" By: Scott Weaver, National Director of Sales & Marketing – Occupational Health Services A recent report by Quest Diagnostics indicated that illicit drug use by American workers is at its highest rate in more than a decade. According to Quest, the positivity rate for the combined U.S. workforce was 4.2% in 2017, up significantly from 3.5% in 2012. Increases in amphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana use lead the way in this troubling statistic. What does ...
" Did you know January is National Blood Donor Month? Blood is something most of us don’t think about simply because we don’t have to. However, many people are in need of blood every single day. Here are a few facts from the American Red Cross on the importance of donating blood. One donation can potentially save up to three lives. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. A single car ...
" Making a New Year’s resolution can be a daunting task! Thinking about all the hard work it will take to accomplish your goal is sometimes defeating. But don’t worry, we have a few ideas to get you started and off to a great new year! Consistent Exercise. We all know the importance of regular exercise, but with a full-time job and a family, it is hard to be consistent with your workout routine ...
" The new year is just around the corner, so resolutions are probably on your mind. If you’ve made a mistake in past years of promising yourself to quit smoking or lose 50 pounds and fell short, don’t get discouraged! Many people set their sights too high when making goals to improve their health for the new year, but there are plenty of ways you can make small lifestyle changes that have a significant ...
" We are in the midst of cold and flu season! There are quite a few myths out there about the common cold and influenza. We are going to debunk three of the most popular myths, so you can focus on staying healthy this season! Myth #1 – Winter Weather Causes Sickness Have you ever been told not to leave the house with wet hair in cold weather because “You will catch a cold!”?Well, this saying ...
" Cold and flu season is upon us! In the United States, peak cold and flu season are generally from late November through March. Since we are entering the peak season, how do you prevent your family from getting sick? Prevention According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine. Along with the flu shot, practicing good health habits can also keep germs from spreading and will help ...
" Occupational Health refers to the many disciplines devoted to the safety and well-being of employees in the workplace, often concentrating on injury prevention. Even with solid practices in place, accidents do occur, and having an experienced occupational healthcare provider you trust can make all the difference. Workplace injuries can result in lost time, indemnity costs, and lower productivity for an employer. Studies have shown that the same workplace injury can have catastrophic consequences to the ...
" The flu is a serious, potentially life-threatening illness. According to the CDC, millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. The best way to protect yourself against influenza is to get an annual flu shot. Who Should Get the Flu Shot? Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccination yearly. The U ...
" Did you know that every year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from consuming contaminated food? Food poisoning, also called foodborne illness, can be life-threatening, and therefore, it is crucial to follow the CDC’s food safety guidelines when cooking. Food Safety Tips 1. Wash Wash your hands, surfaces you will be using to cook, utensils and cutting boards with hot soapy water. 2. Separate Separate the raw meats, seafood and eggs because they can ...
" School is back in session, and we know that can mean (organized) chaos! It may be difficult to get your child fed and out the door in time, but it is crucial for development, both mentally and physically, that children receive proper nutrition throughout the school day. Breakfast keeps your child energized, full and ready to absorb knowledge. Mornings can be a time crunch, but that is no excuse to let your child miss breakfast ...
" Woman applying sunblock protection Sun damage is a serious concern. According to the Skin Care Foundation, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. It is important to take the correct precautions when going out into the sun, because ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure can damage your skin. Use the following to help prevent sun damage: Use a broad spectrum, (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF ...
" Summertime brings many opportunities for outdoor activities. From camping and hiking to playing tag in the backyard, kids and adults alike can enjoy the warm weather. Make sure your family takes the following precautions to avoid missing outdoor fun due to mosquito and tick bites. Before you go outside: Use bug repellent on your skin and clothing. The CDC recommends wearing an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains active ingredients such as DEET or picaridin. Wear ...
" Poison ivy is the most common allergy in the United States, affecting about 50 million people every year. The rash from poison ivy is caused by an allergic reaction to urushiol, an oily substance in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, through direct contact. Urushiol is also found in poison oak and poison sumac, which means the rash can be contracted by interacting with any of the three plants. Other than direct contact ...
" When it comes to treating your seasonal allergies with home remedies, there’s usually more fiction than fact. There are healing claims about everything from apple cider vinegar to local bee pollen. The doctors at American Family Care understand that not everyone wants to grab a drug off of the pharmacy counter, but people want to be able to breathe too! So are there any proven natural remedies that the doctors here at AFC can ...
" Life might be easier if kids came with an instruction book. Most parents usually have enough questions to fill one and it can be extra difficult when your child is looking to you for answers and you don’t have any. That is especially true when they don’t feel good. All they want is for you to “fix it and make it better” but that’s hard to do when you aren’t so ...
" Many allergy sufferers feel they are waging a battle with the great outdoors this spring season, trying to keep watery eyes, runny noses and itchy throats from keeping them down. But the truth is, allergies can be triggered just as much by allergens hiding inside your home as they can by the ones outdoors. Before you lock yourself indoors to avoid the spring allergy season, the team at American Family Care wants to make you ...
" When you have that miserable, stuffy, sneezy, stopped-up feeling from allergies, all you really feel like doing is climbing into bed or relaxing on the couch and taking whatever your doctor has prescribed. Probably the last thing on your mind is exercising! How can you run when you can’t breathe? How do you stretch when you’re sneezing all the time? The experts at American Family Care say a mix of the traditional and ...
" As the blissful fragrance of the new season fills the air, the grass turns bright green and birds sing their cheerful tune, most of us will opt outside to reap the benefits of beautiful weather. However, for more than 50 million allergy sufferers in the U.S., seasonal triggers can put a real damper on the blossoms of spring. With everything on the market today, from over-the-counter tablets to doctor prescribed nasal sprays, choosing the ...
" As long as Jenna can remember, every spring and fall in Ohio brought a familiar rite of passage, red, watery, puffy eyes that were hard to keep open at times, and bouts of near-constant “a-choos” that literally brought her to a standstill because, well, you can’t walk and see where you’re going when your eyes are half closed and you’re sneezing your fool head off. Between tree pollens in the spring, and ...
" We’re in the thick of pollen season, where everything from vehicles to patio furniture is painted a bright yellow, signaling the sign of spring and misery for allergy sufferers across the country. Itchy eyes, excessive sneezing, mucus buildup, and congestion are just a few allergy symptoms that have so many of us pleading for any ounce of relief. Luckily, there are simple and natural ways, like changing your eating habits, that help treat and ...
