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The Risks of High Blood Pressure According to 2017 studies, it’s estimated about 50% of American adults have high blood pressure. This is a huge increase from 2003, when roughly 30 percent of American adults had high blood pressure. The following are some of the potential dangers of high blood pressure: According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), around 30% of American adults had stage 1 high blood pressure in 2017. High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. In 2013, high blood pressure was named one of the primary or contributing causes of death for over 360,000 Americans. One in every 6 American adults has high total cholesterol, which is linked to high blood pressure. The health risks caused by high blood pressure costs the U.S. an estimated $46 billion a year in healthcare services, medication costs, and missed days of work. Preventing High Blood Pressure You can make a number of lifestyle changes to help prevent high blood pressure. This includes: Drinking alcohol in moderation Eating healthy Engaging in routine exercise Maintaining a healthy weight Managing stress Quitting smoking Anyone can be at risk for high blood pressure, but improving your overall wellness can help prevent it. Healthy lifestyle changes can also help prevent other potential health complications that are linked to high blood pressure. For more information about high blood pressure or for more health tips in general, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #HighBloodPressure #PreventingHighBloodPressure #RisksofHighBloodPressure

Work Pressure Study The study was performed at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. It included 3,872 participants; both men and women. Participants were investigated on three different occasions over a 20-year period. Their ages ranged from 30-50 or 40-60. Participants were asked about their workplaces: How much time they had to perform their work duties How often they were given contradictory demands What they felt the psychological pressure was These questions helped identify the level of job demands. Additionally, questions were asked about: How often participants learned something new at work Whether their job required imagination or advanced skills Whether they were able to choose what to do and how to do it as part of their job The men and women that had little control in their work tended to gain more weight over the course of the study. However, long-term exposure to high job demands affected women much more than men. Major weight gain occurred over the course of 20 years for over 50% of the women who were subjected to high work demands. The gain in weight was roughly 20 percent higher than women who were subject to lower job demands. Researchers believe the reason women were affected long-term was possibly due to the combination of their job demands as well as the greater responsibility that most women have at home as well. Those factors often make it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight because they may not have the time to exercise regularly. For more health news, continue visiting us at The Benefits Store. #femaleweightgain #gainingweight #jobstress

The common cold can be quite a nuisance; unfortunately, there is yet to be a cure for it. However, there are a number of home remedies that can help alleviate some of your symptoms and which can help you recover quicker. The following are five home remedies that are particularly effective if you have a cold: Drink lots of liquids – You’ll want to make sure to stay hydrated. To flush out the toxins in your body, be sure to drink lots of liquids, such as water or juice. Staying hydrated will help loosen congestion. Avoid liquids such as sodas and alcohol, which actually contribute to dehydration. Sip on warm liquids – If you have a sore throat, sipping on warm liquids can be very soothing. It can also help to ease your congestion by increasing mucus flow. Warm liquids like chicken soup, tea, and warm water with lemon juice are all good options. Avoid drinking coffee. Gargle salt water – A sore throat is a common cold symptom that can be incredibly uncomfortable. Gargle an eight-ounce glass of water with a half teaspoon of salt to help soothe the pain. Add moisture to your indoor air – Adding moisture to the air inside your home is a good way to reduce congestion and prevent your throat from drying out. A cool mist vaporizer or a humidifier are both effective ways to add moisture to your air. Get lots of rest – The most important remedy is rest. Your body uses a lot of energy fighting off a cold. The more rest you get, the more likely you are to recover quickly. If your symptoms are particularly bad and these home remedies aren’t quite doing the trick, then you may want to try an over-the-counter cough and cold medication. There are decongestants and antihistamines that are appropriate for patients ages 5 and older, and they may offer some relief from your cold symptoms. For more health tips and general advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #homeremediesforacold

