PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Respiratory illnesses are declining in the U.S. but the CDC warns levels are still elevated and the highest activity is in the South.
Since early December, flu has been causing more emergency room visits than Covid-19 but health officials are worried about a possible uptick in cases that frequently follow the winter holidays.
Currently Florida is seeing high levels of respiratory illnesses.
When it comes to the risk of hospital acquired pneumonia, a recent study found that the simple act of daily tooth brushing can make a big difference.
Through an analysis of several studies, researchers determined that daily tooth brushing could also reduce the number of days a patient spent in the ICU.
“Brushing your teeth what that does is decrease the viral and bacterial load in the oral cavity and the associated areas. If you decrease the viral load or bacterial load in these areas it will help your body’s immune system fight off the bacteria or the virus and help clear the infection at a faster rate, said Boca Raton Dentist Dr. Geoffrey Morris.
He said the results are not surprising because research has shown for years that issues in the oral cavity can lead to a variety of systemic health issues.
DATA ON CERVICAL CANCER RATES
And cervical cancer is rising in some women.
A new report by the American Cancer Society found that more women in their early thirties and early forties are being diagnosed with the disease.
Data shows that cases rose almost 2% a year from 2012 to 2019.
According to the CDC, more than half of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have either not been screened in the past five years or have never been tested for the disease at all.