The Dilemma of a Pandemic

     This places families at risk for a variety of things.  For example, adolescents may resort to illicit drugs, alcohol, and sleep disturbances.  There are also investigations which illustrate The Adverse Childhood Experiences study of 16 years ago (3).

     Furthermore, women are prone to the development of coronary heart disease.  Some of them suffered from diabetes mellitus, stroke, suicide, and neoplastic disease.  On a positive view, however, many of these women survive and have good outcomes despite the difficulty these challenges bring (1, 3).

     There are several organizations which can furnish assistance. For example, the American Academy of Pediatricsis well-known in the United States and in other countries.  Also, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has much information about parenting (1, 2).

     The American Academy of Pediatrics News discusses important issues which may arise.  It describes the importance of face masks and quarantine as management tools.  Some children encounter racism, and their interactions with other family members further complicate the picture. There are also legal problems.  These may include involvement with the juvenile justice system and child welfare offices.  Moreover, there are matters for some who are LGBTQ (1, 2).

     On the other hand, there are things that families can do to address these difficult times.  Creative activities may be helpful.  At the same time, excessive interest with television may be somewhat of a hindrance for these clients.  Another problem that arises in some homes is intimate partner violence.  Even more severe is the presence of firearms in the home.  Mental health care tends to be available in many regions of the United States as well as outside those parts of the globe.  In any event, one must also consider family members who have psychological problems and how they can influence the rest of the family.

     Regardless of one's situation in life, it is conceivable on many levels that family difficulties arise.  In fact, one of the most important challenges can be household awareness.

1. Rome, E., Dinardo, P., and Issac, V.  (2020).  Promoting resiliency in adolescents during a pandemic:  A guide for clinicians and parents.  Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 87, 613-617.
2. American Academy of Pediatrics News.  (2020).  New guidance can help pediatricians support families’ emotional health during pandemic.  Melissa Jenco, News Content Editor.
3. Dong, M., Giles, W., Felitti, V. et al.  (2004).  Insights into causal pathways for ischemic heart disease.  Circulation, 110, 1761-1766.
4. Copyright 2020.  Michael Koger, Sr., M.D.  All rights reserved. 

     The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and one should not use it for diagnosis or treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact their physician for advice.