Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for the most deaths of any infectious disease. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) data, around 1.25 million people died from the bacterial infection in 2023. It was also the same year when new cases hit at an all time high, around 8.2 million people being diagnosed with TB.

Historically too, TB was one of the deadliest diseases, which killed 1 in 7 people in the US and in Europe in the late 1800s. However, with the development of antibiotics and strong public health efforts, cases have declined significantly over the 20th century. However this is for the second year in a row that TB cases have increased in the US. The number has reached their highest levels in over a decade.

According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 10,300 cases were reported in 2023—an 8% increase from the previous year. This marks the highest number of TB cases since 2011.

Both the total number of cases and the infection rate have gone up, with 34 states reporting an increase. The rise has been observed across all age groups.

Why Are TB Cases In The US Increasing?

As per CDC, there maybe several key factors that can help us understand what is driving this surge. The factors are as followed:

International Travel and Migration – The majority of TB cases in the U.S. occur in people born in other countries, where latent infections may later develop into active TB.

Weakened Immune Systems – Other illnesses, such as diabetes or HIV, can lower immunity and trigger latent TB infections to become active.

Localized Outbreaks – Certain states have seen sharp spikes in TB cases. For example, Kansas reported a 148% increase in 2023 due to an outbreak in the Kansas City area. Alaska and Hawaii continue to have the highest case rates in the country.

History of TB And the US

Earlier this month, the US called for a halt in USAIDS, which also was spent on war against tuberculosis cases and deaths. This is in reference to the Trump administration's call of USAID cuts, which had provided about a quarter of the international funding for tuberculosis services in other countries. This had amounted to $250 million annually, noted the WHO.

How does US influence the fight against tuberculosis in the world? As per WHO, US funding cuts could affect the drug supply chains in other countries, which are now "breaking down". Not just limited to that, but laboratory services are "severely disrupted" and surveillance systems are "collapsing", which is making it difficult to identify, monitor and treat tuberculosis cases. Some research trials are also affected, since they have been put on a halt.

The highest burden of disease is faced by many countries, the number as of now remains 18, where national tuberculosis programs are also affected. The most vulnerable countries are in Africa.

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. It is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Without proper treatment, TB can be fatal.

What Are The Symptoms?

• Persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss

We talk openly about cholesterol, sciatica, cavities, arthritis, and high blood pressure but conversations about sexual and reproductive health matters remain unspoken. As we get older, however, tending to intimacy is also essential. Having a healthy sex life is part of a person's overall health, with thoroughly documented physical and mental health benefits.

Sexual health is a vital part of overall wellness, but it's one of the most hushed-up subjects for seniors. Just as individuals are willing to talk about routine age-related issues like arthritis, high blood pressure, or sciatica, conversations regarding sexual wellness are still off-limits. Nonetheless, a healthy sex drive and active sexual life after 50 is not just feasible but healthy for body and mind as well.

With aging, there are physiological, hormonal, and psychological changes that may impact libido and sexual function. The levels of testosterone and estrogen reduce naturally, resulting in a diminished sex drive among both genders. Furthermore, certain diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol can impair sexual health by weakening blood flow and nerve sensitivity.

In men, decreasing testosterone levels may lead to erectile dysfunction (ED), reduced energy, and a lower sex drive. Women have symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness, decreased arousal, and pain during intercourse. The psychological effect of aging—stress, anxiety, or body image issues—may also add to reduced sex drive.

Why Is Sexual Health Important After 50?

Sexual health is essential to the upkeep of emotional closeness and general well-being. Studies indicate that frequent sex has many advantages, such as decreased stress and anxiety, better cardiovascular health through lower blood pressure, and a more robust immune system. It also leads to improved sleep, increased self-esteem, and more intimate relationship satisfaction. Though society tends to associate sexuality with age, several people still have a healthy sex life well past their golden years. The secret to keeping intimacy alive is not about age but more about focusing on staying healthy, maintaining openness in communication, and flexibility with the body's natural changes across time.

Common Sexual Challenges Faced After 50

In Women:

• Decline in libido during menopause: Decrease in estrogen levels causes reduced sexual interest and arousal.
• Vaginal dryness: Decreased estrogen leads to decreased lubrication, and sex is painful.
• Body image concerns: Increased weight, skin changes, and other aspects of aging may affect confidence and sexual desire.
• Painful sex: Thin vaginal walls lead to pain or discomfort during sex.

