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

Duration: 27 ms, Number of Results: 30

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Pneumonia in People with Down Syndrome

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

Key Points Lungs are vital organs in the movement of oxygen into the body and the removal of carbon dioxide. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Pneumonia is more common in people with Down syndro

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Author: Allison Schnitzler, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Key Points Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also known as heartburn or reflux. GERD is common in people with Down syndrome (DS). There are a variety of things that can be done at home to redu

Celiac Disease

Author: Robert Campbell, DO and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Key Points Celiac disease is caused by a sensitivity to gluten. It is more common in people with Down syndrome. It can be diagnosed through an assessment including a history, physical, blood work, and

Cerumen Impaction (Ear Wax Buildup)

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

Key Points Cerumen impaction is obstruction of the ear canal with ear wax. It is a problem that is more common in people with Down syndrome. There are treatments that can be done at home to prevent an

Hearing Loss in Adults with Down Syndrome

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

Overview of hearing loss Hearing involves several steps as the sound passes from the ear to the brain. The ear is divided into three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear. Hearing impairment, which

Cholesteatomas

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

What are cholesteatomas? A  cholesteatoma is a collection of skin cells that become more fibrous and build up in the middle ear (where the small bones are that are part of our hearing mechani

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

Constipation in Down Syndrome

Author: Samantha Ghanayem-Bouikidis, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Video Watch a video clip about constipation  from our webinar At-Home Treatments for Common Health Conditions.   Constipation is a common problem in people with Down syndrom

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a health issue in the intestines (bowels). It is not clear how common it is in people with Down syndrome (DS).  However, we suspect that IBS is more common i

Advancements in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Webinar Recording (11/8/2021)

Author: Michael Layland, MD - Otolaryngologist

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Dr. Michael Layland on November 8, 2021. Dr. Layland is an otolaryngologist at the Ear Nose & Throat Center and Advocate Lutheran Gener

Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia)

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

Swallowing problems (dysphagia) are common in people with Down syndrome (DS). In our large cohort study that reviewed health data from people cared for within Advocate Health, swallowing problems were

Night Terrors in People with Down Syndrome

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

Night terrors (or sleep terrors) are described as a sudden arousal from sleep associated with sitting up in bed, intense fear, and a piercing scream. Symptoms include increased heart rate, increased r

Use of Probiotics by People with Down Syndrome

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource

What are probiotics? Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms (e.g., bacteria). Foods with labels that say "live and active cultures" contain probiotics.

Liver Fibrosis

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

Fibrosis of the liver can be thought of as a "scar" in the liver that results from chronic liver injury. It is similar to scarring that may form on the skin or in the lung or other o

Addressing Challenges with Falling or Staying Asleep

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

We frequently receive questions about sleep. Individuals with Down syndrome and/or their families report that they have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. In this article, we will share stra

Sleep in Adolescents and Adults with Down Syndrome Webinar (8/4/2020)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Webinar

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L on August 4, 2020. Dr. Chicoine is the co-founder and medical director of the Adult Down Syndrom

Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease with Surgery

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

We were asked about surgical options for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when stomach contents, including acid, go "backwards" from the stomach up into t

Preventing Sleep Apnea

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

We received a question from an individual in Switzerland about preventing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when air is not passed normally in and out of the lungs while sleeping. There are three types

Lactose Intolerance

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

People with Down syndrome can experience a variety of gastrointestinal issues. One of them is intolerance to foods containing lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products like milk and ice crea

CPAP and its Usage

Author: Shweta Gandhi, DO - Family Medicine Resident, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Individuals with Down syndrome are more susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea. Their upper airways are usually smaller because of a larger tongue and smaller maxilla (upper jaw). Other factors can co

Sleep Hygiene

Author: Chris Molitor, MD - Family Medicine Resident, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Technology and handheld gadgets have become an everyday part of our lives. Flat-screen TVs, iPads, Netflix, smart phones, and Kindle e-readers are common devices many people use and enjoy in their spa

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

Sleep Apnea

Author: Paula Cho - Fourth Year Medical Student

In order to understand what sleep apnea is, it is important to know what normal sleep is. Normal, uninterrupted sleep consists of a cyclic pattern alternating between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep an

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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