Bio
- Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS
- @CDC_NCBDDD
Specialties:
- Public Health & General Preventive Medicine
Affiliation:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location:
- Atlanta, GA
Group Memberships:
Links:
Credentials
Activity
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Can neural tube defects be prevented?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges women to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant, to help prevent neural tube defects. Neural tube defects happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before you find out.
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If my first child has spina bifida, how do I prevent it in my next baby?
Women who had one pregnancy affected by a birth defect of the brain or spine might have another. Talk to your doctor about taking 4,000 micrograms (4 milligrams) of folic acid each day at least 1 month before getting pregnant and during the first few months of being pregnant. This is ten times the..
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn May 03, 2016What are important cognitive milestones for my one year old?
It is important for a one year old to do the following: Explore objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) Find hidden objects easily Look at the correct picture when an image is named Imitate gestures Begin to use objects correctly (drinking from a
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Mar 24, 2016What are congenital heart defects (CHD)?
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content on this page should not be construed to imply endo
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Mar 16, 2016How common is congenital heart disease?
Congenital heart defects are conditions present at birth that affect the how a baby's heart is made and the way it works. They are the most common type of birth defects. In the United States, about 40,000 infants are born with a heart defect each year. The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content..
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Feb 19, 2016How are congenital heart defects (CHD) cured?
Even with improved treatments, many people with a congenital heart defect (CHD) are not cured, even if their heart defect has been repaired. People with a CHD can develop other health problems over time, depending on their specific heart defect, the number of heart defects they have and the severity
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Feb 02, 2016How can I have a healthy pregnancy?
If you are trying to have a baby or are just thinking about it, it is not too early to start getting ready for pregnancy. Preconception health and healthcare focus on things you can do before and between pregnancies to increase the chances of having a healthy baby. For some women, getting their body
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Jan 02, 2016How do I know what medications I can and can't take during pregnancy?
Many websites post lists of medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. But for many of the medications listed, there is not enough known to determine their safety or risk for use during pregnancy. Don’t make decisions about medication use during pregnancy based on lists you find online. Ins
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Dec 23, 2015What is gastroschisis?
Gastroschisis is a birth defect of the abdominal (belly) wall. The baby’s intestines stick outside of the baby’s body, through a hole beside the belly button. The hole can be small or large and sometimes other organs, such as the stomach and liver, can also stick outside of the baby’s body. The Cent
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Jul 28, 2015What are the risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders in children?
We do not know all of the causes of ASDs. However, we have learned that there are likely many causes for multiple types of ASDs. There may be many different factors that make a child more likely to have an ASD, including environmental, biologic, and genetic factors. Most scientists agree th
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Jul 02, 2015What is Kernicterus?
Kernicterus is a type of brain damage that can result from high levels of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. It can cause athetoid cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Kernicterus also causes problems with vision and teeth and sometimes can cause intellectual disabilities. Any baby with untreated jaundi
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Jun 09, 2015Why is smoking dangerous during pregnancy?
The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include premature birth, low birth weight, certain birth defects (cleft lip and cleft palate) and infant death. Even being around cigarette smoke puts a woman and the fetus at risk for problems. Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. But for a woman
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Jan 05, 2015What are the types of congenital heart defects (CHD)?
Congenital heart defects (CHD) can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart). Different types of CHD include: Atrial septal defect, in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers of the heart...
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Dec 30, 2014Why should I see my OB/GYN if I want to get pregnant?
Before getting pregnant, talk to your OB/GYN about preconception health care. Your doctor will want to discuss your health history and any medical conditions you currently have that could affect a pregnancy. He or she also will discuss any previous pregnancy problems, medicines that you currently...
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Dr. Coleen Boyle, PhD, MS of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) answeredOn Dec 12, 2014What are the symptoms of congenital heart defects (CHD)?
Signs and symptoms for congenital heart defects (CHD) depend on the type and severity of the particular defect. Some defects might have few or no signs or symptoms. Others might cause a baby to have the following symptoms: Blue-tinted nails or lips Fast or troubled breathing Tiredness when feedi
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