The devastating consequences of the opioid crisis are far-reaching in the United States, impacting public health as well as social and economic welfare. Penn State researchers recently collaborated to address the issue in a supplement of The American Journal of Managed Care.
Knee injuries can be a scourge to collegiate and pro athletes alike, but Penn State researchers say a single measurement taken by a clinician may help predict whether a person is at risk for knee instability.
Current guidelines recommend lowering cholesterol for heart disease risk reduction. New findings from a Penn State-led study indicate that if cholesterol dips too low, it may boost the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, according to researchers.
Penn State researchers will share mindfulness tips and techniques with community members July 12 at the Art of Discovery booth, part of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
Long-term stress has been linked with cardiovascular disease, but for people with depression, researchers say small, everyday stressors may be enough to diminish blood vessel function in otherwise healthy adults.
When combined with a diet low in saturated fats, eating walnuts may help lower blood pressure in people at risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new Penn State study.
Kids and young adults who drink no water throughout the day may consume twice the amount of calories from sugary drinks than those who drink water, according to researchers at Penn State.
For patients suffering with chronic pain, relief could soon be found as close as their nearest smart assistant. Researchers at Penn State are developing a way to deliver on-demand, guided mindfulness practices via Amazon Alexa to patients experiencing chronic pain. Through their method, a smart assistant will provide Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) practices to individuals in their homes. MBSR is a non-addictive, long-term pain-management alternative to opioid pain medication.
Young kids may not be as good at resisting large portions of foods as was previously thought, according to Penn State researchers who found that preschoolers were susceptible to the portion size effect — the tendency of people to eat more when larger portions are served.
The opioid epidemic may have cost U.S. state and federal governments up to $37.8 billion in lost tax revenue due to opioid-related employment loss, according to Penn State researchers.
Janet Welsh, associate research professor of health and human development and senior research associate with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, has worked in prevention research since 1994, with the aim of improving the lives of people and communities impacted by substance abuse and addiction. "I want to see how we can use what we have at the University to really help solve social problems, and being able to work with real communities, kids and families has always been important to me," said Welsh.
To help build resilient families in Pennsylvania, Penn State researchers like Janet Welsh are taking prevention research out of the lab and into communities where it matters most. "We aren’t going to solve the whole problem of drug abuse ourselves," Welsh said, "but because of our clear mission and track record of success, we can be a piece of the solution."
Self-confidence is critical for teens as they prepare for the challenges of adulthood, and both families and schools may together play a vital role in boosting adolescents’ confidence even in the face of difficulties with family, according to researchers.
Sexual minorities — people who are attracted to members of the same sex or who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual — are at a higher risk for several different health problems at different points in their lives, according to Penn State researchers.
Volumetrics, a diet developed by Penn State’s Barbara Rolls, was ranked the No. 2 weight loss plan in this year’s U.S. News & World Report's Best Diets.