For Men:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED): Decreased testosterone and decreased blood flow make it more difficult to attain and sustain an erection.
• Delayed arousal and orgasm: Men can experience that they take longer to become aroused and reach orgasm.
• Prostate problems: Medical conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer can impair sexual function.
• Reduced endurance: Aging can result in decreased energy levels, impacting sexual performance and frequency.

How to Improve Libido After 50?

1. Focus on Physical Health

Your overall health has a big impact on your sex drive. Exercise regularly, eat well, and control chronic diseases to improve sexual function. Strength training, cardiovascular exercise, and yoga improve blood flow, endurance, and flexibility, all of which contribute to a healthy sex life.

Nutritional changes, such as incorporating heart-healthy foods like nuts, leafy greens, and omega-3 fatty acids, can boost circulation and hormonal balance. Limiting alcohol, smoking, and processed foods also benefits sexual health.

2. Talk to Your Doctor

Many age-related sexual health issues can be managed with medical interventions. If you’re experiencing ED, vaginal dryness, or low libido, consult your healthcare provider about available treatments, including:

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in men and women
• Drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) for erectile dysfunction
• Vaginal estrogen creams or lubricants in women with menopause
• Lifestyle changes and other therapies such as acupuncture or herbal supplements

3. Overcome Psychological Barriers

Emotional and mental well-being are essential to sexual desire. Stress, anxiety, depression, and previous negative experiences can suppress libido. Mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can assist in overcoming psychological barriers to intimacy.

Communication with a partner is also helpful in dispelling concerns and building intimacy. If needed, couples counseling or sex therapy can offer useful tools for rekindling desire.

4. Stay Sexually Active

The "use it or lose it" rule holds true for sexual health. Frequent sex can enhance libido by maintaining blood flow to sexual organs active. If penetration is painful or difficult, try other types of intimacy like sensual massage, oral sex, or discovering new erogenous zones. Lubricants and extended foreplay can make sex more enjoyable.

5. Think About Testosterone and Hormone Therapy

In cases of a drastic drop in men's testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is worth considering. Be sure to get medical advice in order to assess the risks vs. benefits of TRT because it is not for every body. Women could also consider using bioidentical hormone treatment (BHT) or non-hormonal alternatives to address menopause symptomology and spice up their libidos.

6. Address Side Effects of Medication

Some medications, such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, and cholesterol-lowering medications, may affect libido and sexual functioning. If you feel that your medication may be affecting your sex drive, discuss alternatives or changes with your physician.

Why It Is Important to Talk To Your Partner?

A satisfying sexual relationship depends on open and honest communication. As we get older, changes in libido, physical comfort, and emotional intimacy can affect closeness. Here's why talking to your partner about these changes is important:

If your libido has decreased or sex has become uncomfortable, don't act otherwise. Be honest about your feelings and inform your partner when something feels off.

Varying sexual desire is normal. Rather than ignoring the situation, together come to a compromise that pleases both of you.

When intercourse hurts, try new positions or other forms of intimacy, including genital play or oral sex, to continue an enjoyable connection.

Even the best relationships change over time. While new relationships tend to create a rush of libido, that passion may wane. To revive the flame, revisit things that excited you when you first met. Recreating romantic moments from your past can help rekindle intimacy and connection, making your relationship stronger than ever.

One of the largest obstacles to having a healthy sex life later in life is sexual health stigma. Older adults often shy away from talking about their issues because they are embarrassed, misinformed, or afraid of being judged. Silence can result in misunderstandings, untreated medical conditions, and lower relationship satisfaction.

When you are eating food, especially foods that you like, it is very difficult to not stuff yourself with it completely. Many people also experience the urge to eat food again even if they had a full course meal before, and most of the time they give into the cravings. However, this is not a healthy practice as you are not only overeating but also overworking your body.

When you over consume food, your body ends up storing the excess fat and energy, causing weight gain and other health issues. Here is where this Japanese eating habit comes in. Have you ever heard about ‘Hara Hachi Bu’?

The Cleveland Clinic explains "Hara hachi bu" is a Japanese phrase translating to "eat until you are 80% full." This dietary practice originates from Okinawa, Japan, where it's a cornerstone of healthy eating. Remarkably, Okinawans exhibit some of the world's lowest rates of heart disease, cancer, and stroke, coupled with exceptional longevity.

Also Read: The Blue Zones: What We Can Learn from the World’s Longest-Lived People

Experts highlight the value of this approach, particularly for those prone to overeating. It encourages stopping consumption when feeling slightly satisfied, offering a practical method for gauging appropriate portion sizes.

