The Medical Minute: Foodborne Illness Is Often Avoidable
Penn State HealthEach year, Americans develop more than 50 million cases of foodborne illness. While some are caused by eating out, others originate in home kitchens.
Each year, Americans develop more than 50 million cases of foodborne illness. While some are caused by eating out, others originate in home kitchens.
Some falls are just part of childhood. Learning to walk and nursing scraped knees are milestones that few kids escape. But more serious tumbles – from beds, stairs, playground equipment and windows – are often the most easily prevented.
Autonomic and small fiber neuropathy used to be considered rare conditions. But with approximately 30 million Americans affected by diabetes – one of the main underlying causes for these diseases – it’s an emerging problem.
Overuse of antibiotics can cause problems for both individual patients and the general population. That’s why it’s important to take them only for true bacterial infections.
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, describes the type of clots that can form in blood vessels of the arms or legs. Sometimes they can travel to the lungs, creating serious complications or even death.
The good news about flat head syndrome is that it doesn’t have consequences beyond cosmetics, and it can often be improved – if it doesn’t resolve on its own.
The rate of death from Alzheimer’s disease in the United States increased by more than 50 percent in the past 15 years. In part, it’s because Americans are living longer – age is one of the biggest risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s. But it’s also because medical professionals can identify risk factors.
Summer is a season of flights, road trips, boat rides and amusement park visits. For those who suffer from motion sickness, it can be a tough time of year.
Getting outside on two wheels can improve health and fitness, build muscles and boost your mood. Plus, for most people, it’s fun.
Scientists could be one step closer to developing long-awaited vaccines against viruses such as Zika, West Nile or HIV, thanks to research at Penn State College of Medicine.
Your body needs salt to work properly -- but too much can be bad for your health.
"We need to remind people that these are dangerous machines, and the consequences are devastating."
According to the American Stroke Association, the number of people 65 and older who were treated for ischemic stroke declined between 2000 and 2010. However, hospitalization rates for those younger than 65 rose.
Many people have become familiar with the FAST acronym for identifying acute stroke symptoms. But a recently expanded version of the acronym can make it easier for those witnessing an acute stroke to identify it in nearly all cases.
New guidelines recommend that men aged 55 to 69 with no signs of prostate cancer have a conversation with their doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of screening for the disease.
How happy a mother is in her relationship and the social support she receives may affect risk of infant colic, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
There is an ongoing need for healthy volunteers in clinical research studies that can lead to healthcare breakthroughs that provide better drugs and treatments for patients.
Each day, more than 800 Americans suffer a hip fracture. Most of those fractures are due to falls, and most happen to seniors, who have lower bone density and muscle mass than the rest of the population.
Many people associate playing sports with drinking sports drinks – in some cases because it’s what they see the professionals do. But all of that extra sugar and salt may be doing more harm than good.
It’s going to be a strange season and hard to predict what will happen," one allergy expert says.
"The difference with children and teenagers versus adults is that young people are still making connections in their brains that they're going to have for a lifetime," said Dr. Leslie Walker-Harding, chair of pediatrics and medical director at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Nicole Hackman, a pediatrician and medical director for lactation services at Penn State Children’s Hospital, says information and support often can help mothers overcome challenges that might keep them from successful breastfeeding.
A $9.7 million National Institutes of Health project grant to Penn State College of Medicine aims to improve the lives of millions of people living with peripheral arterial disease.
Kids get colds – sometimes, lots of them. But when runny noses and coughs turn into trouble breathing, the problem could indicate RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.
Most people know doctors recommend a colonoscopy at age 50 to screen for colorectal cancers. What they might not know is that earlier screening may be necessary if they have a family history of colorectal cancer or other diseases.
Millions of people across the United States struggle with eating disorders. With so much public discussion about obesity and healthy eating, conversations about weight and BMI – or body mass index – can even make the problem worse.
Ask any doctor what can be done to maintain a healthy heart and the answer will most likely be eat healthy and exercise regularly. But what happens when someone's heart is not healthy and does not pump blood properly?
A Penn State expert says a new report on cancer disparities invites a deeper examination by local health care organizations about the work that needs to be done.
Although blockages in the arteries of the heart, also known as coronary artery disease, are the best known, there are many other diseases that may involve the actual structures inside the heart.
Donating blood is a tangible way to help people who are struggling with serious health conditions, yet many people may not think about it or make time for it.
It’s not unusual for your body to make “popping” or “cracking” sounds as you lean over, twist or reach for something. Fortunately, it’s also typically not a cause for worry.
Even though the Zika virus hasn’t been in the news as much lately, it remains a serious public health concern.
A Retro94-based compound may prevent a common and sometimes fatal virus, human cytomegalovirus (CMV) from reproducing and protect immunocompromised patients, like those with HIV, on chemotherapy, with transplants and infants from the effects of the disease, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
About 80 percent of the population will experience at least one significant episode of back pain in their lifetime. When it happens, most people first want to know how to feel better, then how to prevent a recurrence.
New research suggests that women with stronger social connections while being treated for breast cancer may fare better than those who don’t have that kind of support.
For the first time in two decades, the life expectancy of Americans declined slightly, and the overall death rate rose, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Music may not seem as potent as a pill, but in many cases, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
Pretty much all toys can look inviting to children. But it’s important for adults who are buying toys this holiday season look beyond the flashing lights and cool noises to make sure they are safe.
Allowing an infant to sleep in your bed or putting blankets or stuffed animals in their crib could be tragic mistakes, increasing their child’s risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Whether you barely noticed the time change or are still feeling the effects of the end of Daylight Saving Time, you probably have your genes to blame.
Overdose of prescription pain killers may seem like a grown-up problem, but children are increasingly being hospitalized for opioid poisoning.
Digital media changes so quickly that the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations on media use and screen time for children just a year after issuing its previous guidelines.
During their lifetime, as many as eight out of ten people experience back pain that lasts more than three days. However, for a vast majority of these people, the pain goes away with simple treatment.
Dr. Daleela Dodge is fascinated by the resilience of her patients. The breast surgeon at Penn State Breast Center has repeatedly seen how social networks, diet, exercise, a strong support system, mindfulness and therapy through music, art and writing can be an important part of recovery and remission from breast cancer.
The incidence of thyroid cancer has tripled in the past three decades, yet the reason for this is not clear.
Penn State, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine will continue the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute through an award from the National Institutes of Health.
Providing physically inactive adults access to online social networking about walking as well as personalized feedback did not add more benefit than just providing emailed tips, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
As flu season approaches, medical experts have some new recommendations – along with some old standards – on how to reduce your chances of getting sick.
New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics are designed to help pediatricians identify more serious depression and suicidal tendencies so teens get the help they need to climb out of any dark holes before they get stuck.
What’s the difference between an MRI and a CT scan? An X-ray and an ultrasound? Will it involve radiation that could harm the child in the long term? Penn State Health follows the principles set forth by the Image Gently Alliance, which works to improve safe and effective imaging of children worldwide.