Wellness
HSAs: More Than Just a Savings Account
By Start Health You probably know that HSAs are an excellent way to save on healthcare. They offer a triple-tax advantage, and their funds transfer between employers and roll over annually—no risk of losing them. But did you know there’s dozens of relatively unknown strategies to maximize your HSA? HSAs involve tax breaks beyond the …
The ‘Charlie Sheen effect’ really did help HIV awareness
It’s called the “celebrity effect” — the ability of a well-known personality to raise awareness of an illness or public health concern. When Katie Couric had a live TV colonoscopy in 2000, screenings and awareness of colon cancer increased. Angelina Jolie’s 2013 decision to remove both breasts more than doubled genetic testing referrals among women …
The Winter Blues: How to Brighten Short Days
By MotivHealth Insurance Company girl in a blue down jacket winter view from the back When the sun goes down by 6:00 pm, many people feel that their day has been stolen from them. Productivity decreases and peppiness fades. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real and common ailment. The Mayo Clinic defines SAD as a type of depression …
Winter Safety Myths
Does alcohol make you warmer? Should I treat frostbite with hot water? Movies and heresy lead people to believe some stuff about winter safety that isn’t true. Myth: You’re supposed to rub frostbitten areas of the body with snow. – Actually: This can make things worse. First, protect the skin from further exposure, then gently …
How to Survive A Brutal Winter Storm In Your Car
Written by Joe Alton, M.D., Disaster Preparedness Expert & Author It’s predicted to be a harsh winter and, for most in the U.S., this means trouble if someone gets stuck out on the road during a blizzard or other extreme conditions. Hypothermia (the effects on the body from exposure to cold) may occur on the …
Ten Myths Vs. Facts About Preventing A Cold
Written by Joe Alton, M.D. The common cold is an infection caused, usually, by a virus in the Rhinovirus or Coronavirus family, although a number of others have been implicated. Affecting the upper respiratory system (nose, throat, sinuses), it’s a (very) rare individual that hasn’t dealt with a cold at one point or another. Like …
Seven traditional foods worth revisiting year-round
Pumpkin, cranberries and other food traditions should grace your table more often Written by Emma Penrod Turkey is a given. Not only is it great for Thanksgiving, but it’s great for your health, and as such it’s fortunate that turkey is part of America’s year-round cuisine. But some of turkey’s fruit and vegetable companions are …
Marijuana use disorder a growing problem
Users and Abusers Written by Allyson Jones A marijuana-use disorder is like any other drug-use disorder. It involves a person being dependent on the drug (in this case marijuana) and abusing it. Marijuana-use disorders have become a significant and rising problem in the United States. Use: 2001-2002: 4% of adults reported having used marijuana in …
Sleep Aid Crazy
Potential problems with using sleeping pills long term The topic of sleep is anything but dormant these days. People want to know how to sleep better, and if a sleep disorder is getting in the way (this is the case for a surprising percentage). Sleep medication is the answer for millions of Americans, who just …
Are You Getting Too Much Calcium?
Shattering an age old myth about diet and bone health Written by Sydney Cobb Calcium has long been heralded as a champion of healthy bones, especially for the elderly. Recent studies shed some light on the correlations between calcium intake and bone fractures, and the results are unexpected. Surprisingly, calcium does not make as much …
