Health notes

Many reasons to get your hearing tested

May is Better Speech and Hearing month and this designation is a good reminder that it’s important to get your hearing tested. There are many reasons why this is a good idea. Some of the most important reasons include:

• Untreated hearing loss in adults correlates with higher rates of depression, anxiety and other cognitive disorders.

• There is a strong link between untreated hearing loss and the risk for developing dementia.

• Untreated hearing loss increases your chances of a fall.

• Treating a hearing loss can result in improved earning power since hearing loss can affect job performance.

For children, the earlier a hearing loss is detected and treated, the sooner treatment can begin and speech and language development can improve Hearing screenings for children are recommended every year and for adults, every three years after the age of 50 and every two years after the age of 60.

During the month of May, the Speech Language department at Community Memorial Hospital is offering free hearing screenings. If you would like more information or would like to schedule a free hearing screening, call 218-878-7010.

Sexually transmitted diseases rise in state

The number of new cases of sexually transmitted diseases continued to rise in 2018, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s annual STD, HIV and hepatitis C statistics report. Of special concern were 10 congenital syphilis cases reported in 2018, a major increase from two in 2017.

Congenital syphilis (syphilis in a fetus or infant at birth) can cause serious complications such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, birth defects and infant death. The infection can be prevented with proper screening and treatment during pregnancy.

The MDH report showed that the combined number of new chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases increased by 3 percent in 2018 compared to 2017. HIV cases increased slightly with 286 new cases. Hepatitis C continues an upward trend, with 60 acute cases reported.

STDs, HIV and hepatitis C infections are all highly preventable. Effective prevention methods include consistent and correct condom use during sex and not sharing injection drug, tattoo and piercing equipment.