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The Impact of 2017-2018 Flu Season Among those that died as a result of the flu last year, 180 of them were children, most of whom were not vaccinated. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 40 percent of American children did not get vaccinated for the flu last year. The number of children between the ages of six months and four years that weren’t vaccinated increased as well. Besides the surprisingly high death toll, the flu caused serious enough problems that 900,000 people were hospitalized as a result. Although the flu season lasted from October to May, it was in November that the virus began to really have a huge effect. In fact, last year’s flu season was the first to be considered “high severity” for people of all ages. The Importance of a Flu Vaccination Getting a flu vaccination every year is the responsible thing to do. Not only will you protect yourself from getting the flu, but you’ll help prevent the virus from being spread to others. Some inoculated people may get the flu but it may not have a big impact on their health. Their bodies may be able to fight it off within a week or so. However, if they aren’t vaccinated, they could spread it to others and cause them more serious health problems. It’s particularly important for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and adults who have chronic health problems to get their flu shots. Because different strains of the flu spread every year, it’s also important that you get your flu shot before every flu season. Flu vaccinations are not lifetime vaccinations. For more information about the upcoming flu season or to stay on top of all health-related news, visit us at the Benefits Store today. #FluVaccination #FluVaccine

How Bacteria in the Nose Affects Cold Symptoms Researchers studied 152 participants by analyzing their nasal bacteria. The participants were studied before and after being infected with the same cold virus. It was determined that participants who had the most Staphylococcus bacteria in their noses suffered the most severe cold symptoms. The mix of bacteria in their noses was also linked to how much of the virus was in their body. This means that the background bacterial pattern in the participants’ noses influenced how they reacted to the virus and how sick they got. While these findings are certainly interesting, they don’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship between the type of bacteria in a person’s nose and the severity of symptoms. This is because there are also environmental characteristics that can influence the severity of cold symptoms. For example, you could be exposed to pollution or have certain allergies that could differentiate your symptoms. Can Probiotics Lessen Cold Symptoms? During the study, participants were given probiotics to determine whether beneficial bacteria could help reduce their cold symptoms or affect the composition of the bacteria in their noses. According to the results, the probiotics had no effect on either the symptoms or the bacteria, nor did it affect the microbiomes in the stomach. Even though the probiotics didn’t work, understanding the potential link between nasal bacteria and cold symptoms could lead to improved cold relief medications. The researchers are currently considering using probiotics in a nasal spray, a more direct approach that could have a positive effect. Stay up-to-date on all of the latest health-related news, especially during the flu season. Visit us at The Benefits Store today. #coldsymptoms

Be Wary of the Dog Flu People with dogs should be careful about where they take them during flu season. Because the dog flu can easily spread from one dog to another through barks, coughs and sneezes, taking a pet to areas like dog parks, doggie daycares and kennels can increase the risk of exposure to the dog flu. Dog flu is a serious respiratory illness, but there are medications that can be prescribed to help your dog recover. Rest and good nutrition will be beneficial as well. However, dog flu can sometimes be difficult to identify because the symptoms are so similar to kennel cough. Some of the common signs of dog flu include a fever, green discharge from the eyes and nose, a cough that doesn’t go away, lethargy and a decrease in appetite. When dogs get the flu, they should be kept away from other dogs as well as animals in general, since the H3N2 virus can spread among all kinds of animals. While some dog owners won’t want to keep their pets away from the dog park just because it’s flu season, they should be sure to keep their dogs at home if they exhibit any symptoms. Otherwise, there’s a risk that if your dog does have the dog flu, it will spread it to other dogs. Additionally, dogs should also be protected from humans who have the flu, since dogs can contract human strains of the flu. Everyone should make an effort to take care of themselves during the flu season, but they shouldn’t forget about their dogs. For all the latest health news, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #DogFlu

The Importance of Eye Sports Safety While you’ll want to do everything you can to prevent injuries such as broken bones, those will often heal with time. An eye injury can potentially be permanent and can result in a permanent disability that can greatly compromise your quality of life. It’s why you should take extra precautions to protect against fractured eye sockets, scratched corneas, and vision loss while playing sports. All it takes is a wayward baseball or tennis ball, or even a flailing elbow or finger, to cause a serious eye injury. Types of Sports Safety Equipment for the Eyes There are different types of sports safety equipment to protect the eyes depending on the sport. The following are a few examples of the types of gear you should wear for each sport to help protect your eyes: Football – For football, you should wear a full face guard along with an eye guard. Football is a full-contact sport, which means that you could easily injure your eyes during a tackle. Hockey – Not only is hockey a full-contact sport, a fast-moving puck can easily fracture an eye socket, which is why you should wear a wire or polycarbonate mask. Tennis – For tennis, goggles will help protect against wayward tennis balls. Basketball – It’s not uncommon to get hit with a flailing hand or elbow while playing basketball, so wear goggles. Baseball – When batting, you should wear a face guard along with goggles or eye guards to protect against wayward pitches. Use sports safety equipment to protect your eyes. For more physical safety tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #SportsSafety

