National Health Observances for August .............................2

BetterSafe: A Closer Look at Risk Factors For Cancer .........3

DayInDayOut: Building Healthy Relationships .....................5

Take Charge: Arthritis Can Affect Anyone ............................7

To Your Health: Take Time to Stay In Tune ...........................9

Inspiration..............................................................................11

DIGITALONEHEALTH AND BENEFITS

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AUGUST 2018

National Health Observances

AUGUST | 2018

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Dental Implant Month

Immunization Awareness Month

Psoriasis Action Month

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

Health Center Week (12-18)

Health Unit Coordinator Week (23-29)

Opioid Misuse Prevention Day (31)

It is usually not possible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another doesn’t. But research has shown that certain risk factors may increase a person’s chances of developing cancer. (There are also factors that are linked to a lower risk of cancer. These are sometimes called protective risk factors, or just protective factors.)

Cancer risk factors include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as certain behaviors. They also include things people cannot control like age and family history. A family history of certain cancers can be a sign of a possible inherited cancer syndrome.

Most cancer risk (and protective) factors are initially identified in epidemiology studies. In these studies, scientists look at large groups of people and compare those

who develop cancer with those who don’t. These studies may show that the people who develop cancer are more or less likely to behave in certain ways or to be exposed to certain substances than those who do not develop cancer.

Such studies on their own cannot prove that a behavior or substance causes cancer. For example, the finding could be a result of chance, or the true risk factor could be something other than the suspected risk factor. But findings of this type sometimes get attention in the media, and this can lead to wrong ideas about how cancer starts and spreads.

When many studies all point to a similar association between a potential risk factor and an increased risk of cancer, and when a possible mechanism exists that could explain how the risk factor could actually cause cancer, scientists can be more confident about the relationship between the two.

A CLOSER LOOK ATRisk Factors for Cancer

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The list below includes the most-studied known or suspected risk factors for cancer. Although some of these risk factors can be avoided, others—such as growing older—cannot. Limiting your exposure to avoidable risk factors may lower your risk of developing certain cancers.

» Age

» Alcohol

» Cancer-CausingSubstances

» Chronic Inflammation

» Diet

» Hormones

» Immunosuppression

» Infectious Agents

» Obesity

» Radiation

» Sunlight

» Tobacco

COMMON CANCER QUESTIONS

Certain popular ideas about how cancer starts and spreads—though scientifically wrong—can seem to make sense, especially when those ideas are rooted in old theories. But wrong ideas about cancer can lead to needless worry and even hinder good prevention and treatment decisions. Here are some common cancer questions and the reality behind them.

Will eating sugar make my cancer worse?

No. Although research has shown that cancer cells consume more sugar (glucose) than normal cells, no studies have shown that eating sugar will make your cancer worse or that, if you stop eating sugar, your cancer will shrink

or disappear. However, a high-sugar diet may contribute to excess weight gain, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer.

Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer?

No. Researchers have conducted studies on the safety of the artificial sweeteners and found no evidence that they cause cancer in humans. All of artificial sweeteners except for cyclamate have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States.

Is cancer contagious?

In general, no. Cancer is not a contagious disease that easily spreads from person to person. The only situation in which cancer can spread from one person to another is in the case of organ or tissue transplantation. A person who receives an organ or tissue from a donor who had cancer in the past may be at increased risk of developing a transplant-related cancer in the future. However, that risk is extremely low.

Does my attitude—positive or negative—determine my risk of, or likely recovery from, cancer?

To date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that links a person’s “attitude” to his or her risk of developing or dying from cancer. If you have cancer, it’s normal to feel sad, angry, or discouraged sometimes and positive or upbeat at other times. People with a positive attitude may be more likely to maintain social connections and stay active, and physical activity and emotional support may help you cope with your cancer.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDINGStrong & Healthy Relationships

Strong, healthy relationships are critical to your overall health and well-being. Studies have found that having a variety of social relationships may help reduce stress and heart-related risks. Strong social ties are even linked to a longer life. On the other hand, loneliness and social isolation are linked to poorer health, depression, and increased risk of early death.

Every relationship exists on a spectrum from healthy to unhealthy to abusive. One sign of a healthy relationship is feeling good about yourself around your partner, family member, or friend. You feel safe talking about how you feel. You listen to each other. You feel valued, and you trust each other.

