OvationNation – Ovation Benefits Blog

Ladies, with Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s time for you to start thinking of your “sweetheart.” But more importantly, it’s time to start thinking about yourself! We are always so busy taking care of others that we forget to take care of NUMBER 1! Our health, happiness and sense of fulfillment are so important to our well being yet we don’t make it enough of a priority.

With regards to our health, there are several important exams/tests that women should not ignore. They are:

Yearly Exam – A yearly exam with your Primary Care Physician is recommended. They will typically screen for things like cholesterol levels, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They will also administer any important immunizations you may require. An added benefit is to be able to ask any health-related questions or concerns you may have. Your doctor’s advice may improve or maintain your health all year long.

Mammogram – Mammograms are recommended each year for women aged forty and over. Even women who live healthy lifestyles and are at average risk should have annual mammograms and a routine breast exam.

Annual Pap Smear – The American Cancer Society recommends women undergo annual Pap Smears once they turn eighteen or if they are sexually active, since some forms of cervical cancers emerge from sexually transmitted diseases like HPV. Yearly Paps can detect cervical cancer in women during the early stages of the disease.

Colonoscopy – Regular screenings for colon cancer, such as colonoscopies, should begin at age fifty and should take place every ten years thereafter.

Dentist – Adults and children should schedule checkups twice a year even if no dental problems are present. A regular visit to your dentist helps keep your gums and teeth healthy and allows the dentist detect any early indications of gum disease, cavities or other dental problems.

After taking care of all the mundane – yet important – yearly exams, why not treat yourself to an occasional manicure or pedicure? Although they are not “medically” necessary, they are oh-so-relaxing! Don’t we all deserve a little pampering sometimes?

If any men have bothered to read this article to the end, there are a few things you should remember as well. Men should also have a yearly check of their blood pressure, weight and cholesterol. Men over the age of fifty should be tested for colorectal cancer and undergo regular prostate examinations. Remember that any preventive exam provides opportunity for early detection of serious illness. Secondly, if you have a personal/familial history, it’s advisable to get checked out more frequently.

If we feel our best, we are able to take better care of our families and our special “sweethearts.” Happy Valentines Day!

Many companies these days are offering Corporate Wellness programs to their employees. In order for these programs to be successful, you need to gain “buy-in” from the top. This means that upper management needs to talk the talk and walk the walk. Here at Ovation, they do just that! In a survey, human resources firm Bswift found that the number of companies offering incentives for participation in wellness programs rose from 49% in 2010 to 68% in 2011.

It's better if upper management is on board!

At Ovation, we have used health biometrics as a way to measure the outcome of our wellness program and ensure that employers and workers are seeing results. By measuring cholesterol levels, body mass index, flexibility, endurance etc., the employees have a base line from which to work from and improve on.

Along with a proper diet consisting of plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes, you have to incorporate exercise. At Ovation, not only do we offer healthy snacks, recipes, and cook-off contests, but we have running groups and “Boot Camp” exercise classes on a weekly basis. Although all of these are purely voluntary, the number of employees and management that participate is very impressive.

According to Workforce Management Magazine, a University of Georgia study found that wellness programs that were engaging and supported by managing staff were significantly more effective than a program that was purely informational.

In light of our present weak economic state, your company may be hesitant to invest in a Wellness Program. Please reconsider! Employee wellness programs have shown reduced employee absenteeism, reductions in insurance costs, strengthened employee productivity, and lower turnover rates. Many companies might also agree that a significant amount of their healthcare costs stem from the lifestyle habits of their staff, which suggests that interventions to change unhealthy behavior may be successful in reducing insurance expenditures.

Also, before making any drastic changes, a CEO may wonder what the company’s return on investment (ROI) will be if they decide to implement a Wellness Program. According to an article on the Human Resource Network website, wellness initiatives only need to reduce employee health risk factors by less than 1% in order to start seeing savings on health insurance.

Your employees are very instrumental in helping your bottom line. Isn’t it time to initiate the necessary measures to ensure they are as healthy as they can possibly be?

There are a whopping one billion colds in the U.S. each year – this much is a fact. However, what causes colds and what helps you get over a bad case of the sniffles is surrounded by myths and misinformation.

• Myth or Truth – Washing your hands is your best defense against getting sick. Truth
• Myth or Truth – You can catch a cold by walking outside with wet hair. Myth
• Myth or Truth – Drastically changing weather brings on a cold. Myth
• Myth or Truth – Loading up on “super foods” gives your immune system a fighting chance. Truth

The trick is not waiting until you are feeling under the weather. Studies show that infection-fighting nutrients like zinc and selenium work better before symptoms start. Load up on healthy foods now to keep your body’s defense system strong throughout the season.

The following are five “super foods” that experts recommend:

1. Raw Kale: Raw kale is one of the best sources of vitamin C and has the added benefit of being low in sugar and high in fiber.
2. Garlic: Garlic has had a reputation for being an infection-fighting food for a long time. This is due to over100 sulfur-containing compounds in each clove.
3. Wheat Germ: Wheat germ is one of the richest sources of zinc. Zinc is an important mineral involved in nearly every aspect of immune system regulation. It also helps maintain healthy skin and mucus membranes – the body’s first barriers to infection.
4. Brazil Nuts: Brazil nuts are the richest source of selenium – a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cellular damage. Selenium may help prevent chronic diseases like heart disease and certain cancers. One word of caution – Brazil nuts are so high in selenium that a single nut has nearly twice the recommended daily dose.
5. Mushroom Barley Soup: Mushrooms and barley are both high in what’s called beta-glucan. This is a type of carbohydrate that’s found on the cell walls of fungi, yeast, bacteria etc. Researchers say that beta-glucan can stimulate the immune system by mimicking an invading pathogen, which in turn improves the function of immune defense cells.

Although most people usually get one nasty cold during the winter, try incorporating the foods mentioned above – you may be surprised at how healthy you stay!