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Recent years have seen a growing amount of attention directed toward the health of Americans. The same can also be said of recommended steps people can take to preserve their health.

Just last month, news broke that hackers are increasingly targeting the medical data of Americans; though this is far from the only healthcare-related problem in our country.

Many Americans are feeling stressed these days, which can have all sorts of negative impacts on the body and mind. Likewise, folks are not getting as much exercise as they should. Yet, they're increasingly embracing sedentary lifestyles.

To make matters even worse, the CDC just came out with a new report that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are increasing.

A closer look at the rise of STDs in America

The Division of STD Prevention within the CDC has some sobering news. According to director Dr. Leandro Mena, this is an epidemic that's showing no indication of waning anytime soon.

The data furthermore reveals a 7% leap in STDs just in 2021. Specific diseases that are seeing notable increases include chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.

In the case of syphilis, a 32% jump over the course of only 12 months is largely due to mothers passing along the disease to their unborn babies. Congenital syphilis, just in 2021, served as the catalyst for hundreds of newborn deaths and stillbirths.

Despite the official numbers on record, some professionals believe the rates of STDs could be even higher. After all, it's a well-known fact that not every single case gets reported. Therefore, the data regarding these types of problems can never be 100% accurate.

Preventing the spread of STDs

One of the best methods of fighting STDs is prevention.

The use of condoms is a very simple way for sexually active people to steer clear of STDs. Likewise, someone who believes or knows they may suffer from an infection should notify anyone they've been physically intimate with.

Unfortunately, fewer people are undergoing testing for STDs. As a result, many people are likely spreading diseases and infections to others, even if they lack awareness of doing it. This is especially chilling, given the fact that some STDs remain incurable.