It’s crucial that all women schedule a regular well-woman visit with their health care provider, whether there’s something wrong or not. Even if you think you’re completely healthy, getting a regular check-up every year allows your doctor to catch any issues, such as diseases or other conditions, in the early stages. It also allows you to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions in the future. With that in mind, the following are a few tips on how to properly prepare for your appointment. How To Prepare for Your Well-Woman Visit The following are a few steps that you should take before visiting your doctor: 1. Determine if you’re due for any vaccinations or screenings. There are certain vaccinations and screenings that you should request based on your health, age, family history, and lifestyle. Your health care provider can also let you know if you’re due for any vaccinations or exams. Some of the vaccinations and screenings you may want to get during your visit include STD screening, blood pressure check, Pap test, mammogram, and a tetanus shot. 2. Take note of any issues you have. Your doctor will ask about your general health, so make sure you write down any issues you might be having so that you don’t forget. Take note of whether you’re experiencing any problems with fatigue, dizziness, pain, depression, anxiety, sleeping, and more. Other things to mention include any body changes you’ve experienced, changes in your eating habits, and menstrual cycle changes. 3. Prepare your family health history. Get in touch with your family to find out if they’ve had any recent health problems. Your family health history influences your own risk of developing certain conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease, and will help give your doctor a better idea of what to look for and what preventative measures to suggest. Schedule an Appointment With Your Doctor Today Scheduling a well-woman visit is crucial to reducing the risk of developing certain conditions and ensuring your health. Keep these tips in mind and visit us at The Benefits Store for more health advice. #wellwomancheckup #wellwomanvisit #WomensHealth

According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a condition that can be prevented, yet it affects 47 percent of all Americans. It also increases the risk of heart disease and strokes, both of which are leading causes of death in the country. One of the reasons why people may not be taking steps to prevent it is because they simply don’t know that they have it, which is why it’s known as the “silent killer.” To help remedy this problem, May has been designated as National High Blood Pressure and Stroke Awareness Month. Facts You Should Know About High Blood Pressure The following are a few facts about hypertension that everyone should be aware of: Only 24 percent of Americans with hypertension have it under control. Hypertension was the primary cause or contributing factor of death in 2019 in the U.S., having been linked to 516,955 deaths. Around 50 percent of men have hypertension, while 44 percent of women have it. If left uncontrolled or undetected, hypertension can cause a number of other issues as well, including heart failure, angina, vision loss, kidney disease, kidney failure, peripheral artery disease, and sexual dysfunction. How to Manage Your Hypertension The following are a few ways to control your hypertension and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease: Maintain a healthy weight: Blood pressure tends to increase when your weight increases. If you’re overweight, losing a few pounds can make all the difference. Exercise on a regular basis: Not only can exercise help you maintain a healthy weight, but it can also help to lower your blood pressure directly as well. Eat healthily: Again, eating right can help you maintain a healthy weight, but cutting certain things out of your diet, such as foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats, can help lower your blood pressure. Stop smoking: Smoking increases your blood pressure, so be sure to quit if you’re a smoker. Get Your Blood Pressure Checked Today To reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease, be sure to schedule a regular check-up with your primary doctor to check your blood pressure. If you have hypertension, you can begin taking steps to live a healthier lifestyle and reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. For more health awareness information, keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #HighBloodPressure #Hypertension #Stroke

The Basics: Overview Schedule a well-woman visit with your doctor or nurse every year. The well-woman visit is an important way to help you stay healthy. Well-woman visits include a full checkup, separate from any other visit for sickness or injury. These visits focus on preventive care for women, which may include: Services, like vaccines (shots), that improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems Screening tests, which are medical tests to check for diseases early when they may be easier to treat Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions Getting check-ups is one of many things you can do to help stay healthy and prevent disease and disability. Before your next check-up, make sure you do these four things: Find out if you are due for general screenings or vaccinations. Write down a list of issues and questions to take with you. Review your family health history. Family Health History Checklist: Adults Share family health history information with your doctor and other family members. Your family health history can give you an idea of your risk for chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, but it is not the only factor to consider. If you are concerned about diseases that are common in your family, talk with your doctor at your next visit. A doctor can evaluate all of the factors that may affect your risk of some diseases, including family health history, and can recommend ways to reduce that risk. Act on your family health history. Having a family health history of a disease does not mean that you or your family members will definitely get that disease. It is important that you talk with your doctor about steps that you can take to lower your chances of getting the disease. Learn more:Download Your health and safety matters! Contact The Benefits Store for you and your families health insurance needs! #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #healthawareness #Women039sHealth

