Apple Watch and Fitbit Can Diagnose Hypertension and Sleep Apnea Cardiogram and the UCSF Health Lab recently published a study revealing that wearables, such as Apple Watch and Fitbit, are surprisingly accurate when it comes to diagnosing hypertension and sleep apnea. In fact, research revealed that wearables diagnose hypertension with 82 percent accuracy and sleep apnea with ninety percent accuracy. Over 6,000 subjects were tested over the course of the study. Of the subjects, thirty-seven percent had hypertension and 17 percent had sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person’s breathing to be regularly disrupted while asleep. Hypertension is the condition of having high blood pressure. These two conditions affect millions of Americans. Many Americans don’t even realize they have either of these conditions; it’s estimated by the American Sleep Apnea Association over 80 percent of Americans who suffer from sleep apnea don’t realize it. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), roughly 75 million Americans suffer from hypertension, which accounts for around twenty-nine percent of the U.S. population. Apple and Fitbit are both looking into expanding their medical research into hypertension and sleep apnea as well as abnormal heart rhythms. They realize their wearables could provide an easy and effective way for individuals to recognize there is something wrong with their bodies and to provide an accurate diagnosis of those conditions. Realizing something is wrong as a result of a reading provided from a wearable could encourage people to visit their doctors, which, in turn, could help to save lives. It turns out that the Apple Watch and Fitbit could be incredibly beneficial in helping to diagnose certain conditions, such as sleep apnea and hypertension. For all the latest health news, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #AppleWatchandFitbit

The Left Brain vs. Right Brain Study The PLOS One journal published a study in 2013 that focused on brain-side dominance. The study lasted two years and involved over 1,000 subjects. The brains of these subjects were carefully studied in search of differences between the right and left brain hemispheres. The research revealed that there were no major differences. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t differences between the left side and the right side of the brain. They’re also not completely different from each other. In fact, many of the processes that take place on one side also take place on the other side. In fact, according to Dr. Harold Wolff, a renowned brain scientist in the 20th century, everything about the brain that makes an individual human exists on both the left side and the right side of the brain. One of the reasons that the idea that each side of the brain was different originated from the findings of two neuroscientists in the 19th century. They found that people who struggled with language processing often had damage to certain parts of their left sides of the brain. Not to mention that the book, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” helped popularize the idea of left brain vs. right brain dominance. Although people often say “left brain vs. right brain” to describe whether they are more creative or logical, the differences between the two hemispheres of the brain are not that substantial. To learn more about how your brain can affect your health, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

5 Holiday Light and Christmas Tree Safety Tips The following are a few safety tips that you should keep in mind when setting up holidays lights or a Christmas tree: Check your lights for damage – Always check your lights for broken or cracked sockets, loose connections or wires that are frayed or bare. Strings of holiday lights that are damaged are more likely to pose a potential fire hazard if they short. If they’re damaged, just throw them away. Be careful when plugging in your lights – First of all, never connect more than three strands of incandescent holiday lights together. If you’re using extension cords, make sure that each cord is rated for its intended use and in good condition. Be careful using holiday lights outside – Make sure your holiday lights are certified for outdoor use. Not all holiday lights are. If they are, make sure you only plug them into a GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet, which will automatically shut off the flow of electricity if there is a short, which can prevent potential electrical fires from breaking out. Don’t put your Christmas tree near a heat source – Avoid putting your tree near fireplaces, candles, radiators, and vents where the heat or flames could cause the branches to catch fire. Make sure your tree isn’t blocking an exit – Don’t put the tree up near a doorway. This could obstruct a potential exit that you may need in the event of a fire. If you’re planning to put up a Christmas tree or decorating with holiday lights this holiday season, then make sure you keep these safety tips in mind. Learn about more safety tips throughout the year by continuing to visit us at The Benefits Store.

