On average, male and female gymnasts are of short stature. This small stature is a great advantage in gymnastics because it gives a gymnast a lower center of gravity, which is especially important for balance skills. Several studies have addressed...
Most parents want to see their child grow and develop in healthy and normal ways. A baby undergoes many changes during her first year of life as she progresses through each stage of development. Parents may become concerned when they notice that...
Rickets is a childhood disease that affects the bones. It causes soft, weak, brittle bones. Children with rickets may present with bone deformities such as bowlegs, wide ankles and wide wrists, dental problems and delayed growth. Breastfed babies,...
Sickle cell anemia is a recessive hereditary disease that causes the red blood cells to become sickle-shaped instead of round. Hemoglobin, the iron-rich protein inside the red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen through the body,...
Exercise, in healthy doses, maximizes an athlete's bone growth and aids in preventing osteoporosis. However, exercising at an elite level over a period of years may retard an athlete's growth and development. Elite-level gymnasts engaging in...
Focalin, the brand name for the generic drug dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride, is a prescription stimulant used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity, or ADHD, in adults and children over the age of 6, according to PDRHealth, a...
Patients over the age of 6 who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be prescribed a medication called Focalin to help manage ADHD symptoms. Focalin, or dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride, is a type of central nervous system stimulant...
Congenital heart disease is a group of heart problems caused by a malformation of the heart that is present at birth. These are structural defects that affect the interior walls of the heart, the valves of the heart or the blood vessels that carry...
Infants grow rapidly from the day they are born, but if you compare your child to other babies, you probably will notice a significant difference in size. Children come in all shapes and sizes and grow at different rates. To determine that your...
Iron is an essential mineral to the human body; iron transports oxygen to red blood cells and aides the body in cell growth and development. The body receives iron by consuming foods high in the mineral, such as meat, beans and lentils. A variety...
Gas in infants is extremely common and is typically caused by swallowing air during feeding. According to BabyAdvice.com, normal infants pass gas up to 20 times each day, and most experience no discomfort or pain when doing so. If your baby has...
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. This condition is usually caused by an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid gland removal or medications that...
According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Crohn's disease is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal tract. This disease typically affects the small intestine or colon and belongs...
Low weight gain, also commonly referred to as "failure to thrive" or "delayed growth" refers to a pattern of poor or slow weight gain in children. Children diagnosed with this condition differ from genetically thin children who inherited their...
Infants grow and develop at an astonishing rate. It is normal for parents to become concerned about their babies' development and want to make sure they are on the right track. While there are guidelines to consider concerning your baby's physical...
Micronutrients are substances such as vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy growth and development. Although micronutrients are required only in tiny quantities by the body, a micronutrient deficiency can cause serious problems....
According to the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is caused by a reaction from the digestive tract to a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. The small intestine reacts to gluten causing malabsorption of nutrients. Although celiac...
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia is a very rare condition that affects the bones in the arms and legs, and it occurs at birth. It is caused by a mutation of the gene COL2A1. This gene is responsible for normal development and growth of bone and...
As children grow and develop, there is an extensive network of hormones and body systems that drives the growth and works to create an environment conducive to development. One hormone, TSH, can cause havoc on children if it doesn't do its job...
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder found prominently in people of African descent, though it can occur in anyone. In this disease, the hemoglobin in red blood cells is deformed, resulting in characteristic sickle-shaped cells that...
Your body's growth, immune function and ability to recover from wounds rely on zinc. Found in red meat, poultry, fish, legumes, milk and nuts, zinc plays essential roles in several of your body's major systems. Even a mild zinc deficiency may...
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells are stiff and crescent-shaped or sickled instead of being disc-shaped. Stiff sickled red blood cells can block blood vessels, reducing blood flow to many parts of the body,...
Poor nutrition may lead to hair loss, according to the University of Hawaii. Hair loss in men and women increases with aging. While hormonal imbalances are the leading cause of hair loss for women, it is important to note that hormones are...
German measles is a virus spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. It is not the same disease as measles. Another name for German measles is rubella. The MMR vaccine that children receive before starting school stands for...
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to certain harmless substances in the environment, causing the skin and other organs to get inflamed and irritated. The skin may become itchy and swollen, and develop red bumps, scaly...
Calcium is a mineral that is used for many functions in the body. Some of these include cellular communication and work, proper functioning of muscle and nerves and additional strength to bones. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium by affecting its...
Vitamin D is important for the formation, growth and repair of bones, enhanced function of the immune system and muscle strength. The most common sources of vitamin D are fortified cereal and dairy products, supplements and sunlight. Deficiencies...
Vitamin D helps your child's body absorb calcium, which contributes to bone and teeth health. It is also necessary for nerve transmission. Without it, your child can develop a deficiency that leads to bone-softening disease. It is important to...
Vitamin D is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" because it can be synthesized in the body from the ultraviolet rays provided by the sun. Vitamin D can also be consumed in the diet, but according to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake,...