There is no way to prevent an allergic reaction other than avoiding the allergen. Strict avoidance is the best way to prevent a reaction. This includes all products that definitely contain the allergen as well as those that “may contain,” “manufactured in a shared facility”, or “processed on the same equipment.” Experimenting or taking risks to determine if you can tolerate small exposures to the food allergen is dangerous and will likely result in an allergic reaction. Read labels on packaged goods. Since 2006, federal law mandates all packaged goods containing milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, crustacean shellfish (but not mollusks), peanut, or tree nut be labeled in plain English declaring the presence of these allergens. However, when the allergens are not main ingredients but could be included in the packaged goods through cross-contact, a product may be voluntarily labeled as “may contain,” “manufactured in a shared facility”, or “processed on the same equipment.” Discourage food sharing. Unless you can verify that all the ingredients are safe, do not accept food from others. If your child has food allergies, ensure he or she follows this practice at school, on field trips, at sporting events, and at friends’ homes. Never assume the food being offered is safe or was safely prepared unless you can personally verify this. Learn how to clean potentially cross-contaminated surfaces – including your hands! Soap and water and commercial detergent wipes are your friends, but gel hand sanitizer is not. Do not use gel hand sanitizer to clean your hands after allergen contact. For dishes, vigorous scrubbing with dish soap and water followed by cleaning in the dish washer is recommended. Allergic reactions can be triggered through ingestion of trace, residual amounts of protein on someone’s hands, which can also contaminate common surfaces. This is particularly important among small children who may frequently put their hands – and everything else – in their mouths. Learn more about Food Allergies:Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families health insurance needs. #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #FoodAllergyAwarenes #healthawareness

Sexual assault is something that happens a lot more than you might realize. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Additionally, one out of every six women has been raped or almost raped in her lifetime. Because of how prominent the problem continues to be, April has been designated as Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month. Preventing Sexual Assault Because most American children spend a substantial amount of time online, you should be wary about sexual predators attempting to groom or exploit them. The following are a few signs that may indicate that’s what’s happening: Someone online is telling the child to keep their relationship secret Someone is making sexually suggestive comments to them online Someone is asking about the child’s sexual background Someone is sending the child links to sexual content Someone is asking the child to contact them through specific apps Someone is instructing the child to talk to them in private An online stranger is sending the child gift Make sure to tell your child to report any such exchanges to you, and be sure to monitor your child’s online activities in case such exchanges are occurring. You should report predatory behavior to California law enforcement right away to help prevent any potential sexual abuse from occurring. Signs of Sexual Abuse Many victims are under age. The majority of underage victims tend to be between the ages of 12 and 17. As such, it’s very important that if you have children, you make sure you do everything you can to ensure they grow up in a safe environment. The following are a few red flags to look out for that indicate that there may be sexual abuse happening: The child’s behavior changes significantly. Behavior such as social withdrawal, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating may all indicate potential issues with abuse. If the child complains about trouble sleeping, soreness, or even pain. Sexual assault is a serious problem that affects both adults and children. If you have a child, be vigilant about their online activity to help protect them against sexual abuse. For more safety awareness advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #AssaultPrevention #PreventSexualAssault #SexualAssault

Millions of working Americans are facing a growing crisis: a lack of adequate disability insurance coverage. Today, the absence of emergency savings, rising medical costs, and an overall trend of fewer employers offering benefits to workers has created a critical blind spot for many American workers and their families. Without some kind of income protection, more Americans are experiencing severe financial difficulty if they need to miss work due to illness, injury, or pregnancy. A lack of adequate disability coverage. At least 51 million working adults in the United States are without disability insurance other than the basic coverage available through Social Security. Only 40 percent of US households have enough in liquid savings to cover at least three months of their recurring expenses, and only 28 percent can cover at least six months. Three out of ten American adults indicate they can’t pay an unexpected $400 bill without having to carry a balance on their credit card or borrow money from friends, family, or the bank. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that you need to plan for the unexpected. One thing people don’t expect is that they might become disabled and need disability insurance to protect their income. That’s why during May, Disability Insurance Awareness Month, LIMRA is joining the industry to remind Americans about the importance of having disability insurance coverage to protect their income if they become disabled and are unable to work. Below are some facts that highlight the importance of disability insurance coverage: Despite the need, the percentage of Americans with disability insurance (DI) coverage declined from a high of 31% in 2012 to a low of 14% in 2021. Data on consumer financial concerns suggest concern over a potential disability has grown among Millennials and Gen Xers. This is a positive trend because, according to the Social Security Administration, more than 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds can expect to be out of work for at least a year because of a disabling condition before they reach the normal retirement age. Disability insurance ranked high, with 46% saying LTD benefits were more important and 43% saying the same about STD benefits. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers’ compensation only covers time away from work if the disabling illness or injury was directly work-related. In 2019, less than 1% of American workers missed work because of an occupational illness or injury. Learn more;Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store for you and your families health insurance needs! #healthawareness #Californiahealthtips #Californiahealthinsurance #DisabilityInsuranceAwareness #disabilityinsurance