Brianna Baby Doll – This doll may seem harmless, but the clothing and ponytail holders, which are removable, present choking hazards to smaller children. The doll is marketed to children 18 months and older, which means that this can be a serious safety risk. Hand Fidgetz Spinners – These novelty items have become quite popular over the past year. They were always supposed to be novelty items and not toys. Despite this, they are still sold in a lot of toy aisles and are popular among kids. The problem is, they contain high levels of lead and have been known to overheat while charging, both of which are safety risks. Nerf Zombie Strike Deadbolt Crossbow – Nerf guns are a lot of fun for older children, but they can still pose an injury risk. Even though this particular nerf toy shoots toy arrows that are soft and shouldn’t hurt, they are launched with such force that they could still potentially cause injuries to the eye or face. Pull Along Polly – This toy is meant for playpens or cribs. However, its cord is 19 inches long, which is much longer than the industry safety standard of 12 inches and can pose a strangulation hazard. Slackers Slackline Classic Series Kit – Although this toy may seem like a ton of fun for children – and is marketed towards kids of all ages – even the label on the kit warns that there is a serious safety risk present as a result of potential strangulation or fall-related injuries. These are some of the holiday toys you should avoid this year. To keep up-to-date with all the latest health-related news, be sure to keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #holidaytoys

The study revealed that oral semaglutide improved the health of patients with Type 2 diabetes. When taken once a day, the pill helped to lower HbA1c levels (a measurement of blood glucose) by upwards of 1.9 percent over a three month period, while also helping aid in weight loss. The discovery could be very beneficial, as Type 2 diabetes continues to be a real problem that can result in serious complications; not to mention the fact that more people seem to be developing Type 2 diabetes throughout the state of California. The fact that the medication can be taken orally is also a huge benefit, as many people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes have issues injecting themselves. There are other drugs that can be used to treat Type 2 diabetes; however, many of these drugs have undesirable side effects, such as the development of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and unwanted weight gain. According to the study, 90 percent of the subjects who took oral semaglutide managed to achieve the desired blood sugar levels, while 71 percent of the subjects even lost weight. According to an endocrinologist at the Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, semaglutide and other drugs found in its class are highly recommended for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, but aren’t often used because they generally need to be administered via injection, something that can be difficult to do regularly on one’s own. If such medications were to be made available through a pill, such as oral semaglutide, then it could change the way diabetes is treated for the better. Oral semaglutide promises to be an easier and more effective way to treat Type 2 diabetes, according to recent studies. To keep up with all of the latest advancements in diabetes medication as well as with other health news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #DiabetesTreatment

Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com The second biggest health insurance company in the country, Anthem Blue Cross, recently proposed raising its rates, but after regulators in the state of California questioned their rationale for doing so, Anthem decided to reduce two of its planned premium increases for 2018. Premiums will be reduced by around $114 million according to state officials. Anthem Lowers Premium Hikes One of the reasons Anthem was planning a premium increase was to counter future medical cost estimates, which included the predicted 30 percent increase in pharmacy expenses in the individual market. This prediction was double the estimates of two other large insurance companies and didn’t match national industry trends, which is why it was challenged by the California Department of Managed Health Care. Because their estimates were challenged, Anthem decided to reduce their insurance rate increase for the upcoming year by three percentage points for individuals and families. However, the increase in rates from this year to the next is still 37.3 percent, which is the second-highest increase among 11 insurers that participate in the Covered California exchange. They also reduced its planned rate increase for small businesses by almost 50 percent to only 2.5 percent. Helping to Lower Premium Hikes The Department of Managed Health Care and an elected insurance commissioner are the two insurance regulators in the state of California. While they can be effective in pressuring insurance companies to lower their rates, as evidenced by Anthem’s rate hike reductions, they do not have the authority to completely block rate increases. According to Anthem, they regularly work with regulators in order to revisit their estimates and rates when more data becomes available. Regulators that reviewed the company’s small-group rates revealed that Anthem updated their projection for medical spending, which is what resulted in their ability to reduce their planned premium increase. The insurance market can be a tricky one to follow, but fortunately, California keeps close track of insurers to make sure that consumers receive high-quality insurance at fair rates. For more health insurance news and updates, be sure to keep up with The Benefits Store.

