Health Panel Drops Breast Cancer Screening Age to 40

On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that women
get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing until they are 74. Nearly one year after this screening guidance was drafted in May 2023, the health panel’s recommendations have been finalized without major changes.

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CDC Drops 5-day Isolation Guidance for COVID-19

For the first time since 2021, the agency loosened its COVID-19 isolation guidance
to better reflect the virus’s evolving risk as hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 dropped.

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to stay home from work and school for five
days. Isolation is no longer necessary if the individual has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of medication

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Summer is a fun time of year when people often spend more time outside and with friends. With this increased activity comes the need to reconsider the usual wellness habits you use throughout the rest of the year. There are several ways to ensure you have a healthy, fun and productive summer. During the summer months, here are some reminders:

• Stay inside during extreme heat.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat summer foods.
• Make time to exercise.
• Take a vacation to prevent burnout.

With the change of weather and activity that summer often brings, it’s still important to prioritize your well-being even though your routine may differ from other times of the year. Contact Evolution of Benefits for more wellness tips and related content.

Speak with us to learn more about Wellness Tips for Summer and how you can best protect yourself.

Summertime is here! Now’s the time you can get outside, enjoy nice weather and soak up some sun. But, like with any good thing, too much sunshine can actually hurt your body. That’s because the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays contain radiation that can lead to serious health issues, including cancer.

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn how to protect yourself from UV exposure. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, here’s what you can do to stay safe while appreciating the outdoors:

• Find shade when you need it.
• Wear clothing that protects against direct sunlight (e.g., a wide-brimmed hat).
• Use water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

Speak with us to learn more about the risks of UV exposure and how you can best protect yourself.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms may eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. It’s important to understand that Alzheimer’s is a brain disease—it’s not a normal part of aging.

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, a time meant to reinforce that your brain is a vital organ. It manages your ability to communicate, make decisions and live a full, independent life. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are some ways to support brain health. Lifestyle habits like exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, sleeping enough, and challenging your mind through learning or games can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Contact us to learn more about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

An individual’s mental health—how one thinks, feels and acts—can change over time due to factors like workload, stress and work-life balance. With 1 in 5 American adults experiencing mental illness each year, it is apparent that mental health matters.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but prioritizing mental health is essential year-round—especially during the pandemic. In fact, mental health in the United States continues to worsen as the pandemic persists. Feelings of loneliness and isolation contribute to increased anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, especially among youth and young adults. Although record levels of anxiety and depression are being reported, the mental burden of the pandemic has fortunately enabled more transparency and empathy around mental health.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—or autism—is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental conditions typically characterized by differences in communication and social interaction.

April is National Autism Awareness Month and aims to help you learn more about the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 44 children has autism, and more than 5 million young people and adults have been diagnosed with ASD. Today, autism is usually diagnosed in early childhood, explaining why autism rates in children are generally higher than those in adults. There isn’t a cure for autism, as it’s a lifelong condition. Still, an early diagnosis can improve the quality of life for those with autism and positively impact their careers and relationships.

Click the image to fully view, download, and print this infographic (PDF).