As per the US government data, sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates for US adults fell last year. However, syphilis in newborns have continued to rise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provisional data for 2024 showed a third consecutive year of fewer gonorrhea cases, and the second year in a row of fewer adult cases of chlamydia. The most infectious form is syphilis.

However, cases of congenital syphilis, where infected mothers transmit the disease to their babies, haven’t shown the same progress. In infants, these infections can cause severe complications, including death or lifelong conditions such as deafness, blindness, and bone deformities.

In the US, the number and rate of newborn cases has risen since 2012. This was when about 300 cases of syphilis were reported and rose to 4,000. The 2024 increases was, however, not as steep as in other years, and cases were up by less than 2% from 2023. However, health experts say no cases should be happening, and any growth is worrisome.

"The continued rise in congenital syphilis is a distressing indication that we are not doing enough to protect pregnant women and newborns," said Elizabeth Finley, interim executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, in a statement.

What Do The Numbers Say?

About 1.5 million chlamydia cases, 543,000 gonorrhea cases, and more than 190,000 syphilis cases were diagnosed last year. Each was lower than the year before. Last year, the cases reported a decline of 9% from 2023. An overall decline in sexually transmitted diseases has to do with a general decline in young people having new partners, said Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Southern California.

However, the drop in adult syphilis cases is all thanks to the growing use of the antibiotic doxycycline as a morning-after pill. This is especially true for the LGBTQ+ community, said CDC.

Which States Reported The Highest STIs?

As per the 2023 data, more than 2.4 million people were diagnosed with syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia last year, which marked a 2% decrease from 2022 and a 4% drop from the year 2019.

• 10. New York: It has a total STI rate of 857.3 cases per 100,000 people

• 9. Arkansas: 869.5 cases per 100,000 people

• 8. South Carolina: 882.8 cases per 100,000 people

• 7. North Carolina: 911.5 cases per 100,000 people

• 6. Alabama: 952.3 cases per 100,000 people

• 5. Georgia: 996.5 cases per 100,000 people

• 4. South Dakota: 1,013.9 cases per 100,000 people

• 3. Alaska: 1,063.4 cases per 100,000 people

• 2. Mississippi: 1,067.7 cases per 100,000 people

• 1. Louisiana: 1,181.5 cases per 100,000 people

As per a 2021 study, published in the book Sexually Transmitted Infections: Adopting a Sexual Health Paradigm, also published in the online portal of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2.6 million infections were found to be prevalent in the United States in 2018. 6.9 million infections common to people between the ages of 15 and 59. Another 2021 study states that women are 6 times more likely than men to have a prevalent infection.

US President Donald Trump is set to undergo a medical examination at Walter Reed Medical Center on October 10, amid new attention to his health following visible swelling and bruising observed in recent months. “On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check-up,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. “President Trump is considering traveling to the Middle East shortly after.”

In July 2025, reports surfaced suggesting that Trump’s bruising could be linked to signs of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). But what exactly is this condition that the US president appears to be showing symptoms of?

Donald Trump To Undergo Medical Checkup

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that President Trump would visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a scheduled interaction with service members. “While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly checkup,” she said, adding that he would return to the White House afterward and may soon embark on a Middle East trip for peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Although described as a standard examination, Trump, who is 79, last had his annual physical only six months earlier, on April 11. A doctor’s summary from that visit noted that the president “remains in excellent health.”

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency That Donald Trump Is Exhibiting Signs Of?

Since April, Trump has been seen with noticeable swelling around his ankles and a recurring bruise on his right hand. The White House clarified in July that he had been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), a circulatory condition in which weakened vein valves slow or block blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Leavitt described it as a “common condition, especially among people over the age of 70.” According to data from the Cleveland Clinic, about one in every twenty adults experiences it.

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency occurs when veins in the legs struggle to push blood upward toward the heart, causing blood to pool and pressure to build. This can result in symptoms like pain, swelling, skin discoloration, or varicose veins. The condition is often linked to weakened or damaged vein valves, but it may also develop after a deep vein blood clot. Common risk factors include advancing age, family history, pregnancy, obesity, and long hours of sitting or standing.

Depending on severity of the disease, treatment may involve lifestyle adjustments, compression stockings, minimally invasive therapies, or surgery, as outlined by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency can include aching, swelling, heaviness, itching, or thickened and discolored skin in the legs. Varicose veins, ulcers, or sores may also appear. These symptoms tend to worsen after standing for extended periods and often improve when the legs are elevated or rested, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency Fatal?

As per UCLA Health, Chronic Venous Insufficiency itself is usually not life-threatening. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be fatal. While CVI is not directly deadly, the blood clots that sometimes accompany it pose significant risks. Early medical attention, consistent treatment, and proper management can help prevent these complications, ease discomfort, and improve overall quality of life.

Interestingly, the White House has attributed the lingering bruise on Trump’s hand to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking” and as a possible side effect of the aspirin therapy he takes for heart health. Trump continues to insist he is in good condition. In a recent Newsmax interview, he remarked, “I feel the same, or even better, than I did 30 years ago.”

