More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. In particular, springtime allergies are an annual nuisance for many people. As plants begin to bloom and neighbors start to cut their grass more frequently, allergy sufferers nationwide start sniffling and sneezing. What’s more, mold growth blooms both indoors and outdoors, making it almost impossible to escape allergy triggers.

Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Alleviating Seasonal Allergies

• Wash your bedding every week in hot water to help keep pollen under control.
• Wash your hair before going to bed since pollen can accumulate in your hair.
• Limit the number of throw rugs to reduce dust and mold in your home.
• Wear an inexpensive painter’s mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming or painting to limit skin exposure and dust and chemical inhalation.
• Vacuum twice a week.
• Make sure the rugs you have are washable.
• Change air conditioning and heating air filters often.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

A new variant of coronavirus is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. The World Health March is National Kidney Month, making it a great time to take charge of your health to lower your chances of developing kidney disease. Your kidneys filter your blood to remove waste and extra water to create urine. They also make vital hormones that produce red blood cells, promote bone health and regulate your blood pressure. As such, the kidneys play a vital role in your body.

Kidney-friendly Tips

• Get tested.
• Reduce over-the-counter drug usage.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet and monitor your weight.
• Drink plenty of fluids.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

A new variant of coronavirus is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. The World Health Organization (As the new year approaches, you may find yourself reflecting on the past year. This introspection is a significant first step toward selecting a New Year’s resolution to help you grow as a person. However, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February due to a lack of self-discipline, according to U.S. News and World Report. That’s why it’s important to set yourself up for success when you’re choosing a resolution.

Fitness, finances, and weight loss are often the three most popular New Year’s resolutions.

Don’t Let Winter Derail Your Workout

The Health Benefits of Being Organized

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

A new variant of coronavirus is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the new variant “Omicron.” Omicron is labeled a “variant of concern,” the agency’s serious category for tracking. Such a designation is reserved for dangerous variants that may be more transmissible or virulent or could decrease the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments.

The Emergence of Omicron

• How easily does Omicron spread?
• Will Omicron cause more severe illness?
• Will vaccines work against Omicron?
• Will treatments work against Omicron?

Tools to Fight Omicron

• Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.
• Masks offer protection against all variants of COVID-19.
• Tests can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

This year’s influenza (flu) season is expected to be active amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu season usually begins in October and peaks between December and February. As we’re amid the second flu season during the pandemic, it’s even more important for you to take precautions to prevent both the flu and COVID-19 from spreading.

This article features frequently asked questions (FAQs) prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the seasonal flu and COVID-19.

• What is the difference between the flu and COVID-19?
• Will there be the flu along with COVID-19 in the fall and winter?
• Can I have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?
• If I get sick with the flu, am I at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19?
• Because symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are similar, how will I know if I have the flu or COVID-19?
• Is there a test that can detect both the flu and COVID-19?
• Will a flu vaccine protect me against COVID-19?
• Does a flu vaccination increase my risk of getting COVID-19?

• I think I may have the flu. Is it safe for me to visit my health care professional when COVID-19 is spreading in my community?

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

As the holidays approach and COVID-19 vaccination eligibility expand to younger children, many Americans may be making plans to travel. According to Tripadvisor, 55% of Americans plan to travel this winter, which is a 5% increase from those who traveled last winter. Not surprisingly, the most popular travel dates are the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Additionally, the majority of Americans planning to travel this winter will remain stateside.

If you’re planning to hit the road or the skies this holiday season, there are some general tips to keep you safe while traveling:

• Get vaccinated.
• Stay domestic.
• Take a road trip.
• Check travel restrictions.
• Manage your stress levels.
• Keep up with COVID-19 safety precautions.
• Pack the pandemic essentials.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

Holiday traditions are important for many families, and we’re about to enter the second holiday season during the pandemic. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for safely celebrating this year’s holiday season. The CDC’s top advice is for eligible Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine before gathering and traveling for the holidays.

More than three-quarters of eligible Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to CDC data.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for safely celebrating the upcoming holiday season. Because large indoor gatherings are common for the holidays, the best way to minimize COVID-19 risks and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible.
As we approach the second holiday season during the pandemic, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the CDC’s recommendations to plan safer gatherings.

How to Gather

The biggest difference between the holidays last year and the upcoming season is that COVID-19 vaccines are readily available in the United States. Additionally, there are several ways to enjoy holiday traditions and protect your health. The CDC recommends the following to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this holiday season:

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

With the fall and winter months comes flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity peaks between December and February so now’s the time to ensure you’re prepared. Social distancing and mask mandates significantly prevented a “twindemic” last year as the flu season coincided with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Those safety measures helped prevent a majority of flu cases. However, as more states and businesses lift mask mandates and other preventive measures, the flu virus may circulate much more freely than it did last year.

The CDC estimates that 12,000 to 61,000 people die each year from the flu.

Preventing the Flu

The flu vaccine is your best chance of preventing the illness—especially this year. The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for anyone 6 months of age or older.

There are more ways to help protect yourself and others during this flu season. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home when you’re ill. It’s also critical to continue good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands.

View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter

Re-entry anxiety is an overall uneasiness or uncertainty about returning to the way things were before the pandemic. This feeling may be triggered when meeting socially with friends and family, going back to the workplace or pursuing other important aspects of social interaction. It might be difficult to get reacclimated, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.

Managing Your Re-entry Anxiety

Different people have different coping strategies, but there are some common ways everyone can cope with re-entry anxiety. If you’re feeling anxious as you transition back to your pre-COVID-19 life, consider the following five coping tips:

1. Start small and gradually build up to more significant social interactions. Don’t rush into anything.
2. Set boundaries by letting other people know what you’re comfortable with. There’s no need to apologize for not wanting to do something, so clearly explain how you feel and also be respectful of others.
3. Make a post-pandemic bucket list to shift your thinking from anxious to positive. A lot has changed due to the pandemic, but you can focus on the new possibilities.
4. Do what makes you happy, even if only for a few minutes each day. It’s important to engage in something fulfilling for yourself regularly.
5. Take care of yourself and set aside time every day to relax and reset your mind.

Breathing Exercises for Anxiety

When anxious, you tend to take rapid, shallow breaths from the chest. Chest breathing can result in increased heart rate, dizziness and muscle tension. During abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing, you instead take even deep breaths, which reduces the amount of work your body needs to do to breathe.

Cholesterol and You

Did you know one in three American adults has high cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood. Your body needs it to build cells, but too much can pose a problem. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins:

1. LDL (low-density lipoprotein)—known as bad cholesterol—makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
2. HDL (high-density lipoprotein)—known as good cholesterol—absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver to be flushed from the body.
   Bad cholesterol can be elevated by certain factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive alcohol use and family history. High cholesterol usually has no symptoms, so it’s best to have a cholesterol screening every four to six years and discuss lifestyle risks with a doctor.