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Your Workplace Wellness Newsletter
Third Quarter - Samaritan's Purse
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 NKJV
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Stay Up-to-Date with Vaccines
Only about 1 in 5 adults is up-to-date with their vaccinations. This leaves them at risk for serious illness from diseases like the flu, COVID-19 and tetanus.
Vaccines work with your immune system to help your body develop protection against diseases.They are the single best way to prevent and control the spread of many infectious diseases.
- Vaccines are carefully tested before they are available, and clinicians monitor their use after they are approved.
- As with any medicine, vaccines can have side effects. Most often it is soreness where the shot was given.
Just as children need vaccines, so do adults. They help keep you, your family and your community healthy.
Here is a basic rundown of the vaccines recommended for adults and when you should get them. Always check with your primary care team or on-site clinic provider.
It is recommended that all adults receive these vaccines at these times:
- COVID-19 - when the latest vaccine is available
- Flu (influenza) - ideally every fall (it’s not too late to get a flu shot in the winter, but getting one in October provides the best protection in case flu activity starts earlier)
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria) - about every 10 years
You may need other vaccines depending on:
- Your age
- Certain health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney or lung disease, or one of several autoimmune diseases that put you at higher risk of getting very sick from these vaccine-preventable diseases. Pregnancy may also require additional vaccines to help protect mom and baby.
- The type of work you do, and the places where you travel
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| At-a-Glance -- Vaccines you might need at certain ages
As we get older, our immune systems aren’t as good at fighting infections. And older age puts us at higher risk of serious illness and complications. Staying on top of the vaccines you need is important. For more information, visit Recommended Vaccines for Adults | CDC
Ask your workplace health clinic or doctor’s office about needed vaccines and make an appointment when you’re due for one.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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You and Your Prostate: To Screen or Not to Screen
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located beneath the bladder in men. Cancer of the prostate is the second most common cancer among men in the U.S. behind only skin cancer. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Still, there is no universal screening recommendation for prostate cancer unless you have symptoms, a family history of the disease or are of African descent.
What’s more, even though rates of prostate cancer increase dramatically for men as they age (about 80% of men have cancer cells in their prostate gland by the time they reach 80 years old), most are not screened. That’s because the majority of prostate cancers in men of all ages are considered so slow moving many doctors and cancer organizations have not recommended screening. For older men, the disease typically does not lead to death or even symptoms.
Generally, it is recommended that men talk to their doctor or health care provider about the plusses and minuses of screening so they can make the best decision for themselves.
To Screen or Not to Screen
Screening for prostate cancer starts with a PSA blood test which measures the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA)—a protein made by the prostate. PSA levels can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. Screening may also include a rectal exam to check for lumps or any other abnormalities.
When to Screen
- Healthy, symptom-free men with higher risk factors should talk to their doctor about getting tested at age 40.
- Men who are generally healthy and have no symptoms should talk to their doctor about screening for prostate cancer beginning at about age 45, though actual screening will most likely occur later.
- If you are experiencing the following symptoms, speak to your health care team immediately:
- Less force in the stream of urine
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Bone pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Erectile dysfunction
- While some cancer organizations do not recommend screening for men ages 70 and older, the decision is personal and should be discussed with a medical team, especially for men who are in excellent health.
In general, the challenge with screening is that it reveals many prostate cancer cases in which a patient may be better off without immediate treatment. However, growing evidence shows the importance of screening—particularly among younger, healthy men—to catch prostate cancer earlier, when it is still highly treatable. Ultimately, the decision to screen or not to screen is between you, your doctor and your family.
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4 Things to Know for Healthy Weight Loss
There are many ways to lose weight. But not all of them are healthy or lead to long-term weight loss, and dieting is often the last thing you should do when looking to drop weight. The truth is, there are no shortcuts to healthy weight loss. It takes time—a healthy goal is to lose one to two pounds a week.
What’s more, healthy weight loss does not happen without lifestyle changes.* But it doesn’t have to be hard. It can even be something you find you enjoy. Here are four things to think about to get you started:
- Focus on the quality of the food rather than the number of calories.
Simply replacing unhealthy foods with healthy ones will help you lose weight. But too much of anything is not going to help you drop pounds, so pay attention to portion sizes. For example, a healthy portion of chicken is four ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.
- When you eat matters: It’s best to consume most of your calories earlier in the day.
Eating late meals can make it harder to lose weight. That’s because the body processes food differently later in the day. Studies show people who eat most of their calories earlier in the day are less likely to be overweight. Try moving meal times earlier if you tend to eat later. That goes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- All movement counts.
The healthiest way to lose weight includes exercise, typically at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. Moving your body helps burn extra calories you can't use up through food choices alone. If it’s hard for you to fit in regular exercise, or if you’ve never been very active, start small and build up. For example, take the stairs when you can or park farther away from store entrances.
- To lose weight, you must sleep.
Sleeping 7 to 9 hours each night is important for healthy weight loss. So is sleeping at the same time each night. Studies show that people who sleep less than 7 hours per night are more likely to become overweight. And disrupted sleep is also tied to heart disease and diabetes. The good news is that adopting a healthy diet and exercise will also help you sleep better.
As you think about healthy weight loss remember, everyone is different. What works for someone else may not work for you. Find what’s best for you, celebrate your victories and stick with it. You’ve got this!
Always speak to your primary care team or on-site clinic provider before starting a new diet or exercise routine.
*Caution: Even the popular weight loss drugs we’re hearing so much about these days cannot deliver a permanent drop without changes to your lifestyle. (If you go off them, the change won’t last.)
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Wellness Committee Event Reminders
Special Events
Fall Invision Diagnostics Mobile Mammography (Save The Date)
Boone: October 4, 14, 15
N Wilkes: October 28, 29
Financial
1:1 Financial Planning Meetings with Nick Walker from NFP
July 10th: N. Wilkesboro
July 11th: Boone
July 17th: VIRTUAL
Signup link will be available soon, be on the lookout for an email coming from your Benefits team!
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