Health Brief: Another Reason to Floss–Protection From Stroke; CDC Warns of Very High Flu Activity Across US

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Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times Health Brief for Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. I’m Bill Thomas, we have some truly unique stories to share with you right now, and here’s what’s going on.

A common type of daily dental care is key to brain and heart health; the CDC issues an alarming warning regarding this year’s dangerous flu season, and a nationwide recall has just been issued for a popular seafood product.

Also, nearly half of all Americans say they still believe that an aspirin a day keeps the doctor away, and a popular fitness expert reveals the most common mistakes people make regarding their diet and weight gain.

We have a number of fascinating stories to share with you today and we begin here. Stroke prevention includes managing your blood pressure, quitting smoking, eating right, and exercising. Something else to add to your stroke prevention kit is proper dental hygiene and it’s a real game changer. More now on what we know.

Another Reason to Floss: Protection From Stroke

New research shows that a common bacterium found in the mouth is linked to an increased risk of suffering a stroke, and suggests that flossing could actually reduce that risk.

The researchers were aiming to identify which dental hygiene practice—flossing, brushing, or regular dentist visits—is most protective against stroke. They used a questionnaire which involved more than 6,000 people and followed them for a period of 25 years.

The people who took part in the survey answered a number of questions about their dental habits while providing relevant information regarding their body mass index, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and more.

The study linked flossing to a 22 percent lower risk of getting what’s called an ischemic stroke, which is a blood clot in a brain artery. The study also found that as a result of flossing, people had a 44 percent lower risk of developing a stroke from blood clots traveling from the heart.

Flossing was also associated with a significantly lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), along with a reduced likelihood of getting cavities and gum disease.

The study’s author says that poor oral hygiene is linked to both inflammation and the hardening of arteries, and that flossing may reduce someone’s risk of getting a stroke by lowering oral infections. He points out that unlike expensive dental care, flossing is a “healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable, and accessible everywhere.”

We’ll continue now with another substantial health concern—a virus which is right now spreading across the country at a very rapid pace, with millions of cases already being diagnosed and more now on what we’re learning.

CDC Warns of High Flu Activity Across the US

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that influenza cases are now peaking nationwide, that they’ve reached their highest level so far this year, and that the number of people who are affected is still rising.

Recent data shows that right now, more than 40 states are experiencing either “very high” or “high” levels of the flu, and that the hardest hit areas are in the southern, southwestern, and western states.

By the way, one leading indicator of flu activity is the number of doctor visits which are driven by flu-like symptoms, and earlier this month, that number was higher than at the peak of any winter flu season in the last 15 years.

The CDC says that so far during this winter season, there have been nearly 25 million flu illnesses throughout our country, including more than 300,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths.

In related news, the CDC also says that no new cases of the bird flu, also known as the H5N1 avian influenza, have recently been reported to the agency. They also note that so far, there hasn’t been any known person-to-person transmission of the bird flu observed in the United States; however, it has recently forced farmers to cull millions of chickens per month, significantly raising the price of eggs nationwide.

We’ll switch things up just a bit now with pressing news regarding the recall of a very popular and convenient food product; the reason for the recall–botulism, which can be deadly, and more now on this time-sensitive story.

Canned Tuna Recalled Nationwide Due to Botulism Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that a California-based company called Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling a number of brands of tuna which are sold nationwide, due to the possibility of a potentially deadly bacterial contamination.

The recall is for canned tuna products sold under four different brand names, including Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B, and Trader Joe’s. The withdrawn products have “Best Used By” dates ending in 2027 and 2028, and were sold all over the United States.

The company is now pulling the affected items from the market because their supplier told them that the “easy open” pull tab lid found on a batch of these products has encountered what they call a “manufacturing defect.”

They say that over time, this production flaw could compromise the seal of the product, causing it to leak or possibly become contaminated with a potentially fatal form of food poisoning that causes botulism.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the botulism toxin attacks the nerves in a person’s body, causing them to experience difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly even death. People suffering from this foodborne illness may experience nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.

The FDA says that so far, no illnesses associated with the recalled products have been reported. However, they’re warning consumers not to use the product, even if it doesn’t look or smell spoiled, and they say that anyone feeling unwell should seek immediate medical attention.

