National Burn Awareness Week

burn awareness week

People rarely think about severe burn injuries. It’s often assumed house fires are the only real cause of burns; however, there are many risks that can lead to burn injuries.

Burn injuries are one of the main causes of wounds and death in the U.S., which is why February 4-10, 2021 was named National Burn Awareness Week by the American Burn Association.

Why Is Burn Awareness Week Important?

National Burn Awareness Week was established to help spread awareness of how serious burn-related injuries and deaths are, what can cause them, and how people can prevent them. The following are a few statistics showcasing how important it is to observe National Burn Awareness Week:

  • Emergency departments reported there were almost 500,000 fire or burn injuries between 2011-2015.
  • The majority of burn-related injuries are caused by scalds, electrical burns, chemical burns, fire-flames, or contact with hot objects.
  • The odds of dying as a result of a fire (whether it’s from the fire itself or from smoke) are only 1 in 1,498.
  • There were 3,390 deaths related to fires in 2016.

How To Prevent Burn-Related Injuries

Many burn-related injuries occur due to the lack of fire safety, especially in households with children. Here are a few safety tips to prevent burn injuries and deaths:

  • Keep the space around your furnace clear. Make sure there are no flammable objects nearby.
  • Lighters and matches should be kept out of reach of children. Children should be taught to inform an adult if they find lighters or matches.
  • Never leave open flames unattended, whether it’s a gas stovetop, a fireplace, or a lit candle, especially if there are children around.
  • Place your outdoor grill away from the house and flammable objects.
  • Store gasoline and propane outside of the house in a cool, well-ventilated spot.

Share these safety tips to properly observe National Burn Awareness Week. For more safety awareness tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Reducing High Blood Pressure Risk

High blood pressure is one of the most common health issues plaguing Americans today. According to the CDC, 47% of American adult males and 43 percent of adult women have high blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension).

Unfortunately, only 24% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure under control. This has led to high blood pressure being either a primary or contributing cause to the deaths of almost 500,000 U.S. adults in 2018 alone. There are things that you can do to manage your high blood pressure risk.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

There are two types of high blood pressure: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension has no real cause. It’s something that simply develops over time. Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition or the use of certain medications. These conditions can include:

  • Adrenal gland tumors
  • Blood vessel issues
  • Kidney conditions
  • Sleep apnea
  • Thyroid issues

High blood pressure can also be caused by various medications, such as cold medicines or birth control pills.

What Are the Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure?

There are many risk factors for high blood pressure. These include a family history of high blood pressure, age, race, weight, tobacco use, lack of physical activity, lack of potassium, overconsumption of alcohol, too much sodium, and stress.

What Are Health Risks Resulting From High Blood Pressure?

If you have high blood pressure, you could be at greater risk for the following:

  • Aneurysm
  • Dementia
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Stroke
  • Weak blood vessels

How Can You Reduce Your High Blood Pressure Risk?

Californians with high blood pressure or at-risk of high blood pressure, can take steps to improve their health.

These include:

  • Controlling cholesterol levels
  • Drinking alcohol only in moderation
  • Exercising regularly
  • Maintaining a healthy diet 
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Managing stress
  • Quit smoking

For more advice on how to manage high blood pressure or for California health tips in general, continue visiting us at The Benefits Store.

California Health: 7 Must-Know Heart Disease Facts

Of all the health issues that cause the most problems in the U.S., heart disease is at the top of the list. “Heart disease” refers to a number of conditions, including:

  • Arrhythmias
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart infections
  • Heart valve disease
  • Hypertension

Because of the prevalence of heart disease and how deadly it can be, it’s important to learn as much as you can about it and take steps to prevent it.

7 Facts About Heart Disease You Should Know

Here are five facts about heart disease you may not know:

  1. Heart attacks and coronary heart disease are 2 of the top ten most expensive hospitalization conditions. Both account for more than $10 billion/year.
  2. Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the U.S.
  3. It’s estimated 790,000 Americans suffer from heart attacks every year; around 114,000 of those are fatal.
  4. More than 360,000 Americans die from heart disease every year.
  5. One heart attack occurs almost every 40 seconds.
  6. Strokes account for 133,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. They cause five percent of all American deaths.
  7. The average age of a male’s first heart attack is 65.3. The average age for a female is 71.8.

