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There are several types of skin cancer – Melanoma is the skin cancer that most are familiar with, but it’s not the most common (although it is the most likely to grow and spread). The other main types of skin cancer include Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Artificial tanning can increase the risk of skin cancer – According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, using a tanning bed can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 20 percent. This is because tanning beds often use UVA rays, which degenerate collagen and are more oncogenic. Using suntan lotion can help prevent skin cancer – Overexposure to the sun’s rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, which is why you should wear suntan lotion when you plan on spending time outside. You should get an SPF 50 product for the best results. Skin cancer is a genetic condition – Overexposure to the sun will increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Having a history of skin cancer in your family also increases your risk. You’re much more likely to develop it if your parents or siblings had or have melanoma, which means that you should be particularly careful when going out into the sun. For more information on skin cancer or about getting the proper health insurance, contact us at The Benefits Store. #SkinCancer

3D Printing on Skin University of Minnesota researchers were recently able to print electronics on a human hand for the first time using a basic 3D printer that cost less than $400, but the printer was slightly customized. The results were recently published in the academic journal Advanced Materials. In addition to successfully printing electronics onto a hand, the team was also able to print biological cells onto the skin cell of a mouse. Another innovation made by the team in customizing their printer is the ability to accommodate minor movements made by the body during the printing process. They were able to prevent these movements from disturbing the printing process by putting temporary markers on the skin and then scanning the skin, allowing the printer’s computer vision to adjust to any movements in real time. The way in which electronics were printed on a hand is quite innovative. A specialized ink consisting of silver flakes was used that could cure and conduct at room temperature, thereby preventing potential burns. Once printed, the electronic device could simply be peeled off. The Potential of 3D Printing on Skin This new breakthrough in 3D printing has a ton of potential! For example, soldiers could print chemical sensors onto their hands in the middle of the battlefield using a portable 3D printer. The technique could also be used to print cells onto the skin of patients who are suffering from skin diseases. 3D printing technology continues to advance at a rapid pace as new innovations are revealed every year. Find out more about how 3D printing can impact your life by keeping up with the latest health news at The Benefits Store today. #3DPrintingonSkin

Supervise children – Obviously, you should never allow kids to play with fireworks. However, it’s not uncommon for children to play with sparklers. While they seem relatively harmless, sparklers can injure youngsters. Make sure there are adults present to supervise when children handle sparklers. Only use legal fireworks – Although fireworks can be legally purchased in California, they must have a state fire marshal-registered seal. Have a bucket of water nearby – If you’re lighting fireworks, make sure you have a bucket full of water or a water hose nearby. If a fire breaks out, you should be able to immediately douse it. Be careful lighting fireworks – When lighting fireworks’ fuses, make sure you are not standing above other fireworks. Once lit, retreat to a safe distance. When lighting fireworks, also ensure there is nothing flammable nearby, like woodpiles. Don’t relight fireworks – Any fireworks that didn’t torch the first time shouldn’t be relit. It means they are malfunctioning and relighting could be dangerous. Douse used fireworks – Once your fireworks have burned out, douse them completely in water before you throw them away. If you don’t, they could catch fire in your trash. These are important firework safety tips that you should follow this Fourth of July. For more advice on staying safe this summer, visit The Benefits Store today. #FireworkSafety

Wear light clothing – Wear clothing that’s lightweight and loose-fitting to give your body a chance to breathe. Stay indoors – When it’s particularly hot out, make sure to stay indoors where it’s air-conditioned. If you’re outside and you begin feeling unwell because of how hot it is, duck into a place that has AC, such as a nearby store. Don’t leave anyone in the car – The car can get incredibly hot inside when the air conditioning’s turned off. Do not leave pets, kids, or older adults in the car, even if you’re only leaving temporarily. Stay hydrated – Drink lots of water. Your body needs water to keep itself cool and to prevent overheating. Check daily weather forecasts – You can avoid extreme heat by regularly checking local weather forecasts. Limit the activities you do outside to times it won’t be as hot, such as mornings or in the evenings. If you or someone you’re with suffers from a stroke as a result of the heat, call 911 immediately and move him/her to a cool place. Do not him/her anything to drink. Use cool, moist cloths to try to lower their temperature. If they have symptoms of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, fast/weak pulse, dizziness, and/or nausea), move them to a cool place and help him/her sip water. Get medical help if he or she vomits or faints. Keep these tips in mind in case of extreme heat this summer and visit us at The Benefits Store today for more summer safety tips! #extremeheat

