COVID-19 pandemic highlights need for strategies to identify and report child abuse
Penn State Health
The pouting, the screaming, the crying – they’re all signs of a classic temper tantrum. Many parents currently at home with their children or teenagers 24/7 due to COVID-19-related stay-at-home guidelines know these behaviors all too well. Here are some strategies to help curb negative behavior.
Reports of suspected child abuse have declined in Pennsylvania since the onset of social distancing guidelines. But experts in the Penn State Center for the Protection of Children say this does not correlate with an actual decline in abuse cases.
Penn State Health has enrolled its first COVID-19 patient into an experimental treatment program called convalescent plasma therapy.
There are many ways to help ease children’s anxieties and educate them about coronavirus (COVID-19).
No cure for osteoarthritis exists, but many treatments can help people manage the pain and stiffness that often occur.
Many people think migraines are just bad headaches – but they’re so much more. While no cure for migraines exists, hope abounds thanks to major advances in research.
When chronic pain keeps children from being active and social, it’s no surprise that anxiety and depression can become unwelcome playmates. The good news: there is help, and it starts with recognizing that a problem exists.
For people who feel premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), they can seem frightening. But the good news is they’re very common – and they’re not always dangerous.
Thanks to society’s fondness for electronic gadgets, so-called tech-related injuries are on the rise. Learn how to ease the pain – or even prevent it in the first place.
An alarming number of people don’t take the medications prescribed by their health care providers to manage chronic health conditions, and that can lead to a range of complications.
It sizzles on the grill. But does it fizzle in terms of nutrition? That’s the question when it comes to the new burgers made of plant-based meat substitutes that are flying off grocery store shelves and restaurant tables.
We live in an era of self-empowerment. But when it comes to quitting smoking, going it alone isn’t the best approach. Read on for effective strategies from Penn State Health experts.
The winter cold and flu season may try to knock out your new year’s plans to get or stay healthy, but the good news is you can fight back.
Between bountiful buffets and “food-pushing relatives,” the winter holidays hold landmines for those trying to eat healthy. Check out these tips for navigating the holiday eating scene.
The holidays bring plenty of stressors for adults and children. Here are some tips on how you can get enough sleep with sleigh bells jingling and sugar plums dancing.
Researchers are still trying to find ways of catching pancreatic cancer early – or better yet, preventing it altogether. Meantime, here’s what patients need to know.
If you develop severe leg cramps when you walk or exert yourself, the problem might be a serious condition called peripheral artery disease.
Parents spend hours planning to talk with their children about the “birds and bees.” But moms and dads often ignore an equally important conversation—discussing their family’s overall health history.
Popping your ears by yawning or chewing gum can help alleviate pressure. But if that doesn’t help, a more permanent solution might be Eustachian tube dilation.
Although there’s no cure for dementia, there are therapies that impact how people can continue to function well and lead good lives.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or on a time-restricted schedule, intermittent fasting is the new trend in weight loss. But does it work?
For women who suffer the devastation of an infant loss during pregnancy, emotions can run the gamut. They may feel guilty, angry or even relieved. No matter the feeling, expressing those emotions plays a big role in adapting to life after such a tragic event.
Penn State Health and Geisinger announced today the signing of a letter of intent to transfer ownership of Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health.
Hand sanitizers are convenient alternatives to handwashing, and they do work. But when it comes to keeping germs away as we enter the cold and flu season, nothing beats a good scrubbing with soap and water.
Parenting is hard work. Parenting a child who struggles with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is even more difficult. According to one psychologist, the best situation is when parents and teachers work together to manage behaviors and promote the child’s success.
Mammograms remain the gold standard for detecting breast cancer in its earliest stages, potentially saving lives. So, why do some women receive a letter after a negative mammogram – meaning there’s no sign of cancer – asking them to consider additional tests?
Suicide can be difficult to talk about due to the cultural stigma surrounding it and the devastating and lasting impact it has on people, families and communities. But it’s important to do so.
Many people think about ways to stay physically fit as individuals. But what about creating a health and fitness plan for the entire family?
What makes pelvic pain abnormal? While the answer is different for every woman, having the strength to discuss it with a health care provider may help prevent years of suffering.
From medical decisions and surgical recovery to coping with stress and end-of-life issues, a patient’s faith — or lack thereof — affects nearly every part of a medical journey.
Regular vision screenings are part of all well-child checks at Penn State Health – but sometimes, caring for a child’s eyes requires additional steps.
For each stage of life, you should take different steps to protect your bones. A Penn State Sports Medicine doctor helps you bone up on bone health.
One of the most common problems cardiologists handle is atrial fibrillation, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia. It slowly kills brain cells and is the fifth-leading cause of death for Americans age 65 and over. But contrary to popular belief, steps can be taken to slow it down.
Warm, sunny days inspire many people to throw on the nearest pair of sneakers and head outdoors for a run. But choose carefully. Running shoes should provide the proper foot support to prevent injury.
Blood tests can diagnose disease, determine organ function and help your doctor see how well treatments are working. Here’s why they sometimes require so many samples – and why you can’t eat ahead of time.
Caffeine can boost energy, improve alertness and produce a general feeling of well-being – when used in moderation. Go past the sweet spot though, and that same elixir can cause insomnia, jitteriness and feelings of nervousness.
While some do-it-yourselfers make their own sunscreen to avoid chemicals used to make those found at stores, a surgical oncologist and skin cancer specialist at Penn State Health says that's a bad idea.
By age 50, nearly half of men experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. The good news: Several treatment options are available.
In a new research study, researchers at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center used engineering principles to improve the accuracy and efficiency of an evaluation that dermatologists frequently use to check patients for skin cancers.
Athletes invest hours practicing before a big game. Runners train for months leading up to a marathon. A mother-to-be should likewise prepare herself for the mental and physical rigor of pregnancy, labor and caring for a newborn.
Too much screen time can cause health problems for an adult. Mix it with the turmoil of teen years — or the plasticity of a preschooler’s brain — and it can lead to conditions ranging from obesity to mental health disorders.
A tragic trio of inexperience, strong emotions and distractions combines to make vehicle crashes the leading cause of death and disability among American teenagers.
“The only way to prevent measles reliably is to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Catharine Paules, an infectious diseases physician at Penn State Health.
The sugar in fruit is different from the sugar in a doughnut. Learn why – and how to steer your children toward natural sugars.
Spring cleaning is a great way to give your home a fresh start and give yourself a sense of accomplishment. But it can be hazardous to your health if you don’t take the proper precautions, especially if you have asthma or other chronic lung conditions.
Many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. But some experience a severe and possibly disabling subset of PMS known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Cleaning out your medicine cabinet is about more than having a tidy bathroom. In an age of opioid addiction, it can also prevent leftover medications from getting into the wrong hands.