What Are Risk Factors for Heart Disease?

Risk factors for heart disease that you should know about include:

  • Diabetes
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

Take Steps to Prevent Heart Disease in California

Heart disease affects thousands of Americans every year. Know the facts and learn the risk factors so you can take steps to avoid heart disease:

  • Drink alcohol in moderation
  • Exercise regularly
  • Improve your diet
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Stop smoking

For more information about heart disease or California health tips in general, be sure to continue to visit us at The Benefits Store.

3 Reasons to Get Your Flu Shot

flu shot in California

The flu can be a deadly virus, depending on your age and health. Even if you’re young and healthy, you should still get vaccinated. It’s important that you get your flu shot every year, especially this year.

There are different strains of the flu every year, which is why a flu shot is required annually. The time to schedule a flu vaccination is before winter hits, which is the peak flu season in California. 

Why You Should Get Your Flu Shot in California

The following are some of the many reasons why it’s important you get your flu shot this year. With your annual flu shot you can avoid:

  • Illness – The flu vaccination can prevent you from getting the flu. The flu can be deadly because it can cause medical complications and lead to other issues, such as pneumonia. Even if you’re healthy, the flu can cause unpleasant symptoms that can keep you home and “down.”
  • Mistaking symptoms for COVID-19 – COVID-19 is a deadly disease that has raged into a worldwide pandemic. Its symptoms are so broad that it can be difficult to determine if you have it or “just the flu.” COVID-19 and the flu share similar initial symptoms, and the last thing you want is to be stressed-out thinking you have COVID-19 when you have a less dangerous flu.
  • Spreading the flu to others – The flu is a virus that spreads easily. If your loved ones aren’t as young or healthy as you, they can “catch” the flu from you.

Getting vaccinated for the flu is critical to your health.

The flu can make you seriously sick, even if you’re young and in good health. Because we now have experience with a pandemic, we need to take our health as seriously as possible. The last thing you want to do is get someone sick with the flu, which could cause them to become even more vulnerable to COVID.

Get your flu shot in California today. For more flu health advice, visit us at The Benefits Store.

4 Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress

reduce holiday stress

Most of us experience holiday stress in one form or another every year. This stress can be the result of large family gatherings, traveling in and out of California, the obligation to attend various social functions, the need to purchase gifts for multiple family members and friends, and much more.

Holiday stress is so common that many people think it’s normal. However, this shouldn’t be the case. Stress can have a negative mental and physical effect. It can diminish your ability to actually enjoy the holidays. 

How To Reduce Holiday Stress

Although you may not be able to avoid the holidays in California, there are ways to reduce stress. The following are a few effective methods to manage stress and to reduce your stress levels so you can enjoy the holiday season:

  1. Ask for gift suggestions – If you’re planning on buying gifts for friends and family, don’t spend hours of your time trying to find the “perfect gift.” Stressing-out over what the perfect gift is and worrying about getting something they won’t like isn’t necessary. Just ask them for suggestions. It’s the act of giving a gift itself they will appreciate, after all.
  2. Don’t do everything yourself – Are you hosting a holiday dinner or party? Ask for help. For instance, have a family member or friend (or two) help with the meal prep so you don’t spend the entire night running around instead of enjoying yourself. You could even ask guests to bring small dishes to contribute to the meal.
  3. Don’t wait until the last minute – Whatever it is you’re doing, whether preparing a meal for a group of friends and relatives or shopping for gifts, give yourself plenty of time to do it. Waiting until the last minute is going to cause a massive amount of stress.
  4. Give yourself “you” time – Although the holidays are generally shared with friends and family, make sure you take time out to relax on your own. Do some yoga, exercise, or read a book; these can reduce your stress levels.

Use these tips to reduce your holiday stress. For more California holiday health and safety tips, be sure to keep visiting us at The Benefits Store.