How Observational Learning Works Everything you learn on a day-to-day basis is through observation. This is because learning through experience isn’t always possible. For example, learning what not to eat because it’s poisonous and will kill you is not something you can learn through experience, but only through observation. The brain circuit responsible for observational learning is different from the network that’s used to learn from firsthand experiences. The observational learning circuit of the brain actually relies on information from a part of the brain that’s responsible for interpreting social cues. This circuit was discovered as a result of brain scanning studies. Previous studies identified two parts of the brain known as the ACC (Anterior Cingulate Cortex) and the BLA (Basolateral Amygdala) that became active when an individual was watching someone else. It’s the ACC that helps to interpret social cues, while the BLA helps the individual process emotions. The way they work together to create observational learning was discovered through studies performed using mice. The reaction of mice watching other mice receive shocks in response to certain cues was recorded. The mice that did not receive the shock would still develop fear when confronted with that same cue later on. Essentially, researchers found that the ACC becomes more active when you experience something happening to someone else. The information gathered by the ACC is sent to the BLA, which then forms an association between the cue and what happened. Observational learning is one of the main ways that we learn, and researchers recently figured out what makes observational learning possible within our brains. For all the latest scientific news and updates, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #ObservationalLearning

Sleeping on your stomach is more likely to cause you to have a restless night sleep. Not only can it be difficult to get the rest you need, but the stomach sleep position can cause strain to both your neck and lower back. Sleeping on your back can cause back pain, especially if you already have back issues. It can also aggravate any issues you might have with sleep apnea or snoring. If you sleep on your stomach but with your arms wrapped around a pillow below your head, then according to some research, you are likely to have an outgoing and sociable personality. Unfortunately, you may not be as open to criticism as others. If you sleep with your arms down and close to your body, then you’re likely to have a quieter personality. If you sleep with your arms and legs spread out, then you’re probably a good listener and are less likely to want to be the center of attention. If you sleep in a fetal position, then your personality is probably going to be more on the friendly and sensitive side. The fetal position is also the most common position for women to sleep in and they are twice as likely to sleep this way than men. If you sleep on your side but with your arms out in front of you, then research shows that you’re likely to be openminded but stubborn about changing your mind once you’ve come to a decision. These are seven facts about sleep positions that you probably didn’t know about. Find out more about how sleeping can affect your health and for health advice in general, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #SleepPositions

In addition to ensuring you and your family get properly vaccinated, don’t forget to do the same for your pets. People forget that their pets are susceptible to illness as well. Use August to make sure their vaccinations are current. To help improve awareness of pet vaccinations, here are four facts about pet vaccination you should know: Pet vaccines don’t protect pets; they protect people as well. For example, rabies kills more than 55,000 people around the world every year. If your pets become infected, rabies is one of the diseases they can spread to your family. You will want to get your pets vaccinated against this deadly disease. Diseases once killed thousands of pets every year. Vaccinations helped nullify the impact these diseases had – but they haven’t necessarily died out. Without proper vaccinations, pets are still susceptible to many of the diseases that may not be as prevalent anymore. Pets are required to get vaccinated at a young age. If you have puppies or kittens, you should bring them to the vet to determine when they need their shots. Throughout the first six months, puppies will need to be vaccinated for distemper, measles, parainfluenza, DHPP, and rabies. Kittens will need shots for distemper, rabies, and feline leukemia. Both dogs and cats need regular booster shots every one to three years depending on the vaccine. For example, rabies shots should be administered every year. Rabies is often fatal for dogs, which is why it’s so important to keep to their vaccination schedule. These are a few important facts about pet vaccinations that you should keep in mind so you’ll remember to stick to your pet’s vaccination schedule. For more general advice about the health of your pets and your family, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #PetVaccination

Increasing Eye Problems According to a study done in 2009 by the National Eye Institute, nearsightedness has increased significantly since the 1980s. From 1979 to 2009, nearsightedness among Americans increased over 66 percent. Children are more at risk of developing eye problems in this day and age due to the prevalence of digital screens; computers, tablets, smartphones, portable video game systems… The reasons constant exposure to these screens could hurt their eyesight is because they emit high-energy visible blue light, which can damage the retinal tissue over the long-term. Improving Eye Safety It’s important that you pay attention to the eye safety of your children since they typically don’t keep track of their time staring at a screen. They are also very adaptable; they may not notice that their eyesight is worsening. There are a few ways you can help protect the health of your children’s eyes. First of all, monitor how often they use digital screens. Limit their recreational use. You should get them into the habit of taking frequent breaks. If they are in front of the computer doing homework for hours, encourage them to get up for five or ten minutes after every hour. You should also make sure that they get a professional eye exam at the age of six months, three years, and five years. If you see that they are having issues, such as constant squinting or eye-rubbing, schedule a checkup as soon as possible. For more health advice, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Hepatitis C, which is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, is by far the most dangerous. In 2016, there were 3,000 reported cases in the U.S. However, the CDC estimates that there may have been as many as 41,000 total cases. It’s become an emerging public health threat, which is why May was named Hepatitis Awareness Month. What Is Hepatitis C? Although Hepatitis C can be incredibly dangerous, it can be cured. The CDC estimates that over 3.5 million Americans have the disease and don’t even realize it. In fact, people can be infected for more than three decades without knowing, which is why the disease is often referred to as “the silent epidemic.” Roughly 70 to 80 percent of the people that catch it won’t experience any symptoms. Symptoms may be limited to feeling nausea or fatigue. Getting tested for it is important for these very reasons. Baby Boomers, in particular, should get tested since they are five times more likely to have it than other generations. Unfortunately, there’s no vaccine that will effectively prevent it because there are so many different strains of it. However, anyone that has contracted this type can take medication that will cure it. In fact, there is a 95 percent chance that the drugs developed to cure Hepatitis C will cure you completely, thereby eliminating the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis. There are many steps you can take to help prevent it as well, including avoiding risky behaviors, such as sharing needles or personal items that might have blood on them. Even though there is a cure for the disease, many people are living with the disease and don’t realize it. Be sure to get checked this year. For more health news, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

