1. Sensitive to pollen? Wash your hair before bedtime. Reason: You’ll remove any pollen and keep it from settling on pillows and bedding. Also: Avoid irritants such as tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust, hair spray and perfume; wash your hands frequently; plan outdoor activities when pollen counts are low.

2. The best time to take an antihistamine, which helps block allergic reactions, is before symptoms start. Just remember: some allergy medications can cause sleepiness so never take one when safety requires you to be alert. Suggestion: Ask your health care provider about antihistamines that cause less drowsiness.

3. Dust mites love to nest in area rugs and make you sneeze and itch. If you’re allergic, researchers offer a simple solution: Place area rugs outdoors in direct sunlight for a few hours until they become warm and dry. Result: Mites dry up and die.

4. Moving to another location is no guarantee of allergy relief. Why: People usually develop allergies to their new region’s pollens and molds within a few years of moving. Plus: Most allergy-provoking grasses are widespread throughout the world.

5. As many as 20% of Americans believe they have a food allergy, but true food allergies are actually rare. What most people consider food allergies are usually signs of digestive problems, food poisoning or stress.

Labels: Employees, Employers, ESG republic, Health

Feeling run-down? You’ll turn up the energy in five minutes if you…..

Refuel. Snack on fiber rich munchies such as dried apricots, celery sticks, an apple or a few pistachio nuts. Benefit: The fiber helps control the release of glucose (a sugar) in your bloodstream and may prevent energy dips.

Breathe Deeply: Every 1 – 2 hours, spend 5 minutes inhaling and exhaling deeply. It will help you feel calmer and more mentally focused, with renewed energy.

Take a visual vacation. Close your eyes and mentally escape by imagining a peaceful scene on an island, in a meadow or by the ocean. “Seeing” yourself relaxed can be rejuvenating.

Snap out of it. Splash cold water on your face or pop a breath mint – mint flavors are stimulating.

Take a “good news” inventory. At the end of the day, write down all the good times that happened. You’ll be surprised at how much went right. Plus, you’ll set yourself up for a good night’s sleep…. and energize yourself for tomorrow.

Labels: Benefits, Employees, Employers, Health

Here is a great article about Healthcare Reform now that Massachusetts elected a Republican to the Senate.

Healthcare Reform: What Now? Click here to continue reading.

Labels: California, Health, Politics

Three cheers for you if you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to be healthier!! Now comes the hard part – following through. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. We have some tips on how to make health lifestyle changes.

Tips for a healthier you

Set specific wellness targets: Before you start, think about what exactly you want to achieve. You’ll improve your changes of overall success if you focus on well-defined targets, such as losing weight or lowering your cholesterol.

Quantify your goals: You’ll be more successful in making lifestyle changes when you set goals you can measure. For example, a specific goal such as working out for 30 minutes, three times a week, is better than a vague goal like “working out more.”

Set a reasonable timetable: It is essential that you set a timeframe for achieving each goal. Just be sure to avoid the temptation to start too hard, too fast. Success is often a gradual process.

Be realistic: Have reasonable expectations. Set yourself several small, doable goals with short deadlines that build to the big goal. For example, rather than adding five daily fruits and vegetables to your diet all at once, add one more daily fruit or veggie each week until you reach you main goal.

Be accountable: Find a friend or family member who will motivate you and hold you accountable for the steps it takes to achieve your goals.

Don’t have an “all or nothing” mentality: Missed a workout this week? Don’t assume that if you can’t get to the gym to exercise, you might as well just head for the couch. Instead use your breaks or lunchtime to go out for a walk, take the stairs when you are going to a meeting, or lead your family on an evening bike ride. The fitness benefits will add up when you make conscious choices to build activity into your workday routine.

Enjoy yourself: Incorporating physical activity into your life doesn’t have to be an excruciating endeavor. Forcing a routine that you don’t enjoy also may be counterproductive in the long run, because you’ll be less likely to stick with it. So add some fun to your workout by exercising outdoors with friends or family, joining a sports league, or trying an interactive workout such as Nintendo’s Wii fitness games.

Labels: Health

Whether its plates of tempting cookies, nonstop parties, or all the extra demands on your time, the holidays can derail anyone’s best attempts at healthy living. But don’t just give up and reach for the eggnog, or think you have to say “bah humbug” to holiday fun. With a little planning, you can be healthy and enjoy the season.

We’ve got some tips to help you keep your healthy habits on track over the holidays.