Could DNA Testing Be Problematic? DNA testing services have gained popularity recently as people are attempting to trace their genetic history and/or find long-lost relatives. However, it’s gotten so advanced police detectives can now mine DNA data in order to assist in criminal cases. Joseph James DeAngelo, who is 72 years old, was recently arrested as a suspect in the Golden State Killer case. The Golden State Killer has been linked with over 50 rapes and 12 murders over the course of a decade, from 1976 to 1986. But the case went cold decades ago. DeAngelo was found after detectives used a public genealogy database and everyone applauds his capture after decades of crime; his arrest allows victims’ family members closure. However, concerns have been raised concerning privacy and ethics. The DNA of the Golden State Killer was found from a sample left at one of the crime scenes. Police were able to find a match by using GEDmatch, a popular genealogy website. The way GEDmatch works: Customers can upload their DNA profiles to find a match, and customers have to certify the DNA they are submitting is their own. The matches found in the Golden State Killer case were relatives of the suspect, but the manner in which DeAngelo was finally tracked down is still under debate. DNA testing can be very effective at helping police solve crimes, but some people have ethical concerns about the methodology. To keep up with all the latest health-related news or to find out more about DNA testing, visit The Benefits Store. #DNATesting

Why You Should Consider Disability Insurance Around 50 percent of American workers have disability coverage included in their employee benefits. However, the other half must purchase coverage individually or through a voluntary benefits plan in the workplace. Regular health insurance may cover your medical bills, but Social Security disability benefits are only for long-term incapacities. Additionally, workers’ compensation will only help if you were injured or became ill at work. It’s estimated that around six percent of American workers experience short-term disabilities which can include injuries, illnesses, and pregnancies. According to a report published by Bankrate last year, more than 60 percent of Americans can’t even afford an unexpected bill of $500, which means that without a job, few people would likely be able to afford the basic costs of living. What is Disability Insurance? Disability insurance can help protect you financially if you miss work due to ill health or injury. A short-term disability insurance plan will protect workers’ incomes if they miss work between three days and six months as a result of a disability. Long-term disability insurance plans will cover periods of time between 2-10 years (or until retirement age). Most short-term disability insurance plans will cover around 60% to 70% of your income, while long-term plans cover 40-70 percent. However, you should be aware that most plans have waiting periods, which means that a certain time could lapse before you are paid. Disability insurance can help protect you financially in case you’re forced to miss work for an extended time due to illness, injury or pregnancy. For help finding the right disability insurance plan, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

A New Form of Light A team of scientists from Harvard University, MIT, and other locations were recently able to demonstrate that photons can be made to interact. They published research in the Science journal describing observations of three photons interacting to stick together and creating a new form of light. These observations were made during an experiment in which a weak laser beam was shone through a cloud of rubidium atoms. These rubidium atoms were cooled down to just above absolute zero and practically freezing them to a standstill. However, instead of shining through the cloud as single, randomly spaced photons like one would expect, they were bound together in either pairs or triplets. Additionally, the team realized the photons that were bound together had acquired a small portion of an electron’s mass, which is unique because photons don’t typically have mass. As a result, they were traveling 100,000 times slower than normal photons do. Additionally, the phase of each photon was measured to see how strongly they were interacting. They found that the photons that bound together weren’t just acting independently, but strongly together as well. These observations show that photons can be made to interact in different ways and that, as a result, they could be used to perform incredibly fast and complex quantum computations. Discovering that photons can be made to interact with one another opens up all kinds of opportunities. However, the team is taking it one step at a time. The next experiment will be to discover other ways that photons can interact or if they can repel one another. For the latest science news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #NewTypeofLight #Photons

Ask if it’s time for recommended screening tests – There are a number of screening tests that are recommended based on a person’s general health, lifestyle, age, and family history. Ask your healthcare provider if there are any vaccinations, tests, or follow-up exams that you should schedule. Some of these vaccinations and tests may include STD screenings, tetanus shots, eye checks, pap tests, mammograms, or blood pressure tests. Record any health issues – Before going to your scheduled checkup, write down all health issues you’re concerned about, no matter how minor they may be. For example, note any changes in your eating habits, energy levels, menstrual cycle, weight, and more. Be completely honest with your doctor. In some cases, these issues are isolated health issues with which your doctor can help, but in other cases, they could be indicative of problems that need to be diagnosed. Review family medical history – Find out if any of your close relatives have been diagnosed with any new diseases or conditions. You’ll want to let your doctor know about these new health issues because they could influence your risk of developing certain conditions. Make sure that you’re aware of any conditions or health problems your immediate family has had in the past. For example, knowing what kind of health problems your grandparents may have had can be quite helpful for your doctor to know. It’s important you schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure that you remain healthy no matter how old you are. For more information concerning women’s health or to find an insurance plan that best suits your needs, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #WomensHealth

