As people have learned over the years, mental health is an incredibly important component of our well-being. There seem to be more factors affecting mental health in this day and age, too. According to a recent study by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of York, extreme weather events may be one of these factors. How Extreme Weather Affects Mental Health It’s no surprise that people whose homes have been seriously damaged or destroyed by extreme weather can become distraught. However, the study revealed the mental health risks associated with living in a home that has been damaged by extreme weather are very similar to the mental health risks that are associated with those who live in disadvantaged areas. It turns out that even minor storm-related damage can have negative consequences on mental health. Scientists theorize the increase in mental health risks associated with extreme weather events could very well be due to climate change. Storms are becoming more intense and more frequent. People who continuously experience extreme weather will be more at risk for mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. The study was based on research collected from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a British national health survey that uses diagnostic criteria to evaluate mental disorders. The survey asked respondents whether their homes had been damaged by rain, snow, wind, or flooding in the six months before the interview. During this period, over 4 million flood warnings had been issued. More than 10,000 homes had flooded. Researchers considered how other known mental health risks, such as debt, poor physical health, and living in disadvantaged areas, can contribute to respondents’ mental state. But they concluded people whose homes were damaged as a result of extreme weather events were 50 percent more likely to suffer from mental health issues. Find out more about the importance of mental health and keep up with the latest health news by visiting us at The Benefits Store. #extremeweather #extremeweatherevents #mentalhealth #poormentalhealth

Summer is a great time to head outdoors and enjoy the weather. But if temperatures are particularly high, spending too much time outside isn’t always the best idea. Extreme heat has been known to cause a lot of health problems, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke. These issues occur when the body is unable to cool itself down. They can lead to brain and vital organ damage; even death. It’s important you understand the dangers of extreme heat and take the proper precautions to stay safe whenever temperatures soar during the summer. Extreme Heat Safety Tips First, those who are particularly at risk of extreme heat-related conditions should stay inside whenever it’s hot outside. This can include older adults and those with chronic diseases. Young, healthy adults can also suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke if exposed to extreme temperatures too long. With that in mind, here are some important tips to keep you safe this summer: Don’t leave kids in the car – Cars heat up fast, so don’t leave kids or pets in your car, even if it’s just a few minutes. Go outside when it’s cooler – Temperatures won’t be as high in the mornings or evenings. Try to limit outdoor activities to these times. Keep your indoor space cool – Have your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) inspected spring and fall. It’s important it operate efficiently and reliably. If you don’t have air conditioning or it breaks down in the middle of a hot day, go to a public space such as a library or a mall, to stay cool. Take a cold shower – Cold showers and baths are a great way to cool down if you’re feeling too hot. This is especially true if your home doesn’t have or loses AC. Wear cool clothes – The thicker your clothes, the more they will trap heat. During extreme heat, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing as well as light-colored clothes (They don’t “absorb” heat.) These are a few heat safety tips to keep your cool For more summer safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store. #extremeheat #heatstroke #summerheat

A firework display is a sight to behold! It’s no surprise people love to set off fireworks during celebratory events, such as the Fourth of July. However, fireworks can be quite dangerous if they aren’t handled properly. In 2017, roughly 12,900 people were injured and eight people were killed as a result of fireworks-related incidents. It’s estimated approximately 20,000 fires are caused by fireworks every year. Because of this, you should be sure to practice fireworks safety if you’re planning to handle fireworks for the Fourth of July (or any time). 10 Fireworks Safety Tips These are 10 fireworks safety tips that ensure nobody gets hurt and no accidental fires are caused: Always have a bucket of water or a garden hose ready nearby in the event of a fire. Always make sure there’s an adult supervising if children are near fireworks. An adult should be present at all times, no matter how small or harmless any particular firework appears to be. Do not let small children handle fireworks, even if they aren’t incendiary. This goes for smaller fireworks like sparklers, as well. Sparklers can cause injuries too. Don’t light fireworks near flammable objects (wooden structures, etc.). Have a first-aid kit handy in case someone is injured. If you’re setting off larger fireworks, make sure there are no children in your vicinity. If your firework malfunctions the first time you tried to ignite it, don’t attempt to re-light. Never point fireworks at anyone. Once you’ve set off a firework, douse the base or remains in water before throwing it away. This prevents it from reigniting. When lighting fireworks, ensure no part of your body is above the fireworks device. Once you’ve lit your firework, retreat quickly to a safe distance. Be sure to follow these fireworks safety tips for this summer. For more general safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #FireworkSafety #fireworksawareness #fireworkssafety #safetyawareness