• Try extra hard to get enough sleep. If you’re overtired, you’re more likely to skip workouts and eat poorly.
• If you’re traveling for the holidays, find out if there are parks or trails near your destination where you can walk or run. If you’re at a hotel, the front desk may be able to help; local running stores or bike shops are also good sources of information.
• If you’re visiting with family, try to organize a group activity, like a long walk around the neighborhood to look at holiday decorations. If your family members aren’t interested, ask if they’d mind if you spent a little time away from them exercising, then enjoy your guilt-free solo workout.
• Going to a holiday potluck? Take a healthy dish, so you’ll be sure to have at least one good food option.
• Never go to a holiday party feeling ravenous. Instead eat a healthy snack beforehand, so starvation won’t force you to overindulge.
• At buffets, check out the whole spread before grabbing a plate. You’ll be able to pinpoint a few dishes you really want, instead of piling on everything. And take a small-size plate instead of a dinner plate, so you’re even less likely to overdo it.
• If you’re standing near tempting platters at a holiday event, hold a drink in your favored hand (meaning your right if you’re right handed), to help keep yourself from grabbing every goody within reach.
• Go ahead and enjoy a favorite holiday dessert. Just watch your portion size and take a small sliver of pecan pie, or split that piece of cheesecake with a friend.
• Beware of the punchbowl – holiday drinks like eggnog and punch may contain a lot more alcohol than you think. Find out what’s in them, so you can enjoy them in moderation.
• Alternate high-calorie alcoholic drinks with water or seltzer. Of course, if you’re driving, stay away from alcohol altogether.

Labels: Health

PROSTATE CANCER is the second most common cancer in American men. Fortunately, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you decrease your risk of developing it. And early detection can be valuable in treating it successfully.

What is prostate cancer?

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that surrounds a man’s urethra. It produces one of the fluids that make up semen. When the prostate gland becomes cancerous, it grows abnormally and can cause problems with urination. Prostate cancer usually develops so slowly that most men don’t have any symptoms for a long time, which is why getting screened as your doctor recommends is so important.

What are the symptoms?

Any trouble with urination can be a sign of either an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Contact your doctor if you:

• Feel pain in your stomach, pelvis, lower back, or hip.
• Have painful urination or a burning sensation when you urinate.
• Are unable to urinate
• Notice changes in your urination, such as trouble starting to urinate, a weakened stream, or the feeling that you can’t empty your bladder entirely.
• Need to urinate more often or to wake up to urinate at night.
• Have blood in your urine.

What screening tests are available?

The following two tests for prostate cancer are often used together to improve accuracy:

For a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, come of your blood will be drawn to see if you have a high level of PSA, which may indicate an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, or a prostate infection.

For a digital rectal exam, your doctor will manually check your prostate.

The PSA test and digital rectal exam can help detect many prostate cancers early, and abnormal results don’t always mean cancer is present. If your results are abnormal in either exam, your doctor may take a sample of your prostate tissue for testing in a lab. Talk to your doctor about these tests and when you should start getting screened.

What can increase your risk of prostate cancer?

• Age – This is the biggest factor. Prostate cancer is quite common in men over 65 and over, and men 50 and over have a higher risk.
• Diet – Eating red meat and foods high in fat can put you at a higher risk.
• Genetics – Men of African descent are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Family history – Your risk is higher if your brothers or father has had the disease.

How can you help prevent prostate cancer?

Improve your diet. You don’t have to make huge changes all at once. Building in small, manageable changes can make a big difference. Cut down on red meat and get some of your protein from fish and soybeans. Increase the amount of fresh vegetables you eat, and try to eat many different kinds. Tomatoes in particular seem to have cancer-fighting properties, whether you eat them fresh or in a sauce. Snacking on a handful of walnuts a day will add fiber and beneficial oils to your diet.

Get active. A study has shown that men over 65 who exercise at least three hours a week can reduce their risk of dying from prostate cancer by nearly 70%. Activities like running, biking, and swimming can help lower your chances of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer or dying from the disease.

Labels: Health

If you smoke, quitting is the single best step you can take to improve your health. You’ll significantly lower your risk for a long list of deadly diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

It’s not easy to quit, but the good news is that there is a lot of help available. And the more support you have, the better your chances of success. Check out the suggestions below and the resources listed at the end of the article. You may also want to talk to your doctor about nicotine replacement medication.

Tips to help you quit:

• Keep a picture of your loved ones handy for extra incentive, to remind yourself that you’re not just quitting for your own sake.
• Avoid sugary or spicy foods – for many smokers, these trigger the urge for a cigarette.
• Eat four or five small meals during the day instead of one or two big ones. This will help keep your blood sugar and energy levels steady, and lessen your need to smoke.
• Steer clear of alcohol. A few drinks can seriously weaken your resolve to quit.
• If you feel like you absolutely have to have a cigarette, make yourself wait 10 minutes. Often, once you get past the 10 minutes, you’ll find that the need to smoke has waned.
• If you’re used to having a cigarette in your hand, hold onto something else, like a squeeze ball, a coin, or a pencil.
• If you miss the feeling of a cigarette in your mouth, try toothpicks, cinnamon sticks, straws, or sugarless gum or lollipops instead.
• Keep a supply of edible cigarette substitutes on hand, so you’ll have something to chew on when a cigarette craving strikes. Carrots, apples, oranges, and celery sticks are some healthy, low-calorie choices.
• Avoid temptation and spend your free time in places where smoking is banned, particularly when you’ve just quit. Museums, libraries, malls, theaters, restaurants, and churches are all good options.
• Instead of a cigarette break, take a short exercise break. Walk around the block (avoiding places where smokers gather) or up a few flights of stairs, do some stretches or yoga poses, or knock off a few quick situps or pushups.
• When you’re feeling antsy and need a little moral support, talk to an understanding coworker, or call a friend, family member, or stop-smoking telephone hotline.
• Prepare yourself by thinking of the ways you may rationalize having a cigarette. Then you’ll be ready to resist when that little voice in your head says “One won’t hurt” or “Today is too stressful, I’ll quit tomorrow.”
• Every day, set aside the money you would have spent on cigarettes. Save it for a major goal, or use a little as a weekly treat for not smoking. Quitting is tough – you’ve earned a reward.
• Stay active. Whether you’re walking the dog, learning tai chi, or cleaning your closets, it will help you keep your mind off smoking and burn off the pent-up energy you’re likely to have when quitting.
• When you wake up each morning, take a moment to promise yourself that you won’t smoke that day. Handle the effort one day at a time.
• If you DO slip and have a cigarette, don’t lose faith and give up altogether. Try to figure out why you had a setback, so you don’t repeat it. Then remind yourself of all the good reasons for quitting, and start again right away.

Congratulations on taking a giant step toward living a longer, healthier life. We know quitting can be really hard, and we’re there to support you whenever you need help.

Online and telephonic resources:

The California Smokers' Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS) provides free professional and confidential telephone counseling for anyone living in California, whether you are currently addicted to tobacco, have already quit or want information for a friend or relative.

Join the Great American Smokeout today.

Resources to help you quit smoking, from the National Cancer Institute.

Get free educational materials and coaching to help you quit.

Labels: Health

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers who tell workers to stay home when they are sick will have to give them paid time off for up to five days under new federal legislation proposed on Tuesday.

The emergency law would cover pandemic H1N1 flu or any other infectious disease, said California Representative George Miller, a Democrat who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee and who introduced the bill.

"Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn't have to choose between their livelihood, and their co-workers' or customers' health," Miller said.

"This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don't spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises employers to encourage sick workers to stay home so they do not spread H1N1. "But workers have been reporting that many of them are either afraid or cannot afford to take time off," Miller told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Paid sick leave is not required by U.S. laws.

Miller said the committee would hold a hearing the week of November 16 and he would press to have a full vote as soon as possible.

Miller said at least 50 million American workers are not paid for time taken off sick, "many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields."

MORE VACCINE READY

In a regular briefing, CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden said 31.8 million doses of flu vaccine have now become available -- still far short of the minimum of 80 million to 100 million that had been projected for the first week of November.

This number includes vaccine already administered. Frieden said CDC hoped 10 million new doses will have been made available by the end of the week.

He said the pandemic may be having an unexpected side-effect -- increasing demand for the seasonal influenza vaccine. "We think this year will be the highest ever uptake on seasonal flu vaccine," Frieden said.

"We anticipate there being around 114 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine available through the market by the end of the year. It may be there is even greater demand than that by the end of the season."

This includes healthcare workers, who are often reluctant to be vaccinated. In recent years, only around 38 to 40 percent of healthcare workers get flu vaccines, but that percentage may be higher this year, Frieden said.

As with the vaccine against H1N1 swine flu, distribution is slow and patchy for seasonal flu vaccine. "We continue to hear that people are unable to get the vaccine," Frieden said.

The United States buys both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine from five makers -- GlaxoSmithKline Plc, AstraZeneca Plc's MedImmune unit, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and CSL Limited.

Some members of Congress and media commentators complained that detainees at Guantanamo Bay -- the U.S. base in Cuba -- would receive H1N1 vaccines when Americans were still struggling to find them.

But White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied this on Tuesday. "There is no vaccine in Guantanamo and there's no vaccine on the way to Guantanamo," he told reporters.

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

Read Reuters Article Here

Labels: Employees, Employers, Health, law, Politics

Exercise is a big part of a healthy lifestyle. Just 30 to 60 minutes a day, five days a week of activities like walking, swimming, and gardening can help you lower your risk for heart disease, prevent and manage high blood pressure, improve your cholesterol levels, handle stress, and more, according to the American Heart Association.

The problem is that although the reasons for exercising are clear, actually sticking with a daily exercise routine can be hard. So we’ve got some tips and tools to make it easier for you to keep moving, whether you’re walking one mile or running 10.

