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TUESDAY, March 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Add another part of your body to the list of what COVID-19 can invade: New research shows mouth cells can be infected with the new coronavirus.Previous studies have shown that the coronavirus infects the upper airways and lungs, the digestive system, blood vessels and kidneys, which may explain the wide-ranging symptoms experienced by COVID-19 patients.Those symptoms include loss of taste, dry mouth and blistering. Along with explaining those symptoms, the new findings suggest the mouth plays a role in transmitting the coronavirus to the lungs or digestive system through saliva that contains coronavirus from infected cells in the mouth, the researchers reported."When infected saliva is swallowed or tiny particles of it are inhaled, we think...

TUESDAY, March 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- If you must travel during the spring break, be sure to follow recommended COVID-19 pandemic safety measures, an emergency medicine doctor advises.Millions of people are packing airports, while only one-quarter of the U.S. population has received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, noted Dr. Lewis Nelson, director of the department of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.That means it's crucial for travelers to adhere to public health measures such as social distancing, washing hands and wearing a mask."The primary concerns with travel right now are the social reasons and the rise of COVID-19 variants. Visiting family in a quiet environment is low risk. On the other hand, traveling to a place where there will be singing...

TUESDAY, March 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- There's no cure for endometriosis, but women have several treatment options for the painful condition, an expert says.With endometriosis, tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, where it can reach the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, bladder, diaphragm and, more rarely, other parts of the body. It can reduce fertility.Symptoms can include chronic pain in the pelvis, lower back or lower abdomen; painful or heavy periods; pain during or after sex; and painful urination or bowel movements, according to Dr. Kristin Riley. She is interim chief of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Penn State Health Women's Health in Hershey, Penn.The condition can also cause fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal...

TUESDAY, March 30, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- "Couch potatoes," take note: Sedentary behavior now accounts for up to 8% of non-communicable diseases and deaths worldwide, researchers say.Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for premature death and several non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and several cancers.In a new study, researchers analyzed 2016 data from 168 countries. They found the proportions of non-communicable diseases attributable to physical inactivity ranged from nearly 2% for high blood pressure to more than 8% for dementia.Physical inactivity was defined as less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.People in rich nations have a more than...