The Great American Smokeout began in the 1970s – The event has been going on for almost five decades and started out back when smoking was incredibly common and not everybody was aware of the health risks of smoking. The idea originated in 1970 when people were asked to quit smoking on a specific day and to donate the money that they would have used on cigarettes on a high school scholarship fund in Massachusetts instead. The event has helped promote anti-smoking laws – The event’s success in promoting the dangers of smoking as well as promoting quitting smoking has led to numerous landmarks in the areas of environment, research and policy in regards to smoking. Over the course of the almost five decades that the event has gone on, workplace smoking restrictions were passed, smoking bans on buses and flights were passed, tobacco companies were sued over false advertising and the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law. The Great American Smokeout is still needed – Even though the dangers of smoking are widely known, one out of five American adults still smoke cigarettes. Not to mention that 32 percent of all cancer deaths are caused by smoking. The Great American Smokeout can be just what a smoker needs to finally give up smoking. Giving up smoking for a day can be beneficial – Even smokers who stop smoking just for the Great American Smokeout will experience a drop in heart rate, blood pressure and carbon monoxide levels in their blood. To keep up with all the latest health-related news, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Using Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs to Protect Against Disease The recent research results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists were using zebrafish for their study and plan to use the approach they applied to different model organisms, such as mice. The study highlights several possible ways to protect people who are more vulnerable to certain pathogens like the Salmonella bacteria, which use cholesterol to infect host cells. The study not only revealed new information on potential ways to fight disease, but has also resulted in a blueprint for combining various techniques to help researchers uncover why some individuals are more likely to contract certain diseases than others. One of the most famous examples of this is Typhoid Mary, an Irish immigrant that spread typhoid fever to over 50 people throughout New York City but was immune to the disease herself. To determine why this was the case, the scientists used hundreds of cell lines from healthy subjects and exposed them to the same dose of Salmonella typhi. They visually tagged the bacteria and then searched for genetic differences to identify cells which had higher rates of bacterial invasion. This allowed them to identify a single nucleotide of DNA in the VAC14 gene, which was determined to be associated with the level of bacterial invasion in cells. When they knocked out this gene, they found the cells were invaded more effectively by the bacteria. Additionally, they found cells that were more susceptible to infection had higher levels of cholesterol. New findings revealing that higher levels of cholesterol could increase the risk of disease could mean that cholesterol-lowering drugs may protect against certain diseases. For the latest health news, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

The Health Benefits of Tomatoes and Spinach Raw tomatoes and spinach are incredibly beneficial to your health! Tomatoes, which are actually a fruit and not a vegetable, are packed with lycopene, which is an antioxidant that has been linked to helping reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and potassium. The flavonoids found in spinach are a type of antioxidant that prevents cholesterol from oxidizing, and that protects the body from free radicals. The folate in spinach is also great for your cardiovascular system, while the abundance amount of magnesium can help lower blood pressure. Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamin B6, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese, calcium, protein and iron. Is Cooked Healthier? Tomatoes and Spinach When cooking tomatoes and spinach, it’s a win-lose situation regarding nutrients. Some of the more water-soluble nutrients, such as vitamin C and vitamin B, will be expelled from both tomatoes and spinach if they are boiled. If you’re making a soup, these nutrients will remain in the stock. Vitamin levels will, however, be lowered the longer they are exposed to heat. Some nutrient levels may increase when cooking tomatoes and spinach. For example, although the amount of vitamin C in tomatoes decreases as a result of cooking, the levels that antioxidants will be absorbed by the body could increase. Additionally, cooking spinach may decrease the amount of fiber, but it will increase the level of beta-carotene that can be absorbed when it’s cooked rather than eaten raw. For more advice on eating healthy be sure to contact us at The Benefits Store today.