Moving along, older adults were told for decades that taking a single aspirin every day was good for their health but a few years ago, that recommendation was modified. More now on a health risk which millions of Americans don’t even know they’re taking.

Nearly Half of Americans Unaware of the Risk of Daily Aspirin Use, Survey Finds

A new survey of more than 1,700 people shows that nearly 50 percent of all U.S. adults are not aware that the long-time consensus about the health benefits associated with taking one low-dose aspirin per day has changed.

For years, many health officials and medical groups recommended that older Americans take one low-dose 81-milligram aspirin daily to stave off cardiovascular disease or stroke.

However, five years ago, both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology changed those guidelines, noting that in older adults, taking one aspirin per day can lead to an increased risk of internal bleeding, ulcers, and a number of gastrointestinal problems.

An independent panel of health officials also points out that aspirin use can be especially dangerous for people who are at a high risk of bleeding.

They say that older adults without heart disease should not take daily low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke, because the risk of bleeding for people who are 60 and older outweighs any potential benefits.

However, you should know that some health officials still recommend taking a low-dose daily aspirin for people who are at a high risk of suffering cardiovascular disease.

Finally today, we spend some time addressing the battle of the bulge. To keep the weight off, one expert says watch what you eat, how much you eat, steer clear of sugary soft drinks, and count those calories. More now on the low-cal lowdown.

Jillian Michaels: Overeating Is the Biggest Mistake People Make

Fitness expert and nutritionist Jillian Michaels, who’s best known for her appearances on television’s “The Biggest Loser” program, says that many people significantly underestimate their caloric intake by as much as 1,000 calories per day.

She says that over the years, she has come across countless individuals who tell her that they’re eating less but it’s not resulting in weight loss. When she digs a bit deeper, however, she often finds that while they might not be eating as much, they’re eating the wrong things, and they’re actually consuming far more calories than they think.

Michaels says that in order to lose a pound, people need to burn roughly 3,500 calories more than they’re consuming in a day. However, she says that if you consume 100 more calories than you’re burning in each 24-hour period, at the end of a year, you’ll gain roughly 10 pounds.

She goes on to say that this fundamental concept is the key to an individual’s weight management, and that over time, making simple adjustments, like going easy on the sweet treats, can make a significant impact.

By the way, Michaels also recommends a balanced approach to nutrition which is centered on high-quality foods, especially locally sourced and organic options. She stresses the importance of including protein, fat, and carbohydrates in every meal while minimizing empty calories from items like sugary beverages.

And now, it looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re gonna call it a wrap for this week’s edition of The Epoch Times Health Brief.

Just a reminder—you can reach out to us anytime via email with your thoughts, comments, and suggestions and you’ll find us at [email protected]. You can also leave comments for us on The Epoch Times app which you can download for free on either Google Play or the App Store.

And don’t forget our Health Brief Motto: We’re portable, affordable, our blood pressure is in check, and we’re always on-demand.

And now, as we do each and every week on this program, we share with you a very notable quote and this one comes to us from legendary entertainer Cher who said:

“Nothing lifts me out of a bad mood better than a hard workout on my treadmill. It never fails. Exercise is nothing short of a miracle.”

Cher is an American singer, actress, and television star. She was one half of the legendary duo Sonny & Cher, and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988 for her role in Moonstruck.

If Cher says exercise, I’ll exercise. Cher knows best.

Now, a couple of Health Brief extras:

The Surgeon General says smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.

Therefore, if you’re a smoker, it would mean a great deal to your Health Brief team if you’d make every effort to stop smoking right away. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do, both for yourself as well as for the people who care a great deal about you.

And finally, we all know there are tons of fast food drive-thru restaurants all over the planet. They open up early, they stay open late, and the menu options are varied. Just a reminder though—moderation—and it’s just as easy to drive by as it is to drive through.

For all of us here at The Epoch Times Health Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.

The Epoch Times Health Brief program was written today by David Ross.

Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased weekly synopsis of many of the health stories you need to know about.

Enjoy the remainder of your day, please stay healthy, and we'll see you right back here next time for another edition of The Epoch Times Health Brief.

For now, let’s all continue to watch out for one another and have an absolutely superb day today. Bye for now.