Q: What is the best age to begin learning to play an instrument?
A: Although I am not an expert in child development, my opinion is based on my experience and that of friends in the profession. I think the best time to start a child with music lessons is when a child shows interest in learning to play an instrument.
February was designated as Heart Month to increase awareness of heart disease. Recently, the American Heart Association's (AHA) Go Red campaign has focused on women and heart disease -- and for good reason. More women die of heart disease than all other causes of death combined. More women than men die from cardiovascular disease which is why women need to be aware of their risk factors, says this week's edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Penn State faces a $21 million cut in state funding with next year's proposed state budget announced in Harrisburg Feb. 4.
"The University understands the extraordinary circumstances faced by the Commonwealth and is prepared to do its part," said President Graham Spanier.
Science has sought the "cause" of cancer for decades, and in the case of cervical cancer, the cause has been found. The cervix is the opening to the womb that is situated at the upper end of the vagina. Until recently the best approach to cervical cancer was to detect it early with a Pap test performed during a gynecologic examination. While the occurrence of advanced cervical cancer has dropped through widespread use of the Pap test, there are many women in the United States and millions worldwide who do not get or have access to Pap tests. This year in the United States, about 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Almost 4,000 will die of the disease which is easily detectable and easily cured, if found early.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract that belongs to a group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about one in 500 people suffers from IBD. Crohn's can present at any age and affects both genders and all races. It is a chronic disease for which there is no cure, but for which health care providers and researchers are improving their ability to decrease its activity.
It may be uncomfortable to think about after the holidays, but currently two-thirds of Americans are overweight and about five percent are actually clinically severely obese. New Year's resolutions are great, but they probably won't do much to solve this growing epidemic. Very few people are able to lose significant weight through diet and exercise, and even fewer are able to keep the weight off long term.
Colleges and universities are facing difficult financial decisions stemming from the widening global economic crisis. In a discussion this week at Faculty Senate, Penn State President Graham Spanier reassured community members that the University is on solid financial ground, but will face serious challenges because of a $21.2 million recission from the state.
We are entering that wonderful time of year when we can experience some of the many benefits of living in a climate with four seasons. Those who enjoy skiing and snowboarding are anxiously looking at hilltops in the expectation of seeing some beautiful white powder. However, to fully enjoy our participation, we should remain mindful of injury prevention, advises the latest edition of The Medical Minute, a service of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
Many areas of Pennsylvania already have seen the first significant snowfall of this winter season, and others saw a preview of what is to come. Soon winter will officially be here and bad weather will be playing havoc with schedules. Other situations may arise that affect the ability of the campus -- students, faculty and staff -- to function normally. In those situations, it is critical that the University be able to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. The PSUTXT text-messaging system is a key tool by which Penn State can communicate directly with the University community in these situations. Don't be caught uninformed. Sign up for PSUTXT, and have messages sent directly to a cell phone when bad weather delays or cancels classes, or if another emergency situation arises. To register, visit http://live.psu.edu/psutxt online. For information, contact Annemarie Mountz at amountz@psu.edu.
Halloween is supposed to be a spooky night, but parents don't have to be scared about their kids' safety if they follow some simple safety tips from Safe Kids Dauphin County, led by the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. It's essential for parents to prepare their children properly to stay safe while trick-or-treating.