Sleeping Too Much Most experts recommend adults sleep at least 6 to eight hours a night. Getting plenty of sleep helps promote a healthy body and a fully functioning brain the next day. But this doesn’t mean the more you sleep, the better. In fact, sleeping too much can actually be detrimental to your health. A new study revealed adults who sleep more than they should may be more at risk for heart disease and even death. Researchers spent almost eight years studying the effects of sleep by analyzing data from almost 117,000 adults 35-70 in 21 countries. The following are some of the conclusions they were able to draw from the research: Individuals sleeping between six and eight hours a night experienced a 7.8 per 1,000 rate of heart disease and death. Individuals sleeping between eight and nine hours a night experienced an 8.4 per 1,000 rate of heart disease and death. Individuals sleeping between nine and 10 hours a night experienced a 10.4 per 1,000 rate of heart disease and death. Individuals sleeping over 10 hours a night experienced a 14.8 per 1,000 rate of heart disease and death. The risk of heart disease and death jumps five percent, 17 percent, and 41 percent for every hour you sleep per night over the recommended amount. The rate of heart disease and death also increased for people who slept less than the recommended amount: individuals who sleep less than six hours a night have an average rate of heart disease and death of 9.4 per 1,000. One thing worth noting is that sleeping too much doesn’t directly cause heart disease and death. Sleeping too much is a symptom of an underlying problem that increases the rate of heart disease and death. Poor health often causes people to sleep more than they should because the body is attempting to recover. For more information and advice concerning how sleep affects your health, by visiting us at The Benefits Store today. #homeremediesforacold

The last thing you expect to give you lung cancer is your home’s indoor air. But if you don’t have your home tested for radon gas, that’s exactly what could happen. According to an assessment published by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 2003, radon gas causes an estimated 21,000 deaths a year. Unfortunately, a lot of people are unfamiliar with radon gas, which is why January was named National Radon Gas Action Month. What is Radon Gas? Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that cannot be seen, tasted or smelled, which is one of the reasons it’s so dangerous. Unless your home is specifically tested for radon gas, you may never know that it’s there. Radon gas is formed when the uranium that’s naturally present in soil, rock, and water breaks down. Radon gas can exit the ground and enter your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Because of the way radon gas enters, houses with basements tend to be more at-risk. Testing for Radon Gas There are two ways you can test your home for the presence of radon gas. They include passive testing and active testing. Passive testing includes the use of charcoal liquid scintillation devices, alpha-track detectors, and charcoal canisters, which do not need power to work. They will need to be exposed to your home’s air for a certain amount of time to collect samples. Active testing devices require power and measure and record the levels of radon in your air using continuous working level monitors and continuous radon monitors. If the level of radon gas found in your home is at the level of four picocuries of radon per liter or higher, you need to install a system that will reduce those levels. If you haven’t tested your home for radon, then you should do so to help reduce the risk of getting lung cancer. For more information about lung cancer or for health tips in general, visit us at the Benefits Store today. #radongas #radongastesting

Cervical cancer is a serious disease that kills thousands of women every year. It’s estimated 13,240 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. and 4,170 women will die as a result of cervical cancer this year. Fortunately, more awareness of cervical cancer and its risks helped incidence rates drop by 50 percent between 1975 and 2014. To increase awareness even more, January was named Cervical Health Awareness Month. Cervical Cancer: Are You At-Risk? You should be aware of the following major risk factors linked to cervical cancer: History of cervical cancer – If you or someone you are directly related to (mother or sister) has had cervical cancer, then you’re more at-risk. HPV – HPV is typically a harmless and temporary infection, yet it’s also the most common cause of cervical cancer. Anyone can get an HPV infection through sex, and most people never know they’re infected. Oral birth control – Long-term oral birth control pill use can increase your risk of cervical cancer. Poor diet – A diet lacking in vitamins A, C, E, and carotene can increase your risk of cervical cancer, as will being overweight. Smoking – Women who smoke are twice as likely to get cervical women than those who do not. Three or more pregnancies – The risk of cervical cancer increases if you’ve had three or more full-term pregnancies. Getting Screened for Cervical Cancer You should make sure to get screened regularly for cervical cancer, especially if you are at-risk. You can get screened with a Pap test as well as with pelvic exams, colposcopies, and biopsies. If you are sexually active, then you should be tested for HPV as well. An HPV vaccine is available, although it needs to be administered before an infection occurs and only protects against the most common strains (there are 13 types that can lead to cervical cancer). Make sure you get screened for cervical cancer and visit The Benefits Store for more women’s health tips today. #cervicalcancerawareness #cervicalcancerscreening