Why Should You Practice ‘Hara Hachi Bu’?

Eat like you have had enough, not like you cannot have another bite: When you have food on your plate, try to guess how much of it would make you feel full. Then, think about what 80% of that amount would look like. Maybe it's a little less than you usually eat, like leaving a small part of your meal. The idea is to feel like you've had enough, not like you can't eat another bite.

Also, how fast you eat matters a lot. Your stomach needs about 20 minutes to tell your brain you're full. If you eat too fast, you might eat too much before your brain gets the message. Experts suggest eating slowly, so your body has time to realize when you've had enough. This trick also helps people who don't eat enough, because they can eat smaller meals more often, which is easier on their stomachs.

"Minus One Bite" Strategy

Many of us feel like we have to finish everything on our plates, even when we know we're not really hungry anymore. It's hard to leave food behind. It's okay to not eat it all. If you often eat too much without thinking, try this, leave just one bite of food on your plate. It's a small step, but it can make a big difference. After you get used to that, you can try leaving two bites. The important thing is to take it slow. Don't try to change too much at once. Listen to your body and how it feels. Pay attention to your thoughts about food. This way, you can slowly learn to eat just the right amount, and feel better about your meals.

Some Other Mindful Eating Habits You Should Incorporate

Mindful eating is the key to healthy living, it helps you become more aware of your feelings and physical sensations. According to Diabetes Spectrum, this practice is used to help people deal with various challenges, including eating problems, sadness, worry, and unhealthy eating habits. Here are some habits you should incorporate in your life for better eating:

• Take your time and don't rush through meals.
• Pay attention to the texture and break it down thoroughly.
• Turn off the TV, put away your phone, and focus solely on your food.
• Try eating in silence to heighten your awareness of the food.
• Pay attention to how the food makes you feel physically and emotionally.
• Listen to your body and stop eating when you're no longer hungry.
• Ask yourself why you're eating, if you're truly hungry, and if your food choices are healthy.

Many diseases succumbed to get the attention that they really deserve up until a big name is associated with it. Something similar happened with Glioblastoma, the aggressive brain cancer that killed former US Rep Mia Love. She was the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House. She died at the age of 49 due to the aggressive brain cancer, which has brought many people's attention on the condition.

Hailing from Utah, she had undergone treatment for glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor and received immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial. However, her daughter, earlier this month, revealed that she is no longer responding to the treatment. She passed away at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah, as per family's statement.

What Had Happened To Love?

Love was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022, and that is when her doctors had estimated that she only had about 10 to 15 months to survive. However, she had clearly surpassed that. During her speaking engagement in Salt Lake City, she described how she discovered her tumor. She explained that she was on vacation with her friends when she developed she had a bad headache when the plane landed. She went back to the beach and the sun's reflection on the water made her headache unbearable. This is when her husband took her to the hospital and a series of X-rays revealed a tumor in her brain.

She was taken back to Utah, where, through a surgery, 95% of her tumor was removed. However, biopsy results revealed that it was cancerous and most likely to spread to surrounding brain tissue.

She also entered a clinical trial at Duke University's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in Durham, North Carolina. This involved using her body's immune system to attack the tumor. While initially the tumor shank, it eventually stopped responding to treatments.

What Is This Disease?

This is called glioblastoma. It is the most aggressive primary brain tumor and there is no cure for it. It keeps mutating no matter whatever is done and can come back.

A glioblastoma is a fast-growing glioma, a type of tumor that arises from glial cells, which protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

If no cure, then what can be done? While there exists no known cure to this, there are aggressive treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and other targeted therapies which could slow the growth of the tumor. As per experts, even if a surgeon removes all the tumor that can be seen, there are some tumor cells that are still left, which cannot be seen but they multiply quickly.

Is It Common?

As per the MD Anderson Cancer Center, each year, around 12,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States. All glioblastomas are grade IV brain tumors, meaning they contain the most abnormal looking cells and are the most aggressive. About 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, accounting for almost half of all cancerous brain tumors, according to the Cleveland Clinic. More than 10,000 people in the U.S. will succumb to the disease every year, the National Brain Tumor Society reports.

Glioblastoma can occur at any age but is more commonly found in older adults. The average age at diagnosis is 64.

It's the same type of brain cancer that killed former President Joe Biden's son Beau Biden in 2015 and Sen. John McCain in 2018.

What is even more concerning is that researchers have not found a way to prevent glioblastoma and the cause of most of these tumors remain unknown. It is not hereditary, however, the source is unknown.