Archive for the ‘Health’ Category:


Reducing Workplace Stress: WellAdvantage Featured in The Daily Record

Published by in Corporate Wellness, Health, Stress on March 20th, 2015

 

WA THE DAILY RECORD ARTICLE ON WORKPLACE STRESS_2

Communication key to reducing workplace stress

“Stress’s potential is lurking behind every deadline, every presentation you have to give, every, scheduling conflict — your overall workload.

About a quarter of employees in the United States view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives, while problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family problems, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.”

Read the full article here

 

Sleep Better With Mindful Meditation

Published by in Corporate Wellness, Health on March 6th, 2015

WellAdvantage - Sleep Better With Mindful Meditation

A new study shows mindfulness meditation practices have a significant ability to aide sleep. The study comes just in time since we lose an hour this weekend!

From the Mindful Meditation Man Himself

Jon Kabat-Zinn, a famous teacher of mindfulness meditation and the founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”

In the case of sleep, an individual might work on being aware of all of the sensations in their body as they are lying in bed. They might consciously work to notice their breathing, the rise and fall of their chest, the feeling of the skin against the bedding, muscles relaxing and so forth. As their mind begins to wander, the practice of mindfulness is to bring the mind back to all of the immediate feelings associated with resting and being present in the restful moment.

So How Does Mindful Meditation Help Us Sleep Better?

According to this most recent study, mindfulness practice helped older adults who had moderate sleep difficulties. According to the study’s authors, sleep disturbances are a medical and public health concern with 50 percent of individuals 55 years and older experiencing some sort of sleep problem. These disturbances are tied to fatigue, disturbed mood, depression, and a decreased quality of life.

The study compared individuals who practiced mindfulness with a group that practiced sleep hygiene techniques (going to bed at a set time, avoiding stimulants after a certain hour, using the bed only for sleep and not watching T.V., etc). The mindfulness group showed greater improvement compared to those in the sleep hygiene group. In addition, the mindfulness group showed less of the associated symptoms of insomnia, depression, and fatigue symptoms.

For more information on sleep Awareness visit the National Sleep Foundation.

What Triggers Emotional Eating and How to Break the Habit

Published by in Health, Nutrition on January 26th, 2015

A WellAdvantage Coaching Institute Presentation

Emotional Eating - WellAdvantage Presentation

Emotional Eating

Do you crave chocolate when you’re stressed? Maybe ice cream when you’re happy or potato chips (or more chocolate) when you’re sad?

We’ve all experienced emotional eating, and many of us no longer notice when we eat in response to feelings rather than hunger. Stress, comfort, reward–we all have our reasons, but when eating to fill emotional needs rather than to fill our stomachs becomes habitual, it is time to get motivated and kick the habit to the curb.

WellAdvantage is here to help you do just that. Learn how to break this habit with the help of a health coach from WellAdvantage who will help you identify common triggers and reveal strategies to help you overcome emotional eating! The event is free and open to the public, so please stop by, say hi, learn a lot, and bask in the motivation.

Meet the Coach: Laura Remaly

Laura Remaly - WellAdvantage Coaching Institute

Laura Remaly, MBA, FAWHP, has been a wellness coach at WellAdvantage for three years. She has been actively employed in the Fitness and Wellness Industry for over 30 years. She has multiple certifications in Group Exercise, Smoking Cessation and Nutrition.

See you there!!

Hand Washing 101… Plus a little science!

Published by in Corporate Wellness, Health on December 4th, 2014

National Hand Washing Week December 7-13

National Hand Washing Week

Next week, December 7-13, is National Hand Washing Week. In honor of the week we would like to supply you with these vital tidbits of how important the simple 20-second task of hand washing truly is.