The Impact of Beach Pollution Plastic waste breaks down at an extremely slow rate. For example, a plastic bottle that enters the ocean in 1986 won’t decompose until 2436. That’s still much faster than the length of time it takes for a glass bottle to decompose – it’s estimated a glass bottle that enters the ocean will take over a thousand years to begin decomposing. Not only are we filling the ocean with litter, but plastic tends to attract and concentrate other pollutants found in the seawater. This poses a serious contamination risk to the surrounding sea life and could affect human life as well. Additionally, trash in the ocean can cause entanglement and suffocation to sea life. The Benefits of a Beach Cleanup The following are two of the main reasons you should not only clean up after yourself when going to the beach, but also contribute to an organized beach cleanup: Keep the ocean clean – By keeping the beaches clean, less trash is going to end up in the water, which will result in fewer contaminants that could endanger local sea life. Help the local economy – By helping to clean up the beaches, you help to maintain their natural splendor, which can help keep the beaches attractive. The more attractive the beach remains, the more likely tourists will continue to visit, thereby helping boost the local economy. If you’re planning to enjoy the beaches this summer, then remember that July is Clean Beaches Month. Be sure to do your part by keeping the beaches clean or by joining a beach cleanup effort. For the latest summer-related news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Cleanbeaches

1. Pay attention to your junk food cravings When you think you’re having a craving for a certain junk food, it may just be your body telling you that you need something specific. For example, if your body needs sugar, you may just automatically think about your favorite sugary treat. Try to eat a healthy alternative, such as fruit, that contains healthier sugars that your body needs. 2. Indulge once in a while When someone breaks their diet by indulging in a junk food, they often give up on their diet altogether, thinking that it’s hopeless. However, it’s okay to indulge once in a while. Instead of eliminating junk food altogether, try eating it less frequently at first. When you eat junk food less frequently instead of stopping altogether, you’ll have fewer cravings to deal with, making it easier to eventually cut out of your diet altogether. 3. Use methods of distraction If you begin to feel a junk food craving, find an activity that will distract your mind. For example, playing video games for five minutes can help you forget about the junk food you were just thinking about. 4. Create an end-of-the-meal trigger End your meals with a certain habit, such as drinking a cup of tea. Your body will begin associating tea with the end of a meal, which means that when you have a craving, you could help to get rid of it by drinking a cup of tea. Use these four steps to learn how to deal with those junk food cravings, thereby allowing you to achieve your health goals. For more health tips or for assistance finding a health plan that best suits your needs, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #JunkFoodCravings

Depression Rates Among Americans According to the National Center for Health Statistics, American depression rates have not grown worse over the past ten years, there appear to be large disparities in those who do suffer from depression. In total, roughly eight percent of all Americans are reportedly depressed during any given two-week period. According to studies performed over a three-year period between 2013 and 2016, it was found that roughly 5.5 percent of American men experienced symptoms of depression. However, this number was almost twice as large for American women at 10.4 percent. It was also found that depression rates differed widely depending on the ethnicity and income level of a person. For example: 3.1 percent of Non-Hispanic Asian adults experienced depression 8.2 percent of Hispanic adults experienced depression 7.9 percent of non-Hispanic white adults experienced depression 9.2 percent of non-Hispanic black adults experienced depression According to the study, people with lower incomes were also more likely to experience symptoms of depression. Around 16 percent of those who live below the federal poverty level reported signs of depression, while only 3.5 percent of people living at 400 percent of the federal poverty level reported symptoms. The demographic least likely to experience depression was revealed to be men earning high incomes. Only 2.3 percent of this group experienced feelings of depression during the study period. There are many symptoms of depression, including sadness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, feelings of guilt, feelings of worthlessness, decreased energy, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite and more. Depression affects all walks of life, but it affects some groups more than others, especially when comparing the depression rate of women to men. For more health tips concerning depression or for help finding a health insurance plan that will benefit you and your family most, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store. #DepressionRates