Men’s Health for Every Age

In the month of June, we focus on men’s health and well-being, and to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems.

Help encourage the boy’s or men in your life, be it your child, nephew, brother or spouse, to take charge of their overall health.

Here are some tips on what can be done to help prevent an illness, or to just stay ahead of the game.

Get your Vaccines:

  • Flu shot, every year.
  • Tetanus booster, every 10 years.
  • Whooping cough vaccine (Tdap booster) unless you’re certain you had one as a preteen or teenager.
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, if you’re younger than 26 and haven’t received it yet.
  • Shingrix (shingles) vaccine at age 50.
  • Pneumococcal vaccine, at 65. The CDC recommends all older adults  get a dose of PPSV23 (Pneumovax).

Don’t forget about Screening Tests:

  • Sexually transmitted disease. All men should get tested for HIV at least once. According to the CDC, everyone between ages 13 and 64 should be tested during their lifetime. (If you have certain risk factors, you’ll need additional screenings.)
  • Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every three to five years, or more often if you are at risk for hypertension.
  • Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol tested every four to six years. If you have heart disease or diabetes, a family history of heart disease, or other cardiac risk factors, you may need to do this more often.
  • Cancer
  • Type 2 diabetes: If you’re overweight or obese, have a blood test every three years. 
  • Prostate cancer: Regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests, which may detect prostate cancer, might not be necessary. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the test. If you’re concerned about prostate cancer, talk with your doctor at 55 or earlier about whether you’re at increased risk.
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Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families health insurance needs!

5 Challenges of Living With a Disability

Living With a Disability

More people than you realize are living with a disability in the United States. According to the CDC, roughly 26% of all American adults have a disability of some sort. These disabilities, which include both mental and physical disabilities, not only reduce the quality of life and hinder the ability to perform activities of daily living, but they can limit your ability to work as well. The following are just a few of the challenges that people with disabilities must live with in the United States:

Common Challenges of Living With a Disability

The following are some of the common challenges people with physical and mental disabilities struggle face every day:

  1. Mobility problems: One in eight American adults reports having a mobility-based disability, such as difficulties walking or taking the stairs. 
  2. Higher health risks: People with disabilities are 38.2% more likely to be obese, 11.5% more likely to have heart disease, and 16.3% more likely to have diabetes.
  3. Lower rate of technology adoption: Only 50% of disabled Americans use the Internet on a daily basis, while almost 80% of American adults with no disabilities use the Internet every day.
  4. Earn less income: Disabled Americans simply make less money. According to the Census Bureau, in 2019, disabled Americans earned a median of $21,572, which is around 30% less than non-disabled individuals. 
  5. Inability to work: It’s estimated that more than 25% of the 20-year-olds in the United States today will miss work for at least 12 months as a result of a disability, such as back injuries, depression, or heart problems, before they reach retirement. 

Getting Disability Insurance

Just because you’re completely healthy right now doesn’t mean you’ll never experience a disability. Because living with a disability is incredibly challenging and affects your quality of life as well as your financial situation, it’s critical that you consider investing in disability insurance. Disability insurance will provide you with partial income should you develop a disability that prevents you from working.

For more health information, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Food Allergies Explained

food allergies

May has been designated as Food Allergies Awareness Month due to the enormous number of Americans that are affected by allergies to food every year. In fact, it’s estimated that around 32 million Americans have a food allergy of some sort, and 200,000 people receive emergency medical care in the United States every year due to an allergic reaction to something that they ate.

What Are Food Allergies?

A food allergy is when your body has a reaction to a food that you ate. The body views the protein in the food as a foreign invader and will produce antibodies to attack it. That can cause a variety of symptoms, from a mild rash to trouble breathing, and in severe cases, it can even be life-threatening.

Is a Food Allergy the Same as a Food Intolerance?

Food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy. With food intolerance, your body has trouble digesting a certain food. That can cause symptoms like bloating, gas, or diarrhea. A food allergy, on the other hand, is an immune reaction to a food protein.

Is There a Food Allergy Cure?

There is no cure for food allergies, and the only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid the food that you’re allergic to. That can be difficult because oftentimes, you won’t know that a food contains the allergen until you have a reaction. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the most common food allergens and to always read food labels carefully.

If you think that you might have a food allergy, it’s important to see an allergist in California for testing. They can do a skin prick test or a blood test to see if you’re allergic to a certain food. Once they know what you’re allergic to, they can help you to create a plan to avoid the allergen and to be prepared in case of a reaction. 

For more health advice and for all the latest health news and information, be sure to continue visiting us at The Benefits Store.

Mental Health Matters

Your mental health impacts every aspect your life. Mental health problems can effect our emotional, psychological, and physical well being.

When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help manage stress, increase your energy, and lower your risk of illness. Even small acts of self-care everyday can have a huge impact.

Why bring awareness to mental health?

Raising awareness to mental health problems can help you understand symptoms, get professional treatment if needed (without the stigma behind asking for help), and to get rid of the misconceptions behind mental health so people don’t suffer in silence!

Take the first step in raising awareness by doing the following:

Start a Conversation

It can feel weird reaching out to someone who may need help. But friends and family members may not feel comfortable asking for help. Therefore, one way to start a conversation is to simply ask your loved ones how they are doing.

Some ways to start a conversation like this include asking questions such as:

• How are you?
• Are you ok?
• Do you need to talk?
• What can I do to be there for you?
• Is there anything that you need from me?
• I want to know how you’re feeling because I care about you.

Prioritize Your Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to reflect on your own mental well-being. To get an idea of where you might stand, just check in with yourself with the questions above.

If you’re not doing ok, reach out for help. Finding the right therapist can take some time. Don’t wait to get on the road to mental wellness. Seek support as soon as possible.

One thing to remember during this month, you are not alone and there is always someone who can help, even if you have to help yourself!

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Your Health and Safety Matters!

Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families health care needs!

Tips for Preparing for a Well-Woman Visit

well-woman visit

It’s crucial that all women schedule a regular well-woman visit with their health care provider, whether there’s something wrong or not. Even if you think you’re completely healthy, getting a regular check-up every year allows your doctor to catch any issues, such as diseases or other conditions, in the early stages. It also allows you to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions in the future. With that in mind, the following are a few tips on how to properly prepare for your appointment.

How To Prepare for Your Well-Woman Visit

The following are a few steps that you should take before visiting your doctor:

1. Determine if you’re due for any vaccinations or screenings.

There are certain vaccinations and screenings that you should request based on your health, age, family history, and lifestyle. Your health care provider can also let you know if you’re due for any vaccinations or exams. Some of the vaccinations and screenings you may want to get during your visit include STD screening, blood pressure check, Pap test, mammogram, and a tetanus shot.

2. Take note of any issues you have.

Your doctor will ask about your general health, so make sure you write down any issues you might be having so that you don’t forget. Take note of whether you’re experiencing any problems with fatigue, dizziness, pain, depression, anxiety, sleeping, and more. Other things to mention include any body changes you’ve experienced, changes in your eating habits, and menstrual cycle changes.

3. Prepare your family health history.

Get in touch with your family to find out if they’ve had any recent health problems. Your family health history influences your own risk of developing certain conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease, and will help give your doctor a better idea of what to look for and what preventative measures to suggest.

Schedule an Appointment With Your Doctor Today

Scheduling a well-woman visit is crucial to reducing the risk of developing certain conditions and ensuring your health. Keep these tips in mind and visit us at The Benefits Store for more health advice.