Vital Times to Wash Your Hands

  • Food: Before, during (especially when handling raw fish, chicken, and meat), and after preparing food, and before eating
  • Illness & Wounds: Before and after caring for someone who is sick , before and after treating a cut or wound, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Human & Animal Waste: After using the toilet, changing diapers, helping a child who has used the toilet, or touching animal waste
  • Animals: After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste, and after handling pet food or pet treats
  • Garbage: After touching garbage

How to Wash Your Hands: 5 Easy Steps

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Did you Know?

Alcohol-based hand-sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is not as effective when hands are visibly soiled or greasy. And in general, hand sanitizer is not as effective as washing hands in reducing potentially harmful microbes. Head for the soap and water and get to scrubbin’!

A Little Science

According to a 2009 article on LiveScience.com (http://www.livescience.com/3686-gross-science-cough-sneeze.html), the average human cough expels about 3,000 droplets of saliva. Some of them fly out of the mouth at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Sneezing is worse. As many as 40,000 droplets of liquid traveling as fast as 200 miles per hour. These droplets can, depending on their size, stay suspended in the air indefinitely. So even if you didn’t sneeze or see someone sneeze, you could be walking through or touching a droplet covered object. A great reason to regular wash your hands that often come in contact with your eyes, mouth, and nose!

According to the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html), a single gram of human feces can contain one trillion germs. Many of the germs are naked to human eye. Even if you are fastidious about hand washing, others may not be. Wash your hands often especially when visiting public places.

The CDC estimates (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsFoodborneEstimates/) that each year 1 in 6 Americans get sick from food-borne illnesses. Causes of food-borne illnesses include contaminating food with dirty hands and transferring microbes from raw food, among other sources of contamination.

There you have it. A task that takes 20 seconds can save you and those around you days or weeks of sickness. Now excuse me while I go fiercely wash my hands after reading this!

Dealing with Stress through the Holidays & Beyond

Published by in Health, Stress on November 4th, 2014

Don’t let stress take the joy from this holiday season–or any other time!

 

Join a health coach from WellAdvantage on Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m. in the Eldersburg Branch Library for a presentation on dealing with stress. Our coach will help you:

  • Identify your stressors
  • Understand how stress affects your health
  • Learn stress management techniques

Stress Seminar_UPDATED

WellAdvantage is here to keep you feeling your best during even the busiest times.

 

See you there!

 

For more information on WellAdvantage coaching, visit the WellAdvantage Coaching Institute website and be sure to view our limited time coaching offer on LivingSocial.

 

Wellness Still Simple: Exercise proves to be a good prescription…again!

Published by in Fitness, Health on October 27th, 2014

Written by National Wellness Institute, August 1, 2014

Instructor Taking Exercise Class At Gym

We all know that exercise is good for us, but when was the last time your doctor prescribed it?

According to a recent Queensland University of Technology study, women could benefit from actually being prescribed “exercise.” Specifically, high-intensity exercise is both good for women’s overall physical and mental health.

While health professionals often encourage exercise, they could go a step further and actually prescribe tailored exercise programs, according to the authors of the study. The study looked at the health of women over 50 for a period of five years and found that 30-45 minutes of somewhat strenuous exercise per day is most beneficial (this recommendation is more than the previously recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day). The researchers found that these older women were capable of undertaking a range of activities beyond simply walking such as jogging, running, hiking, swimming, and bike riding.

The researchers’ final recommendation: Doctors should be developing and prescribing exercise programs that are home-based and easy to incorporate as part of everyday activities.

Debra Anderson, Charlotte Seib, Laura Rasmussen. Can physical activity prevent physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women? Maturitas, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.06.010

The Flu Shot and You: Facts Compiled from the CDC Website

Published by in Health on October 16th, 2014

Written by National Wellness Institute, Wednesday October 1, 2014

WA Flu Proof‘Tis the season when we need to start thinking about getting our flu shots. But what do you need to know and what is different this year from last year?

The CDC website has extensive information about the flu shot. Some of the key points are summarized below.