Getting a good night’s rest is vital to having enough energy for the next day. But that’s not the only reason you should get plenty of sleep. Your body needs sleep in order to rest and remain healthy. However, a recent study revealed that not only is not getting enough sleep detrimental to the brain, getting too much sleep can be as well. The Sleep Study The study was published in the academic journal Sleep, and included an online survey completed by over 40,000 subjects around the world. In addition to the survey, they were asked to complete a series of tests of reasoning, memory, and verbal skills. According to the results, they found subjects who slept an average of 7 to eight hours every night performed better on these tests than those sleeping fewer or more hours. Other conclusions researchers were able to draw from the study included: Around 50 percent of the subjects revealed that they slept less than 6.3 hours a night. The amount of sleep associated with the best performance on the tests was the same for all ages. Short-term memory skills appeared to be unaffected by either too little or too much sleep. Reasoning and verbal skills were very much affected by the amount of sleep a subject had. Subjects who slept more than usual the night before taking the test did better than those who either slept their usual amount or slept less than usual. How Much Sleep Do I Need? Doctors have been saying for years that people should get at least 7 to eight hours of sleep every night, and it turns out they are right. Recently published research has indicated that less than seven hours or more than eight hours of sleep can affect the brain’s ability to function at an optimal level the next day. Make sure you get the proper amount of sleep every night. For more information about sleep or general health tips, be sure to visit us online at The Benefits Store today. #GettingEnoughSleep #howmuchsleep #sleep #SleepAwareness

Practicing mindfulness may seem like some sort of a new-age form of meditation, but it’s much more than just that. Mindfulness is a way to improve your health. You improve your mood by promoting positive thinking. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Explore familiar objects – Study objects you take for granted, such as your toothbrush. Really look at the details. Try to identify something about it you didn’t notice before. The more aware you become of your surroundings, the more you’ll appreciate them. Pay attention to your breathing – Sit in a quiet place where you can focus on your breathing. Pay attention as your breath moves in and out of your body. Notice how air goes in and out of your nostrils and how your abdomen expands and contracts with every breath. Try not to let your mind wander, focusing completely on how you are breathing. This is a form of meditation that can help reduce stress and anxiety by helping to relax your body. Sharpen your senses – Get something small to eat, like a raisin or a raspberry. Explore its texture, look at its color and detail, and smell it. Then taste it and chew it slowly and deliberately. Pay attention to how its taste changes. Avoid the impulse to chew fast and swallow it right away. This process can help you become more aware of what you’re eating and allow you to appreciate something that you usually take for granted. Pay attention to conversation – When you talk with others, sincerely focus on what they’re saying so you can better understand what they mean without judging them. Practicing mindfulness isn’t difficult, either. It’s the act of being intensely aware of what you’re feeling or sensing at every moment without interpreting or judging those feelings or senses. Here are four ways you can increase mindfulness: Use these four methods to increase your mindfulness so you can reduce your tension, worry, and depression. For more health tips on how to reduce stress and anxiety, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