It’s important for people to recognize and be aware of any time where there is a situation in their relationship that doesn’t feel right to them or that makes them feel less than who they are. It’s normal for people to disagree with each other. But conflicts shouldn’t turn into personal attacks. In a healthy relationship, you can disagree without hurting

each other and make decisions together.

SIGNS OF UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

If you grew up in a family with abuse, it may be hard as an adult to know what healthy is. Abuse may feel normal to you. There are several kinds of abuse, including physical, sexual, and verbal or emotional. Hurting with words, neglect, and withholding affection are examples of verbal or emotional abuse.

In an unhealthy or abusive relationship, your partner may blame you for feeling bad about something they did or said. They may tell you that you’re too sensitive. Putting you down diminishes you and keeps them in control.

In a healthy relationship, however, if you tell your partner that something they said hurt your feelings, they feel bad for hurting you. They try not to do it again.

Abuse in an intimate relationship is called domestic or

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HOW TO HELP SOMEONE IN AN

UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

» Show your concern and let themknow you care

» Ask for them to share their feelingand listen without judging or blaming

» Tell them that it’s not their fault

» Offer to go with them to talk tosomeone who can help

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intimate partner violence. This type of violence involves a pattern of behaviors used by one person to maintain power and control over someone that they are married to, living with, or dating now or in the past. A pattern means it happens over and over.

In an unhealthy or abusive relationship, you may not be allowed to spend time with family, friends, and others in your social network.

HOW TO FORM HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

FOR LIFE

Studies have shown that certain factors seem to protect people from forming unhealthy relationships over their lifetime. The protection starts early in life. Some research has shown that the quality of an infant’s emotional bond with a parent can have long-lasting positive or negative effects on the ability to develop healthy relationships.

A family that functions well is central to a child’s development. Parents can help children learn how to

listen, set appropriate boundaries, and resolve conflicts. Parents teach children by example how to consider other people’s feelings and act in ways to benefit others.

Secure emotional bonds help children and teens develop trust and self-esteem. They can then venture out of the family to form other social connections, like healthy friendships. In turn, healthy friendships reduce the risk of a child becoming emotionally distressed or engaging in antisocial behaviors.

On the other hand, having an unhealthy relationship in the family, including neglect and abuse, puts a child at risk for future unhealthy relationships.

Healthy friendships and activities outside of the home or classroom can play protective roles during childhood, too. In fact, everyone in a community can help support the development of healthy connections. Adults can serve as good role models for children, whether the children are their own or those they choose to mentor.

You may think of arthritis as a condition that only affects older adults, but that’s actually not the case. It’s indeed common for many people to start to feel pain and stiffness in their joints as they get older, often when they’re 45 to 50. However, arthritis can affect young adults and evenchildren. In recent years, scientists have made rapidprogress in understanding the many causes of arthritis.They’ve also made significant strides in developingeffective new treatments for many forms of the disease.

“Arthr” means joint, and “itis” means inflammation—heat, swelling, and redness. But the inflammation of arthritis isn’t always something you can see. Some types of arthritis are very inflammatory and others aren’t as much. But they all involve an element of inflammation. Arthritis comes in many forms. In fact, there are more than 100 types, each with its own symptoms and treatments. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints, breaks

down and wears away. It most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips.

Osteoarthritis can follow injury to a joint. For example, years after a soccer injury to a knee, you might get osteoarthritis in the knee. Once you’ve had a severe joint injury, it’s important to be careful about what kind of activities you do.

GOUT

Another common type of arthritis is gout. Gout usually affects the big toe, but many other joints may be involved. It’s caused by needle-like crystals that build up in the joints.

People with gout might try to avoid certain foods—including liver, beef, anchovies, and meat gravy—because they can bring on a gout attack in some people. These foods are rich in molecules called purines, which break down in your body and can ultimately contribute to crystal formation. Drinking alcohol, being overweight, and taking certain medications may make gout worse. In older people, some blood pressure medicines can also increase the chance of a gout attack.

ARTHRITIS CAN AFFECT ANYONE

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Your doctor might do blood tests and X-rays to find out if you have gout. If you are diagnosed with gout, it can be treated several different ways, often in combination.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

A very different type of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast to osteoarthritis and gout, which affect particular joints, rheumatoid arthritis can affect your whole body. It arises when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own joints. That can bring pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints and bones—most often in the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect your internal organs and systems. You might feel sick or tired or have a fever. Laboratory tests for certain immune system activity can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis.