Unfortunately, almost everyone experiences a headache sometimes. Headaches can range from mild to debilitating migraines and there are many different headache causes. Knowing what some of those headache causes are could prevent them from occurring or at least help you treat them when they do occur. 5 Common Headache Causes There are many types of headaches. Many headaches have “triggers,” but their underlying causes are seldom known. The following are some of the more common triggers that can cause mild to severe headaches: 1. Alcohol Alcohol can cause headaches for a number of reasons, including: It’s a direct vasodilator, which can cause headaches in some people. It contains ethanol, which is a diuretic that causes dehydration. Many people have severe headaches if they’ve had too much to drink the night before. 2. Dehydration Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water. Your brain tissue needs water. If it doesn’t have enough water, your brain can actually shrink. When your brain shrinks even a little bit, it will pull away from your skull, causing a headache. 3. Light Bright lights and glare are known to be triggers for migraines. The link is thought to be a result of the connection between the cells that detect light in your eyes and the nerve running from your eyes to your brain. 4. Stress When a person experiences anxiety, certain chemicals are released in the brain to combat the tension. These chemicals sometimes cause blood vessel changes that can result in headaches, including migraines. 5. Underlying Medical Conditions Blood clots Brain tumors Concussions Strokes …and the flu can cause headaches that range in severity. Although you may not always be able to prevent a headache from developing (especially if you suffer from an underlying condition), you can take steps to avoid certain triggers, such as drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol overconsumption. For more health advice, keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #causesofheadaches #headache #headacheawareness #headachecauses

There are many health conditions that affect men much more than women. Overall, women tend to be healthier than men; that accounts for men’s higher mortality rate. Men’s health has been deteriorating in the U.S. along with a lack of awareness and poor health education. Men’s Health Week was established to promote wellness and awareness. This year, Men’s Health Week falls between June 15-21. 3 Health Tips for Men Men in their 40s and 50s tend to be particularly susceptible to certain health risks. To observe Men’s Health Week, keep the following health tips for the men in your life in mind: 1. Go to The Doctor You should go to the doctor routinely for preventive care. Your doctor can spot minor issues before they become major health problems. You should observe screenings and exams annually or as-needed for: Cholesterol Diabetes Heart Physical condition/lifestyle Testicular cancer Vision 2. Maintain a Healthy Weight Men in their 40s and 50s often gain weight. If you’re overweight, the risk of developing heart disease or diabetes will increase. Not only should you exercise regularly, but you should maintain a healthy diet for a healthy weight. 3. Reduce Stress Some men deal with a significant amount of stress for a variety of reasons, including finances, family, and their jobs. Stress is also linked to heart disease, which afflicts men at a younger age than women. In fact, heart disease kills more men between the ages of 45-54 than any other condition. Managing stress better reduces the risk of heart disease. You can do this by exercising regularly, meditating, doing yoga, or taking stress management classes. These are some important men’s health tips for men of all ages but especially those in their 40s or 50s. You can improve your health and even extend your life all year, every year. For more health tips, be sure to return to the Benefits Store. #menshealth #health #healthawareness #menhealthawareness #menshealthawareness

Diabetes is a serious disease affecting millions of people around the world. It’s a chronic illness that affects the body’s ability to break food down into energy. When you eat, the food becomes glucose, which is then released into your bloodstream. The glucose is used as energy because of a hormone called “insulin” that’s produced by your pancreas. People with diabetes have issues either producing enough insulin or processing the insulin their bodies produce. Most of us have heard of diabetes, but many don’t quite understand the disease. That’s why March 24, 2020 was Diabetes Alert Day. 10 Diabetes Facts You Should Know Here are some important diabetes facts to help improve your awareness of this serious disease: Almost 2 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Diabetes can be fatal. It’s the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Diabetes can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking. Diabetes is the number one cause of adult blindness, amputations of the lower limbs, and kidney failure. It’s estimated about 25 percent of people in the U.S. have diabetes and don’t realize it. Over 30 million people have diabetes in the U.S. alone. That’s close to 10% of the country’s population. Over 84 million adults – almost 34% of our population – have prediabetes. Prediabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. People with prediabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. The number of adults diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. has tripled in the last two decades. There are three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational. There is no cure. For more information about diabetes or for more health awareness tips in general, be sure to keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #DiabetesAwareness #diabetesfacts #DiabetesPrevention #DiabetesTreatment