If you have a high risk of heart disease or other chronic condition or have been inactive for a long time, see your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Exercise Tips:

• Approach exercise as something fun you do for yourself, rather than as drudgery to endure. Find activities you enjoy. If exercising alone bores you, take a group class. If you hate indoor gym workouts, look for outdoor activities.
• Exercise with a buddy. Whether you’re running, walking, or lifting weights, it’s more fun to work out with someone else. Plus, you’ll be more likely to stick to a fitness routine when there’s a little friendly peer pressure to motivate you.
• Mentally plan a spot for exercise in each day’s schedule beforehand. Make the workout as convenient as possible, in terms of both when and where you exercise, and you’ll be more likely to keep at it.
• Get any clothing or equipment you need ready ahead of time. That way you can just grab your gym bag on the way out the door, or get dressed for a morning workout without spending valuable time searching for gear.
• Sign up for a running race, charity walk, or other event and use it as your goal. Having this to focus on will help motivate you to exercise on days when you’d rather stay on the couch.
• Be flexible about your workout. For example, if you can’t fit in a long walk some days, try for two or three short walks instead. Any amount of exercise is better than doing nothing.
• Don’t try to do too much too soon. Start slow, and increase the intensity and duration of your workout as you get more fit.
• Doing the same thing every day is boring, so vary your schedule. Don’t always jog the same route or do the same workout sequence, and try a mix of different activities. Alternate some yoga with your biking, or replace a trip to the gym with a new exercise class, for example. Variety will help keep you fresh mentally and physically.
• When your motivation dips and you don’t feel like exercising, just get yourself out the door for a mini-workout. Chances are that you’ll perk up and feel more inspired once you’ve started.
• Don’t expect to improve each time you exercise -- it’s a gradual process. You’ll have up and down days, so forget the bad workouts and savor the good ones. (Of course, you should see a doctor if you’re sick or injure yourself.)
• Always take a few moments at the end of each workout to silently congratulate yourself on a job well done. You deserve it!

Labels: Health

Emergency rooms have often been mistakenly utilized for urgent care needs. By definition, an emergency is a dangerous situation that occurs suddenly and requires immediate action. Therefore, emergency rooms should be used only for injuries and illness that cannot be dealt with properly in a doctor’s office. Urgent care facilities are equipped to take care of illnesses and injuries that require medical attention but are not life-threatening. Some symptoms that may be treated at an urgent care facility are fever, earache, nausea/vomiting, flu, dizziness, sprains, minor cuts that may or may not require stitches, and fractured bones

Emergency rooms are not always the fastest choice for medical care needs- and certainly NOT the most cost-effective.

Below are some examples of why you might want to select an urgent care rather than the emergency room:

Labels: Health

The flu is much more serious than the common cold and can lead to severe health complications. Getting a flu shot each fall is the single best way to help prevent the flu and protect yourself and those around you during flu season.

Everyone in your household should get a flu shot each year, but it’s especially important for:

• Adults over 50 years old
• Children 6 months to 18 years
• Anyone with on-going health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease or lung disease
• Women who are pregnant during flu season
• Health care workers
• Anyone living with or caring for someone in one of these categories, or who has a child less than 6 months old.

For more information on flu shots, please contact your healthcare provider.

Labels: Health

When discovered early, breast cancer can be successfully treated. Survival rates for women with breast cancer continue to increase due to improved treatments and early detection. The three main methods for early detection are:

• Monthly self-exams performed at home.
• Clinical breast exams performed by your doctor.
• Regular mammograms as recommended by your doctor.

Self-exams are important, but clinical breast exams and mammograms can help detect changes you might miss, so be sure to make appointments for both as recommended.

Click here for more information about Breast Cancer.

Labels: Health

What are the symptoms and treatment of swine flu?

Swine flu in humans resembles seasonal flu, with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people experience diarrhea and vomiting as well. Like regular flu, swine flu can in some cases cause serious respiratory problems or worsening of chronic medical problems.

Swine flu can be treated with some of the same drugs that are used for regular flu. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of the antiviral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®). The medications work best if they are started within two days of the onset of symptoms.

How does swine flu spread and can it be prevented? Is there a vaccine?

People can spread swine flu when they have symptoms and possibly as long as seven days after they first become ill, even if symptoms have subsided. It is also thought that children can remain contagious for an even longer period of time. There is currently no vaccine for prevention of swine flu, and vaccines used for seasonal flu provide no protective effect for the current H1N1 strain of swine flu. As a result, people should follow sensible preventive measures, like these recommended by the CDC:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Viruses spread this way.

The CDC has also recommended that people who live in or have recently traveled to areas where swine flu cases have been reported and who develop flu symptoms consider seeking care from their health care providers. More serious symptoms require emergency medical care.

In children, such symptoms include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, such symptoms include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Swine flu is NOT spread by food, such as pork, which is safe when handled and prepared appropriately.

Labels: Health, Safety