It provides a financial safety net – If you experience a disability as a result of an illness or disability that prevents you from being able to work, long-term disability insurance can help to cover as much as 50 to 60 percent of your income. In fact, some policies will continue to cover you for as long as you can’t work due to your disability until you reach the age of 65. Long-term disabilities are common – A lot of people think they don’t need long-term disability insurance because they believe the chances of becoming disabled are slim. However, according to the Social Security Administration, as many as 25 percent of people who are currently 20 years old will end up being disabled before they reach their 67th birthday. Many employers do not provide long-term disability coverage – Many people simply take whatever insurance plan their employer offers. However, only 41 percent of employers offer long-term disability insurance, even though group plans only cost an average of $256 a year. Additionally, many employers are offering the coverage as a voluntary benefit, which means that employees must pay for this premium themselves. Benefits are tax-free – Employees that end up paying for long-term disability coverage themselves using after-tax dollars, their benefits will be tax-free should they ever need to use their coverage as a result of a disability. This can make voluntary coverage beneficial to employees, but unfortunately, many employees skip the extra cost thinking that the coverage isn’t needed. These are four reasons why long-term disability insurance is something that everyone should consider purchasing. For more advice or news concerning health insurance, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Long-Term Care Statistics The following are a few statistics that you should know about long-term care: According to the National Family Caregivers Association, roughly 78 percent of adults that receive care at home depend on friends and family as their only source of care. There are around 45 million informal caregivers in the U.S. and, according to the AARP, the typical caregiver is a woman that’s on average 46 years old. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, caregivers spend around 26 hours a week providing care for a loved one. The Center of American Progress revealed that 41 percent of family caregivers had to take a leave of absence to provide care for a loved one, with 37 percent having to switch from full-time to part-time. According to the Volunteers of America, 29 percent of caregivers use their own savings to provide their loved ones with the long-term care they need. Who Needs Long-Term Care? More and more people are requiring long-term care because they are living longer than before. A hundred years ago, the average American life expectancy was only 47. It’s now 78. As far as demographics go, more women need long-term care than men. Around 3 out of four assisted living residents are women and almost twice as many women over 65 are receiving long-term care at home than men. This is in part because women tend to live longer. The average length of the long-term care a person needs is around three years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Because of this, it’s important to plan for the possibility of long-term care to avoid financial problems. For more health information and advice, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #LongTermCare #LongTermCareAwarenessMonth

The Immune System Works Like a Butterfly A virus spreads by replicating itself within a host cell. The immune system has intricate mechanisms in place that help to defend against both common viruses and emerging viruses. Researchers studied the process in which RIG-I (an immune protein) searches for viral RNAs. Once the RIG-I finds a viral RNA, it activates the antiviral response of the cell in which it was found. A butterfly constantly flutters to and from anything that looks like a flower. Like a butterfly, the RIG-I immune receptor constantly investigates the RNAs in the cell in order to identify viral RNAs. Essentially, RIG-I (and butterflies) are involved in a continuous cycle of association and disassociation. Once the RIG-I discovers a viral RNA, it stops its search and signals its multiple molecules to gather on the viral RNA, which in turn, activates the antiviral response of the cell. RIG-I immune receptors are supposed to move on if they do not identify viral RNAs. However, an autoimmune disorder known as Singleton-Merton syndrome interrupts this process. Instead of moving on to other RNAs, mutated versions of the immune receptors remain and become trapped in the RNAs, causing abnormal immune responses. The research revealing the details of this process could potentially be used to leverage RIG-I immune receptors in both antiviral and cancer therapies. Stay up-to-date on all the latest health-related discoveries and news by visiting us at The Benefits Store today. #ImmuneProtein

The Rise in Cost of Generic Drugs Even generic heart medications and antibiotics are increasing in price, according to the USC study. More generic drugs are beginning to double in price year-over-year. In 2007, only one percent of generic drugs doubled in price from the previous year. In 2013, 4.39 percent of generic drugs doubled in price. One of the reasons there has been such a sharp spike is due to a new strategy employed by manufacturers to enter therapeutic areas that have little competition. They then raise their prices significantly. This has led to outrage amongst the public, especially about medicines that patients need to stay alive. It has led to many questions from critics concerning whether the generic drugs’ market is still effective. Generic drugs not only take up 90 percent of the prescriptions that are filled throughout the country, but they’ve historically been available at lower costs that even decreased over time. The study revealed that even though the prices for most generic drugs actually declined from 2007 to 2013, the number of generic drugs that doubled in price during that time period grew 400%. It was found that the cause behind these increases mostly had to do more with a lack of competition than a shortage in supply. Patients’ out-of-pocket costs have not increased as a direct result of increased generic drug costs. However, that could change if insurers respond to continually increasing prices by raising premiums. To stay up-to-date with all of the latest health news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #GenericDrugMarket