Poisoning is a more serious risk than most people realize. Of all the emergency room visits that occur every year, drug-related poisonings are responsible for 700,000 of them. Poisonings are linked to over 35,000 yearly deaths. This makes poisonings the number one cause of injury death. The third week of March (March 17-23) is Poison Prevention Week to increase awareness. The Risk of Poisoning Roughly 50 percent of all poisonings happen to children under the age of six. Of all the poisoning deaths every year, 90% of them are adults over the age of 20. Four of the major causes include: Cosmetics Household cleaning products Painkillers Prescription medicines (sedatives, antipsychotics, etc.) 5 Poison Prevention Tips The following are safety measures you should follow in order to reduce the risk of poisoning: Discard products safely – When a product is finished or no longer usable, discard it in a sealed, outdoor trash receptacle. Keep medications and household products out of reach – Make sure children can’t reach poisonous detergents, chemical products, or medicines. Ensure you store them safely. For example, keep drain cleaners on a top shelf in your garage instead of below the kitchen sink. Keep poisonous items isolated – Don’t put poisonous products near your food. They should be stored in different cabinets to avoid accidentally mixing them up. Lock cabinets – Prevent children from getting into medicine cabinets and household cleaners by installing safety locks or childproof latches. Return products after use – As soon as you take your medication or use a household cleaner, return it to where it’s stored. Don’t leave it out. These poison prevention tips will reduce the risk of poisoning. For more safety tips, keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #poison #poisonprevention #poisonpreventionweek

If you own a pet, you likely take great care of it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things from which you need to protect your pets. Pet poisonings are too common. It’s estimated there are around 100,000 pet poison cases in the U.S. every year. It’s critical for you to take precautions to prevent your pet from being poisoned. Pet Poisoning Causes There are many items pets may eat you didn’t realize were poisonous. All medications, including Tylenol and Advil, are poisonous to pets. Many types of everyday foods: Avocados Chocolate Grapes Macadamia nuts Raisins, Xylitol sweeteners …are dangerous for pets to ingest. Several types of plants and most household products are as well. Pet Poison Prevention Tips To prevent your pet from poisoning, be sure follow these pet poison prevention tips: Be careful about using rodent/insecticides – Pest killers can poison your pets, so if you use them, place them carefully. Make sure you remove dead rodents immediately because they are poisonous as well. Be careful about what you feed your pets – Know what you can and can’t feed your pet. If you drop food while eating it yourself, clean it up quickly. Buy plants that aren’t poisonous – Research to ensure you buy plants that aren’t poisonous if your pet eats them. Follow product guidelines – Certain pet products, such as flea and tick products, can be poisonous if ingested. Follow the product guidelines carefully when applying them. Keep medications locked up – All medications should be inaccessible to your pets. Store them in your bathroom medicine cabinet. Return medicines immediately after using them. These are a few pet poison prevention tips you should follow to protect your 4-legged loved ones. Be sure to continue visiting us at The Benefits Store for additional safety awareness tips. #Petpoisonprevention #Petpoisonings #Petsafety

The second week of March (This year, 8th-14th) is Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep is often taken for granted, yet it’s absolutely critical to your overall health. The National Sleep Foundation wants to spread awareness of the importance of sleep. The Importance of Sleeping Enough Not only is it important that you sleep enough every night, but the quality of your sleep is important too. Good sleep has been linked to learning, emotion regulation, metabolic regulation, memory consolidation, performance, and brain recuperation processes. As you can imagine, this means that sleep is particularly important to children that are still developing. The Risk of Not Sleeping Enough Not getting enough sleep one night will result in what’s known as “sleep debt.” This will have a bigger and bigger impact on your health over time. An ongoing lack of proper sleep can eventually cause memory problems, increase in pain perception, weakened immune system, and depression. Additionally, sleep deprivation can lead to other risks, such as: Drowsiness can lead to falling asleep while in the middle of a potentially dangerous situation. In fact, it’s estimated driver fatigue causes roughly 83,000 car accidents and approximately 850 deaths every year. Magnification of alcohol effects. If you’re sleep-deprived, alcohol consumption can cause you to become more impaired than usual. Poor hand-eye coordination, which affects your ability to drive safely How Much Should You Sleep? You should sleep on the same schedule every night. This will help improve the quality of your sleep. Adults should sleep for at least seven hours each night. Younger children need more sleep to enhance development. Make sure that you’re getting plenty of sleep during Sleep Awareness week and beyond. For more information about the importance of sleep to your health, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #sleep #SleepAwareness #sleephealth