 General Information:

  • The flu season is generally at its peak from December through February, but it can start as early as October and last through May.
  • CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.
  • Children between 6 months and 8 years may need additional doses of the vaccine. Ask your healthcare provider for details.
  • Ideally people should get vaccinated starting in October.
  • It takes about two weeks after getting vaccinated for the flu antibodies to develop. You are not protected right away!
  • Flu vaccine is produced by private manufacturers, so supply depends on manufacturers. For this season, manufacturers have projected they will provide between 151-159 million doses of vaccine for the U.S. market.
  • The effectiveness of the flu vaccine and the length of time it will protect an individual varies from year to year. For more information click visit the CDC vaccine effectiveness page.

Types of vaccinations available:

  • There are several flu vaccine options for the 2014-2015 flu season.
  • Traditional vaccines protect against three different types of flu viruses (a trivalent shot). There is also an option that protects against four types of viruses (a quadrivalent shot).
  • Trivalent shots protect against two influenza A viruses (an H1N1 and an H3N2) and an influenza B virus.
  • Trivalent shots comes in a few different shot forms and are given based on an individual’s age. An intradermal trivalent shot is injected into the skin instead of the muscle and uses a much smaller needle than the regular flu shot. It is approved for people 18 through 64 years of age. A high-dose trivalent shot is approved for people 65 and older.
  • Most trivalent shot cultures are grown in eggs. There is an egg-free option called a recombinant trivalent shot that is approved for individuals 18-49.
  • The quadrivalent flu vaccine protects against two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.
  • Quadrivalent flu vaccines come in both shot and nasal spray forms. The nasal spray is recommended for people 2 through 49 years of age (recommended preferentially for healthy children ages 2-8). Click here for more information about the nasal spray and children.
  • The only recommendation the CDC is making this year is the preference for the quadrivalent nasal spray for healthy children ages 2-8. See above for more information.

What you can do to prevent the spread of the flu:

  • Get vaccinated.
  • Encourage those around you to get vaccinated.
  • Stay away from sick people and encourage sick people to stay away from others until they get better.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze.

#FluProof your company with a WellAdvantage Flu Shot Clinic this fall!

Published by in Health on September 4th, 2014

#FluProofWellAdvantage’s Flu Shot Clinics are win-win, #FluProof propositions for employers and employees alike. Not only do these easy-to-administer clinics offer companies the opportunity to reduce absenteeism during the flu season and increase worker productivity, they are widely viewed by staff members as a valuable employee perk that demonstrates their employer’s concern for their health.

Most companies conduct Flu Shot Clinics in the fall before the onset of the flu season. WellAdvantage’s clinics may be an element of a company-wide health fair, part of an event to coincide with the open enrollment period for insurance plans, or simply a single-day opportunity to promote wellness among employees. Anyone attending one of our clinics quickly and easily receives the shot that will best protect them against the strain that is anticipated to be most prevalent in the upcoming flu season.

The WellAdvantage administration team works hand-in-hand with human resources personnel and insurance companies interested in holding a Flu Shot Clinic. A minimum of 20 participants is required. Information and release forms are provided in advance for employers that wish to streamline the process for workers.

Typically the hosting organization will designate an office or conference room space for the clinic and one staff member to help with registration – which may be by appointment or on a walk-in basis. A WellAdvantage nurse will administer shots to patients in a private or semi-private setting once the release form is executed. Typically the entire process takes less than 10 minutes and can be even faster when employees are provided the chance to pre-register and bring the release form with them.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a wealth of information on influenza and why flu shots are the public’s best way to keep the virus at bay during the winter months. The CDC also provides guidelines on who should consider a shot, what strains are being reported, and the symptoms that typically accompany a severe case of the flu. More information can be found at www.cdc.gov. Anyone who is unsure of whether or not they should get a flu shot should consult their physician.

Fall is just around the corner, so it’s a great time for your organization to make the #FluProof commitment by scheduling a WellAdvantage Flu Shot Clinic today. Just call 410.795.7579 or visit https://www.welladvantage.com/services/flu-shots/ to learn more.

