Dr. Nadine Burke Harris: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up.
Pediatrician Dr. Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer. An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on.
More resources for you
Find this useful?
Join our First 5 family – it’s free!
Enjoy personalized content based on your child’s age every time you visit our site.
Recommended articles
Featured Download
Local help
First Time Parents/Caregivers Support You’ve gone through pregnancy, labor, and delivery – and now it’s time to begin the journey of parenthood! Activities
Parents’ top 3 activities
Read the reviews
Parents recommend
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.”
O. Fred Donaldson
Trending questions
What is Toxic Stress?
Where can I find affordable, easy-to-use parenting courses?
What are signs of postpartum depression and/or anxiety?
My child has Down syndrome. What should I know about it and the type of support to get?
What is the difference between TK and kindergarten?
What can I do when my child has nightmares?
What free programs are available to help me quit using tobacco products?
Where can I find immigration services support?