Schedule showings during the day – Avoid showing homes at night whenever possible. If you must, make sure all the blinds and curtains are open and that you turn on all the lights, inside and out, before the showing. Always bring up the rear – When showing homes, let the clients walk in front of you. Direct them where to go instead of leading the way. Instruct homeowners not to show alone – When you’re working with sellers, instruct them never to show their house to someone by themselves. There should always be someone with them; their Realtor, when possible. Be careful about the information you share – As a Realtor, odds are you market your listings online. This is an effective way to do your job and usually necessary, but you don’t want to give out too much information about yourself. For example, avoid having your personal address listed, even if you work out of your home. Additionally, don’t advertise the property as “vacant;” this could attract thieves. Be thorough when finishing an open house – Once you’ve ended an open house, make sure that you check every room to make sure everyone is gone. Be alert when you do so. If someone stayed behind, it may have been in an attempt to rob the house. When you’ve cleared the house, make sure you lock up behind you. Make new clients check in – Before you begin showing new clients around, ask them to visit your office and make copies of their driver’s licenses and ask them to complete a prospect identification form. This ensures you’re not dealing with a potential predator. Follow these six tips for greater safety as a Realtor. For more safety tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

The Science Behind Yawning Scientists at the University of Nottingham recently looked into why yawning seems to be such a contagious reaction. It turns out that the part of the brain responsible for triggering the yawn is the primary motor cortex, which is responsible for motor function. This part of the brain is also partly responsible for conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome. Contagious yawning is actually a form of echophenomena, which is an automatic imitation of words or actions performed by others. It’s something that is seen in conditions such as epilepsy. Scientists performed a study to find out what was happening in the brain during echophenomena. During this study, they monitored 36 subjects while they watched other people yawning. Some of the subjects were encouraged to yawn if they had to, while others were told that they had to try and suppress the yawn. The study revealed that the extent of the urge to yawn came down to how the primary motor cortex of each subject worked. The more excitable it was, the bigger the urge. This excitability in the motor cortex can also be increased through the use of TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). These findings could prove to be useful in terms of reducing the effects of such conditions as Tourette’s and dementia. TMS could potentially help modulate imbalances in the brain networks. However, while the strength of the urge to yawn as a result of its contagious element could be traced to the motor cortex, the actual cause of yawning is still unknown. Scientists are continually making advancements regarding human function, such as identifying why yawning is so contagious and using those findings to improve our health. For all the latest health news, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

How technology can help dyslexia cases One of the major challenges of dyslexia is that it can cause individuals to lose belief in themselves. They’ll often assume that they simply aren’t as smart as their peers, which is rarely true. This lack of confidence can cause students with dyslexia to avoid asking for help, causing them to fall behind in their studies, which makes learning an even bigger challenge. Fortunately, new advances in technology provide individuals with dyslexia the tools that they need to compensate for their learning disabilities, thereby giving them a much better chance to overcome their condition. This, in turn, can inspire them to greater things as a result of an improved self-confidence. Traditionally, students with dyslexia were taught using modified teaching methods. However, new software programs and devices have proven to help students with dyslexia to not only improve their reading abilities but to help them learn to love reading. One such type of software is the word-reading app. There are a number of these apps available for smartphones, tablets and laptops. These programs are text-to-speech software that allows dyslexic children to read books while the words are being read aloud at the same time. Basically, they act as a real-time assistant when dyslexic students get stuck on certain words. There are also a number of dyslexic-designed fonts, including Dyslexie font and OpenDyslexic, which transform digital text into a font that’s more readable for those with dyslexia. Yet another useful tool is Livescribe Echo pen, which reads back what you’ve written to ensure that you wrote the right word. Thanks to technology, students with dyslexia have more tools to help them learn! For more health news updates, visit The Benefits Store today.