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Cataract Surgery: It’s Come a Long Way!

Published by in Health on August 28th, 2014

By Maria C. Scott, M.D.

Cataract Surgery Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. Long gone are the two-week hospital stays for cataract patients. Today, cataract surgery is performed in less than 15 minutes in most cases. Patients, whose eyes were dilated prior to surgery, leave wearing simply a pair of dark glasses. Within 48 hours, the majority of patients return to most routine activities with minimal restrictions.

While age is the primary reason why we develop cataracts, it is not the only factor. Increased exposure to sunlight, diabetes, certain medications, ocular inflammation, ocular trauma and family history may also play into the equation.

Cataracts  form over the course of a few months to a few years, thus patients may not realize they are at risk. Having  an annual eye exam is critical to detecting cataracts. Annual check ups allow you and your eye care physician to monitor the health of your eyes and take any steps necessary to preserve your vision. If you notice double vision or a sudden increase in cloudiness of your vision, immediately contact your eye care professional.

Today, bladeless laser cataract surgery is further revolutionizing the entire procedure and providing patients with unparalleled visual results. The FDA-approved bladeless femtosecond laser uses the same technology as that used in bladeless LASIK surgery. Whereas, manual cataract surgery requires handheld surgical instruments to make incisions, the bladeless femtosecond laser provides image-guided control for increased accuracy and predictability. Additionally, this laser enables surgeons to precisely program the size, shape and location of the incision and lens capsule for each patient. The femtosecond laser also softens the lens to reduce the amount of energy and fluid needed to remove the cataract, resulting in faster recovery time. The femtosecond laser can correct for low astigmatism, allowing patients to see as clearly as possible for distance vision without relying on glasses.

When selecting a cataract surgeon, make sure he or she is an experienced, highly skilled, board- certified ophthalmologist. It is important that he or she offers the most proven technology, treatments and testing to provide the best results possible. Talk to your doctor, ask questions, and discuss the options that are right for your situation.  Dr. Maria C. Scott, M.D.

It is an exciting time for cataract patients who want to improve their full range of vision, regain their quality of life and minimize or eliminate their dependence on glasses.

The author, Dr. Maria Scott, is one of the most respected cataract surgeons in the country.  Founder and Medical Director of Chesapeake Eye Care & Laser Center in Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Scott is a board-certified ophthalmologist, who is consistently named one of the area’s “Top Docs.”  

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August is National Immunization Awareness Month! What you need to know to protect yourself and your family

Published by in Health on August 14th, 2014

niam-logoDid you know that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) ranks immunizations among the top 10 accomplishments in the field of pubic health during the 20th century?

While immunizations have significantly reduced the incidence of many serious infectious diseases, many vaccine-preventable diseases are still common across the United States. Any of these diseases could be serious ¾ even for healthy people.

Throughout the month of August, the CDC has teamed up with the National Public Health Information Coalition to help promote awareness of the importance of vaccinations. Ensuring you are up-to-date on the vaccinations you need can help prevent serious – and sometimes deadly – diseases.

Some may think that vaccines are just for children, but that is not the case. In fact, they’re needed throughout life to help protect people of all ages. Even if you were vaccinated at a younger age, the immunity from those vaccines can wear off, or the virus or bacteria that the vaccine protects against may change, thus reducing your immunity. It’s important to realize that while young children are particularly vulnerable to disease, many others, including older adults and those with chronic health conditions, can be at higher risk for getting some diseases or experiencing serious illness if they were to get sick.

The CDC offers a host of materials that will help you learn more about vaccine recommendations at every stage of life so that you can begin a discussion with your health care professional and determine which vaccines are right for you.

WellAdvantage encourages you to learn more about vaccines and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. In addition, to help celebrate National Immunization Month, WellAdvantage is offering a special incentive to employers who book an On-Site Flu Clinic this fall to help #FluProof your employees. Visit https://www.welladvantage.com/services/flu-shots/ for more details on how to help curb the spread of flu at your company.

 

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