

Key Points Iron deficiency occurs when a person does not have enough iron in their body. Iron deficiency anemia is the low red blood cell count that results from that deficiency. A complete blood coun

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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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An Introduction to Benefits: Federal and State Programs Available in Illinois

Author: Suzanne Aaron, Information & Outreach Specialist - The Arc of Illinois, Illinois Life Span Program

In January 2022, Suzanne Aaron, an information & outreach specialist from the Illinois Life Span Program of the Arc of Illinois, presented a webinar called "An Introduction t

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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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Dental Implants

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

We sometimes receive questions about dental implants. A small number of people with Down syndrome seen in our office have reported that they opted to get dental implants, and most of these individuals

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Kidney Function in People with Down Syndrome

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

We frequently see that the lab values of kidney function of people with Down syndrome (DS) we evaluate at our Center are mildly abnormal. The kidney function is slightly decreased compared to what is

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An Introduction to Developmental Disability Resources, Organizations, and Terms - Webinar Slides

Author: The Arc of Illinois - Presentation

In May 2021, the Arc of Illinois hosted a webinar called, "An Introduction to Developmental Disability Resources, Organizations, and Terms." It was a webinar for family members and c

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Dental Care Guidance for Caregivers of Patients with Down Syndrome

Author: Greg Grillo, DDS and Andrew Jordan, DDM - Dentably

Dental Care Guidance for Caregivers of Patients with Down Syndrome is an article that shares information about common dental problems, finding the right dentist, sedation, appointment preparation, and

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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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Oral Health and Hygiene Presentation (3/6/2018)

Author: Blase Brown, DDS, MA, Bridget Brown, and UIC Dental Students - Video

The video below is a recording of a presentation on Oral Health and Hygiene hosted by the Adult Down Syndrome Center in March 2018. Self-advocate Bridget Brown describes important aspects of oral hygi

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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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Low White Blood Cell Count

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

What is the significance of a low white blood cell count (neutropenia)? We commonly find that our adult patients with Down syndrome have a mildly reduced white blood cell count. What does it mean? Wha

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Elevated Globulin

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

Globulins are antibodies (found and measured in the blood) that are elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and some cancers. We often find the globulin level to be elevated in people with Do

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MCH and MCV

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

We received a question about MCH and MCV. The question concerned an individual with Down syndrome who had a high MCH and MCV. MCH is mean corpuscular hemoglobin (the average amount of hemoglobin in th

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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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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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