Cavities can cause pain and infections. If left untreated, they can also lead to issues with speaking, eating, learning, and playing. Children’s dental health awareness is very important, which is why February is named National Children’s Dental Health Month. Children’s Dental Health Challenges The following are just a few of the surprising statistics about children’s dental health: Twenty-five percent of children and adolescents from low-income families between the ages of five and 19 have an untreated cavity compared to 11% of children and adolescents from higher-income families. Almost 20% of children from the ages of 5-11 have at least one decayed tooth that hasn’t been treated. Almost 13% of adolescents between the ages of 12-19 have an untreated decayed tooth. How to Promote Children’s Dental Health Tooth decay can be prevented. Here are a few tips for preventing tooth decay in children and adolescents: Applying dental sealants to the back teeth can help reduce cavities in permanent molars by 81 percent for at least two years after they’ve been placed. Children should brush at least twice a day for two minutes each session. Children should visit the dentist twice a year. A dentist can spot cavities that are beginning to form as well as take care of any cavities that are fully formed. Fluoride can help prevent 33% of decay in baby teeth, which means children who brush every day using fluoride toothpaste are less likely to experience cavities. Spending money on preventative care will save money in the long run. Every dollar you spend on preventative dental care can help save between $8 and $50 in dental treatment. Children are vulnerable to dental decay, so make sure you promote children’s dental health. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store. #children039sdentalhealth #dentalhealth #kidsdentalhealth

This means while we may understand how serious burns are, not everyone understands the importance of burn prevention, especially around children. Burn Prevention Tips The following are burn prevention precautions everyone should keep in mind: Alcohol consumption should be limited around hot objects such as outdoor firepits or grills. Children need to be supervised at all times around hot objects, such as active stovetops or fireplaces. Electric appliances should be unplugged when they are not in use. Have hotpads and oven mitts handy when cooking. Long oven mitts can reduce the risk of burning your hands or arms as you reach into the oven or across hot surfaces. Always assume pots and pans on the stove or in the oven are hot. If children are around when you’re cooking, use the back burners of your stove. Keep pan handles on front burners turned into the stove and away from children. If you’re using heating pads or heating blankets for warmth in bed, it’s important to turn them off before you fall asleep. Microwave food containers should be treated the same as hot oven containers. Remember, the glass doors of a fireplace will remain hot for an hour or more after the fireplace has been turned off. Remotes for gas fireplaces should be kept out of reach of children. The space around objects that are heated (such as fire pits, fireplaces, heating systems, etc.) should be clear of furniture or clutter. Burn prevention can prevent serious injuries. For more health news and health safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Radon is a radioactive gas that can lead to lung cancer. Radon does appear naturally, which means that there is a level of radon gas in your home that is expected and acceptable. However, once radon goes above a certain level, your household will be at risk. Because many people don’t know about the dangers of radon gas, January has been named National Radon Action Month in order to help generate awareness. Here are five facts you should know about radon: Radon can’t be detected by humans – Because radon can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted, it’s important you test the level of radon in your home. Radon is measured by pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air). The average indoor radon concentration is 1.3 pCi/L. Radon is natural – The release of radon gas is caused by the normal decay of elements such as uranium, radium, and thorium, all of which are found in rocks and soil. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer – Radon is the leading cause of cancer in non-smokers. Many studies have also linked radon to childhood leukemia. Testing for radon is easy – It’s as easy as placing a test kit in the right place, letting it sit between 2-7 days, and then sending it off to the address on the package. You’ll receive the results in about two weeks. The EPA suggests that radon levels should be no more than 2 pCI/L, while the U.S. Surgeon General recommends attention to radon levels above 4 pCi/L. You can fix high radon levels – There are radon mitigators that can help address high levels of radon in your home and lower them to a safe level. Be sure to test your home for radon and keep visiting us at The Benefits Store to stay up-to-date with all the latest health news. #nationalradonactionawarenessmonth #radongas #radongastesting