Just the Facts, Ma'am! Welcome to Factoid Friday

I have a feeling that 'Factoid Fridays' may stick around after the 31 for 21 Challenge is over.  Although it is shorter than one of my usual verbose entries, sometimes it is just nice to have the facts, ma'am.

Your Factoids For Today:

Down syndrome:

• Is the most common chromosomal disorder
• Occurs in 1 out of every 696 births
• Occurs independently of race, religion, creed, colour, socioeconomic status or nationality
• Occurs independently of any maternal or paternal activity prior to conception and pregnancy
• Has a higher incidence as mother's age increases, however 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to women under 35
• Has a range of learning disability, not a set level of "functioning".

With Down syndrome:

• There is a 40% chance of a congenital heart defect (that will be present at birth)
• There is a 10% chance of the baby having a bowel blockage at birth that will require surgery
• There is a high incidence of issues such as thyroid disease, diabetes and epilepsy. However, as these conditions are treatable, most people with DS lead reasonably healthy lives.
• The average life span in 1983 was 25.  Today it is over 60.

There are:

• Over 400,000 people with DS living in the United States alone
• Approximately 35, 000 people in Canada with Down syndrome

 
People with Down syndrome:

• Attend school (even post-secondary)
• Participate in the major decisions that affect their lives 
• Contribute to society in meaningful and productive ways
• Flourish with a stimulating home environment, enriched educational programs, positive family support and good health care.

(Statistics courtesy of The Canadian Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Society and the National Association for Down Syndrome.)