You might not realize it, but when it comes to car accidents, distracted driving is one of the primary causes. For example, out of the 2.5 million people that are involved in car accidents every year in the U.S., roughly 64% of those accidents involved a cell phone. Because there are so many more things that can distract a driver from their primary task of driving, April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Types of Distracted Driving in California There are three main types of distractions that can divert your attention while driving and lead to a potential accident: Manual distractions: A manual distraction refers to something that causes you to move your hands away from the steering wheel. For example, if you’re eating a burger or drinking a beverage while driving, then you’re being manually distracted. Visual distractions: A visual distraction refers to anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road. For instance, if you’re looking at directions for an address that you wrote down on a piece of paper. Cognitive distractions: A cognitive distraction is something that causes your mind to wander. If you’re thinking about something else other than your task at hand, you could miss a turn or you could react slowly to someone braking in front of you. Facts About Driving Distracted The following are a few facts you should know about driving while distracted: Almost 25% of all car accidents in the U.S. are caused by texting while driving. You’re six times more likely to get into a car accident texting while driving than drinking and driving. If you’re texting while driving, your chances of getting into a car accident increase by 23 times. Reading a text will distract you for an average of five seconds. It takes an average of three seconds of distraction to get into an accident. Don’t Drive Distracted Distracted driving will significantly increase your chances of getting into an accident, so be sure to focus on the task of driving. For more safety awareness information, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #distracteddriving #distracteddrivingawareness #safetyawareness

Each year, about 1,300,000 people are killed in road accidents. This is a mind-numbing number of deaths for the worst reason in the world. This means that over 3,000 people die every single day due to collisions on the road. Road accidents can happen anywhere in the world, and at any time. It is one of the most random, split second things that can ever occur. Everything can go wrong because of one tiny twitch of a hand at the wrong moment. People travel at such high speeds in the world now that nearly every accident is either fatal or leaves someone critically injured, or disabled. Mobile phones and the road People are now so used to mobile phones that they think that they can drive while using them. It doesn’t matter how mad you think your driving skills are, you still can’t text while driving. Unless you are capable of seeing and concentrating on two separate things with equal intensity, of course. This isn’t humanly possible, so you can put that thought away. From texting to calling to using mobile navigation systems, people are always finding ways to use their mobile phones. It almost feels like they just can’t keep their paws off those screens, not even for the time it takes to drive from point A to point B every day. No amount of justification makes it okay People tend to give all kinds of excuses when they are asked why they text while they drive. For most, it is that some texts are too important to be ignored. However, as one grieving mother puts it, no text message is more important than your own life. What can I do to stop myself and my kids from texting? If you are a parent, there are a couple of things that you can do to stop yourself, and your teenagers from texting behind the wheel. For your kids, there is something known as a drivecam, which records live video of what is going on in the driver’s seat, and sends you updates. For everybody, there are apps on Android and iOS that block all text messages and all messaging platforms for the duration of the drive. Learn More:Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families Health Insurance needs! #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #distracteddrivingawareness #healthawareness

Alcoholism is a significant issue that still plagues the U.S. It’s estimated that there are roughly 95,000 alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. every year, making it the third-leading preventable cause of death in the entire country. It’s why the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month back in 1987. Despite the fact that more people are becoming aware of the dangers of alcohol dependence every year, there are still things that people don’t know about it. For example, few people understand the difference between alcoholism and an alcohol use disorder. The Difference Between Alcoholism and an Alcohol Use Disorder According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, an alcohol use disorder refers to anyone who abuses alcohol or has a dependency on alcohol. There are also three classifications under which a person can be diagnosed as having an alcohol use disorder: mild, moderate, and severe. Symptoms of an alcohol use disorder include: Being unable to limit how much you drink Spending a significant amount of time drinking or getting more alcohol Feeling strong urges to drink alcohol Giving up social activities and hobbies as a result of drinking alcohol Drinking alcohol in unsafe situations (such as while driving) Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when not drinking It’s worth noting that being diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re an alcoholic. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with a severe alcohol use disorder, you can also be diagnosed as being an alcoholic. Alcoholics experience all of the symptoms of someone with an alcohol use disorder as well as: Increasing tolerance to alcohol The inability to stop drinking Neglecting family and friends due to drinking Continuing to drink despite experiencing negative consequences (such as being arrested in California for drunk driving) Having an alcohol use disorder does not necessarily mean you’re an alcoholic. However, if you are an alcoholic, then you have a severe alcohol use disorder. To find out more about the dangers of alcoholism or about health awareness in general, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #alcoholuse #alcoholusedisorder #alcoholism