How Imprinting Affects Getting the Flu Generally speaking, adults between the age of 50 and 64 have the same hospitalization rate as children under the age of four. This year, Baby Boomers have had a higher hospitalization rate than younger children, and this can be traced back to the phenomenon of imprinting. Imprinting refers to how the immune system reacts to the first flu virus to which it’s exposed. If it’s exposed to a weaker strain, then it may have trouble later in the individual’s life when they come into contact with stronger strains. The flu virus has a protein called hemagglutinin on the surface. When the hemagglutinin on newer strains is similar to the first virus the immune system encountered, the immune system will have an easier time producing antibodies and will be able to do so more quickly once it detects the resemblance of the proteins. One of the reasons that Baby Boomers are getting sicker this year is because of the strain of flu that many of them first encountered. In 1968, there was a flu pandemic in which the virus had a very specific type of protein called H3 on the surface. Anyone born before that year was not imprinted with this strain. This year, the most prevalent strain is H3N2. Those who were imprinted with an H3 strain can more easily fight off the virus than those who weren’t, which is why so many Baby Boomers have been negatively affected. The first strain of flu you encounter can affect how you deal with new strains every year. Find out more about fighting the flu by visiting us at The Benefits Store today. #GettingtheFlu

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

Good sleep reduces inflammation – People who sleep less than six hours every night are more likely to have higher levels of C-reactive protein. This protein is associated with a higher level of heart attack risk. Additionally, they are more likely to have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins linked to diabetes, arthritis, stroke and heart disease. Good sleep reduces stress – Individuals who get a good night’s sleep are less likely to feel stressed out the next day. By reducing stress levels, a person will help to improve their blood pressure, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Good sleep improves memory – Studies have shown that people who manage to get a good night’s rest improve their ability to remember. This is because the brain consolidates and strengthens memories during sleep. Good sleep helps to maintain a healthy weight – Studies have shown that people are more likely to feel hungry when they get less sleep. This is because sleep and metabolism are both controlled by the same areas of the brain. When a person gets sleepy, there are certain hormones that go up as a result, which, in turn, also increases the appetite. Good sleep improves energy levels – Getting a good night’s rest allows for better energy the next day, making it easier for people to be productive. Energy levels also have a big impact on a person’s mood throughout the day. These are some of the health benefits of getting enough sleep at night. To ensure you are able to stay healthy, visit us at The Benefits Store to learn more about choosing the right health insurance plan for you and your family. #GettingEnoughSleep #SleepAwareness

Diabetes is caused by obesity – Obesity may be a factor in triggering diabetes onset at a certain age, but it’s not the direct cause of diabetes. There are many other factors that lead to the development of the condition. Otherwise, the American diabetes rate, which is less than 10 percent, would be a lot closer to the obesity rate, which hovers around 50 percent. If you have diabetes, then you can’t eat sugar – Diabetes is a condition in which the body has trouble dealing with high levels of sugar; however, this doesn’t mean that patients can’t have any sugar at all. The amount of sugar they can consume depends on what kinds of medications they are on, but if consumed in moderation, sugar is not something they have to avoid completely. The use of insulin causes weight gain – This common misconception spread because weight gain can happen once a patient begins using insulin – but it’s not a result of the insulin. When blood sugar levels rise, glucose is excreted in a person’s urine. This causes some of the calories they’ve consumed to be eliminated. Once the patient begins using insulin, those calories remain in the body, which means that they may gain weight as a result of how many calories they are consuming. Avoid these common misconceptions and make sure to eat healthily, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight to reduce the risks of diabetes. Whether you have been diagnosed with diabetes or not, it’s important that you have a good health insurance plan to take care of all your healthcare needs. Be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today to find the right California health insurance plan for you. #DiabetesAwareness #DiabetesPrevention