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.

For some, allergy symptoms may consist of sneezing a couple of times a year. But for others, seasonal allergies can cause congestion, a runny, itchy or stuffy nose, watery eyes, headaches and more for weeks or months at a time.

Fortunately, seasonal allergies only occur during certain parts of the year—usually the spring and summer. There are also natural ways to control your allergy symptoms since they are triggered by common allergens like tree pollen, grass, weeds and mold.

Alleviating Seasonal Allergies

Similar to other types of allergies, seasonal allergies develop when your body’s immune system detects and then overreacts to a foreign substance it thinks is harmful. To reduce your allergies, consider the following strategies:

• 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.

Treatment for most allergies is available both over-the-counter and by prescription. If your allergy symptoms are severe or chronic, you may need a series of allergy shots. Contact your doctor or allergist to determine which seasonal allergy treatment option is best for you.

Mediterranean Diet Named Best Diet Again

The Mediterranean diet topped U.S. News & World Report’s best diet list for the fifth year in a row. The publication’s health experts also voted it the best diet for healthy eating, easiest diet to follow, best heart-healthy diet, best plant-based diet and best diet for diabetes. The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern that emulates how people in the Mediterranean region have traditionally eaten, focusing on foods like whole grains and heart-healthy fats.

The Mediterranean diet may help support brain function, promote heart health and regulate blood sugar levels. Research suggests that this well-balanced eating plan can also help prevent some chronic diseases and increase longevity. Although there are no concrete rules for following the Mediterranean diet, check out the infographic below for diet guidelines.

If you have any questions about your diet, talk to your doctor.

Walking for a Longer Life

A new study found that if most people—particularly adults over 40—were active just 10 minutes more a day, it could save more than 110,000 American lives each year. Researchers noticed no difference in benefits based on race or sex. Not surprisingly, the study further noted that an increase of 20 or 30 minutes could lead to even more lives saved.

The study’s projections are based on an additional 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Such activities include bicycling, brisk walking, dancing, heavy yard work or gardening, weight training and yoga.

Health experts recommend walking outside or on a treadmill as one of the best and simplest ways to bring consistent physical activity into your life. Any movement can add up during the day, so find what works best for your schedule and lifestyle. Always remember to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program. Read More

For many across the country, working from home is their new reality for the foreseeable future as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread rapidly. For some, this arrangement is business as usual. But for others, including parents and caregivers, they now face the difficult task of balancing their working from home and caregiving responsibilities.

If you’re in this situation, it may be difficult to navigate. Use the strategies outlined below to help you manage your telecommuting and caregiving responsibilities.

Set a Schedule

Humans crave structure, regardless of whether they’re working in the office or at home. As such, while you’re working from home, it’s important to create a schedule and stick to it. For example, if you’re used to going to the gym before work, try to wake up early and get an at-home workout in before you start your workday from home.

Setting a schedule for yourself is just as important as setting one for those whom you’re looking after at home. If you have children at home, try to mirror their school schedule as much as possible. For example, have them wake up at the same time that they would for school, eat breakfast and get ready. Then, have them work on activities for specific times, building in time for meals and going outside.

For other loved ones you may be caring for, try to incorporate their standard routine with your personal schedule.

Health and wellness tips for your work, home, and life—brought to you by the insurance professionals at Deutsch & Associates, LLC

Create Separate Spaces

When you’re working from home, it’s important that you create separate spaces for yourself and those you’re looking after.

Ideally, your at-home workstation would be at a desk or table, away from any distractions such as the TV. Trying to work from your bed or couch can be challenging, since such locations are associated with sleep and relaxation. Creating this separation will benefit your productivity as well as your mental well-being.

Not only will this help you remain productive at work, but it will also help communicate to others that when you’re in your workspace, you’re working. Additionally, creating these separate spaces will further instill the schedule that you set.

Take Breaks

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you can’t take breaks. Coordinate all of the schedules so that you can take a break with your loved ones at the same time. Consider getting outside to get some fresh air and exercise.

Make sure to stand up and distance yourself from your at-home workstation. It’s extremely important for your mental well-being to maintain physical separation between your work and home life while you’re working at home.

Communication Is Key

When you’re balancing your job and caregiving responsibilities, it’s important that you communicate with those you’re looking after. It’s also important that you’re honest about your situation with managers and co-workers. Doing so will help ensure that expectations can be properly set and managed during the time you’re working from home.

Consider eating meals together and taking breaks to go for a walk outside or spend time together. Read More

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.

Risk Factors

Today, 37 million Americans are affected by kidney disease—and most won’t have symptoms unless their kidneys fail. There are numerous physical signs of kidney disease, but most people attribute them to other conditions. If you have one of these risk factors, you may be at risk for kidney disease:

• • High blood pressure
• • Heart disease
• • Diabetes
• • Being overweight
• • Family history of kidney disease

It’s even more critical to understand your kidney health amid the pandemic. Kidney disease increases your risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19.

Kidney-friendly Tips

Your kidneys work hard for you, so it’s essential to take good care of them. Consider the following tips:

• • Get tested. Regular screening for kidney damage or disease can help you keep track of your kidney’s health and help prevent future damage.
• • Reduce over-the-counter drug usage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) can cause kidney damage if taken regularly, so never exceed the recommended dosage.
• • Exercise regularly. Exercising helps lower your blood pressure and boost heart health—both critical factors in preventing kidney damage. Focus on being active for at least 30 minutes a day.
• • Eat a healthy diet and monitor your weight. Choose a low-sodium diet, avoid processed meats and focus on fresh ingredients like cauliflower, blueberries, fish and whole grains.
• • Drink plenty of fluids. Water helps flush sodium and toxins from your kidneys. It’s recommended that men should get about 15 . cups of fluids each day, and women need about 11 . cups.

Contact your doctor for more information about kidney health and warning signs. Read More

As employers evaluate how to combat today’s attraction and retention challenges, learning and development (L&D) efforts are a great way for organizations to find and keep employees. The research found that the majority of employees would stay at an organization longer if they felt the employer was invested in their careers.

An authentic learning culture supports a growth mindset, an independent pursuit of knowledge, and open sharing of that knowledge with others. This type of culture supports employees’ desires to continually learn and build their careers. And in addition to being a powerful recruitment and retention tool for organizations, a learning culture has the potential to impact workplaces by closing skill gaps, increasing innovation, and boosting productivity.

Creating a Culture of Learning

Developing a learning and positive company culture takes time and dedication. Consider the following ways employers can build or reinforce a workplace culture of learning:

• • Personalize learning plans to help guide employees on their learning journeys to make learning efforts relevant, and design these plans to support employees’ long-term career goals.
• • Appreciate the value of learning regularly by focusing on how employees apply their newfound knowledge versus simply what was accomplished.
• • Conduct assessments and behavioral interviews to gauge if candidates are lifelong learners and likely to contribute to a learning culture.

A culture of learning requires ongoing attention and effort from organizational leaders and managers but can be an investment in employees—and the organization. Contact Deutsch & Associates, LLC today for more L&D resources. Read More