How to Prevent and Treat Sports Eye Injuries Different activities and sports have different levels of risk for eye injury. Make sure that you’re using the right kind of eye protection for each activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection and in some cases can make an injury worse if they shatter. Be careful during activities or games involving projectiles and other sharp objects that could create injury if in contact with the eye. If you have an eye injury go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury appears minor. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness. Take the following steps to avoid sports eye injuries: Wear proper safety goggles (lensed polycarbonate protectors) for racquet sports or basketball. In order to be assured that your eyes are protected, it is important that any eye guard or sports protective eyewear are labeled as ASTM F803 approved. This eyewear is performance tested to give you the highest levels of protection. Use batting helmets with polycarbonate face shields for youth baseball. Use helmets and face shields approved by the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association when playing hockey. Know that regular glasses don’t provide enough protection If You Get Hit in the Eye: Gently apply a small cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. Don’t use steaks or other food items. These can get bacteria into the eye. DO NOT apply any pressure. If a black eye, pain or visual disturbance occurs even after a light blow, immediately contact your ophthalmologist or emergency room. Even a light blow can cause a significant eye injury, like a retinal detachment. Eye injuries can cause vision loss or blindness. That’s why having an ophthalmologist or other medical doctor examine the eye as soon as possible is important, even if the injury seems minor at first. DO NOT attempt to treat a serious eye injury yourself. Learn More about Sports Eye Safety:Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store for you and your families Vision Insurance needs! #healthawareness #Californiahealthtips #EyeSafetyAwarenessMonth #Californiahealthinsurance #VisionInsurance #eyesafety

Everybody loves sports, especially here in California; however, few people consider their eye safety when playing sports. Yet it’s estimated that more than 25,000 people are treated for a sports-related eye injury every year in the U.S. It’s no surprise when you consider how vulnerable the eyes are in almost any sport that involves physical contact (from basketball to boxing) or equipment (such as hockey sticks or tennis balls). To help spread awareness about the importance of protecting your eyes while playing sports, April has been designated as Sports Eye Safety Month. Eye Safety Tips Injuring the area around your eye (or the eye itself) can cause significant damage and can even result in blindness in the affected eye. As such, it’s critical that you protect your eyes when playing sports. The following are a few tips that can help prevent eye injuries: Always wear the proper equipment: If you’re playing baseball and you’re up to bat, don’t play without a helmet. The same goes for hockey and other sports that typically require safety equipment to be worn. Use helmet face shields: Make sure that if you’re wearing a helmet, you also wear a face shield on that helmet. If a sport requires a helmet, it means that there’s a risk of injury to the head. However, most helmets don’t cover the eyes (such as baseball helmets), so be sure to wear a helmet that has a face shield. Wear safety goggles: You should wear safety goggles when playing any sport that involves a ball of any kind, such as tennis or basketball. A tennis ball or a basketball to the face can cause serious damage to your eye or eye socket. It’s worth noting that sports goggles can also help shield your eyes from the sun’s glare. If you don’t protect your eyes while playing sports, you could end up with a serious eye injury that may prevent you from playing your favorite sport in the future. Severe eye injuries can even lead to blindness, so be sure to keep eye safety in mind. For more safety awareness tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #eyesafety #EyeSafetyAwareness #eyesportssafety #SportsSafety

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one in three Americans suffer from sleep deprivation. People should generally get around seven to nine hours of sleep every night, and sleeping less than seven hours in a night can be considered sleep deprivation. Many people don’t realize how important it is to get enough sleep, which is why March 13th through March 19th was Sleep Awareness Week. The Consequences of Sleep Deprivation Not sleeping enough can have significant consequences. Getting enough sleep is critical to your metabolic regulation, memory, learning abilities, and emotion regulation. Sleeping adequately is just as important as exercising. With that in mind, the following are some of the consequences of not sleeping enough: Memory issues – A lack of sleep can cause problems remembering things. That can affect individuals who are still in school and can hurt work performance as well. Depression – Not only has a lack of sleep been linked to increased irritability and stress, but it has also been linked to depression. Weakened immune system – Not sleeping enough can cause your immune system to weaken, making you more vulnerable to getting sick. Poor hand-eye coordination – People who are fatigued drive just as bad or even worse than those who are intoxicated. The CDC estimates that 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries related to car accidents have been caused by fatigued drivers. How To Improve Your Sleep If you’re not sleeping enough, then the following are a few tips that you can apply to improve your sleep throughout the night: Stop using electronic devices an hour before going to bed Maintain a routine and go to bed at the same time every night Read a book before going to bed Take a warm bath or shower before going to bed Turn off all lights when you go to bed Sleep deprivation can cause a lot of health problems, not to mention increasing the risk of getting into an accident in California or elsewhere if you’re driving. For more health awareness tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Lackofsleep #SleepAwareness #Sleepdeprivation #Sleepdeprived