Childhood trauma is a major issue faced throughout the world and many of these children, do not even realize what happened to them and how these traumatic experiences still affect their lives. Trauma doesn’t fade with a few months time or a year, it can change them in many ways, not just psychologically but also physically.

Scientists have found that going through trauma as a child leaves a trace that lasts many years on your body's chemistry. They looked at adults who experienced trauma, like abuse or neglect, and found clear changes in their blood.

These changes were visible even decades later and got stronger based on how severe the trauma was. This suggests that adversity early in life can create biological problems that raise the risk of both physical and mental illness

Many people do not understand the deep physical change that occurs in them when they go through these experiences. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, trauma has been linked with not just compromised immunity, but also poor cardiovascular health. Here is how it affects one metabolism.

How Does Childhood Trauma Affect Physical Health?

The research focused on the metabolome, which is the entire collection of tiny chemical molecules in your body called metabolites. These metabolites are like chemical proof of everything your body is doing, such as:

• Breaking down food
• Creating energy
• Dealing with stress

What Changes Happen Due To Childhood Trauma?

The study found 18 specific molecules that were different in people with a history of childhood trauma. These changes point to big problems in two major areas:

Energy and Food Processing

Some molecules linked to breaking down fats and proteins were found at high levels. This suggests the body might be struggling to efficiently create energy from food, a sign of stress on the body's machinery.

Stress Regulation

Important stress hormones (like cortisol) were found at lower-than-normal levels. This suggests the body's main system for handling stress has been changed or worn out over the years by the trauma.

Importantly, these changes were not simply a result of depression; they were a unique biological signature linked directly to the childhood trauma.

What Does It Mean For Future Treatments?

The study gives clear proof that early trauma creates a permanent biological mark on how the body uses energy and handles stress. These fundamental biological changes may be the reason why people who suffered as children often face a higher risk of getting sick later in life.

This discovery is a major step forward. Future research could use these specific chemical patterns to identify people at high risk. Then, doctors might be able to create new treatments, like specific diet plans, exercise programs, or stress therapies, to potentially fix or reduce these lasting biological effects of trauma.

Breakfast is rightly called the most important meal. What you do in the first few hours after waking up, from what you drink to what you eat, sets the stage for your energy, mood, and digestion all day long.

Research has shown us that our gut health is connected to many different aspects, a major connection being gut-brain axis. Johns Hopkins Medicine explained that if you've ever trusted your "gut feeling" or felt butterflies when nervous, you were getting signals from a surprising source: your second brain. This "brain in your gut" is a huge network of nerves lining your digestive system.

For a long time, doctors thought that stress, anxiety, or depression caused these gut issues. But new studies show the opposite is also true: irritation in the gut can send signals up to the main brain that trigger changes in mood. This may explain why so many people with chronic bowel problems also develop depression and anxiety. So, to protect your gut's health, one must follow a healthy routine.

Top 10 Gut-Friendly Morning Habits

Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a highly trained gastroenterologist, recently shared his top ten habits for a healthy gut. He urges everyone to rethink their routine and adopt these simple practices:

Drink Warm Water First (Skip the Coffee Rush)

Start your day with one of these. Ginger helps with digestion, stops you from feeling sick, and reduces bloating. Lemon water gives your stomach a gentle nudge to start breaking down food.

Move Gently: Walk or Yoga

Do some light activity like a simple walk or yoga. Gentle movement helps blood flow and encourages your bowels to move regularly, keeping your gut bacteria happy.

Eat a High-Fibre Breakfast

A fibre-rich breakfast is essential. It helps with digestion and acts as food for the good bacteria in your gut. Choose foods like oats, fruit, and chia seeds to fight inflammation and keep your gut strong.

Always Add Protein

Pair your fibre with protein. This keeps you full longer, balances your blood sugar, and supports the strength of your gut lining. Balanced blood sugar prevents issues that can cause gut inflammation.

Stop Phone Scrolling While Eating

Focus on your meal—this is mindful eating. Distraction makes you eat too fast and chew less, leading to gas and bloating. Being focused helps your body absorb nutrients.

Sip Ginger Tea or Lemon Water

Start your day with one of these for an added boost. Ginger helps with digestion, relieves nausea, and reduces bloating. Lemon water contains a mild acid that helps wake up your stomach and aids in food breakdown.

Avoid Sugary Cereal

Skip the sweet, fast cereals. Too much sugar feeds bad bacteria, causing inflammation. Pick whole-grain, low-sugar options like oats or muesli instead.

Get Morning Sun Exposure

Sunlight helps set your body's internal clock, which is connected to good digestion. Early morning sun supports healthy gut bacteria and boosts your immune system.

Use Psyllium (If You're Constipated)

A 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse explained that Practitioners, Psyllium husk is a natural fiber that helps keep your bowel movements regular. Just remember to drink lots of water when you take it to avoid feeling bloated.

Check Your Poop

It sounds odd, but checking your stool daily is a simple way to monitor your digestion. Changes in color or texture can signal that you need more fiber or water. Healthy stool is usually soft and smooth.