TREATMENTS

Many treatments are available for osteoarthritis. Talk to your doctor about exercises that can help and activities you should avoid. Several pain and anti-inflammatory medicines are available by prescription or over the counter.

Additionally, a lot of new treatments that have come out in the past 10 to 15 years have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some rheumatoid arthritis medications interfere with the immune system’s activity. By interrupting the events that lead to inflammation, these medications help block inflammation and prevent structural damage to the joints.

Researchers continue to explore what causes arthritis. A better understanding of the factors involved might lead to new treatment approaches. Genes play a significant role in many types of arthritis. For example, scientists have linked certain immune system genes with a tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Genes involved in how uric acid is processed have been tied to gout.

If you feel pain and stiffness in your joints, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your doctor. The sooner you act, the better you can prevent damage to your joints.

ARTHRITIS TIPS

» Try to keep at a healthy weight that’s normal foryour height.

» Exercise. A health professional can show you howto move more easily. Going for a walk every daywill help, too.

» If you had a severe joint injury, be careful aboutprotecting it during future activities.

» Don’t smoke. People who smoke are more likely toget rheumatoid arthritis, and their symptoms tendto be worse.

» Take your medicines when and how you aresupposed to. They can help reduce pain andstiffness.

» Try taking a warm shower in the morning.

You’ve probably heard that your body has its own biological clock, but have you ever given much thought as to how important this clock is? Indeed, your biological clock helps you feel alert during the day, hungry at mealtimes, and sleepy at night. Moreover, keeping your body’s daily cycles, or circadian rhythms, in sync is important for your health.

A circadian rhythm is a roughly 24 hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including humans, plants and animals. They affect almost every part of your physiology in one way or another. Circadian rhythms are big influencers in the body. Learning how these rhythms are generated is critical for understanding health.

DAILY RHY THMS

Our natural daily rhythms are synchronized with the sun. A “master clock” in the brain receives direct input from the eyes and coordinates all the biological clocks in the body.

During the day, it sends signals to other brain regions to make hormones that will help keep you awake, boost your heart rate, and give you energy. In the evening, when less light enters your eyes, it triggers production of a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin makes you feel drowsy and helps you stay asleep.

Your biological clock’s “settings” are determined by specific genes. These settings can affect body temperature, blood pressure, activity level, inflammation (your body’s protective response to injury or infection), fertility, mood, and brain functions. Even the timing of health-related events can be related to your biological clock. For instance, heart attacks are more likely to occur early in the morning, when the level of a hormone called cortisol starts its daily rise.

Circadian rhythms can influence eating habits, digestion, and metabolism (how our body uses and stores energy), too. Researchers have found that eating later in the day, closer

TAKE TIME TO STAY IN TUNEwith Your Biological Clock

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DID YOU KNOW?

Smartphones—like laptops, tablets, and televisions—emit blue light, a type of

light that the brain intrepets as daylight. It suppresses melatonin (the hormone that affects circadian rhythm) and can make it

even tougher to fall asleep if used before bedtime.

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to when melatonin is released, can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms. This can lead to increased body fat and weight gain, which are often associated with obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Time of day has also been shown to impact the effectiveness and side effects of certain medications, including those used to treat cancer.

BE MINDFUL OF WHAT AFFECTS

YOUR RHY THMS

Be mindful about how you may be altering your circadian rhythms. For instance, shift workers who must be on the job after the sun goes down are at odds with their biological clocks. They may be tired at work and have trouble falling or staying asleep during daylight hours after work. Studies show that shift workers have increased risk for heart disease, digestive disturbances, cancer, depression, and other health problems.

Traveling across time zones can also disrupt your circadian rhythms. The brain has trouble adjusting when the time of day suddenly changes. The result is jet lag.

Researchers are considering time of day and how to sync up with the body’s clocks in all aspects of health, even the best time to have surgery on specific parts of the body. These studies may lead to new insights for a range of clock-related disorders, from insomnia and jet lag to diabetes.

Here are some additional ways you can help keep your body’s clock in sync:

» Stick to a regular sleep schedule every day of the week.

» Sleep in a dark, quiet, and comfortable place.

» Avoid heavy meals two to three hours before bedtime.

» Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day.

» Exercise daily, but not within two hours of bedtime.

» Limit the use of electronics with bright screens beforebedtime.