Live Well, Work Well: October 2019

This month’s newsletter discusses National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the sleep-stealing effects of electronic devices and the dangers of vaping.

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October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States. To help spread awareness of this disease, October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Prevalence of Breast Cancer

About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. While there are some breast cancer risk factors that you can’t control, these prevention strategies can help you reduce your risk:

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Exercise regularly.

• Abstain from drinking alcohol or limit intake to one drink per day.

If you’re concerned about your personal risk of developing breast cancer, call or visit your doctor.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and You

There are a variety of ways that you can support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are just a few ideas:

• Participate in a fundraiser event, like a walk or run, to help raise money for breast cancer research.

• Donate to a charity that provides support and services to women and families that are affected by breast cancer.

• Learn about the signs, symptoms, risk factors and screenings for breast cancer.

• Spread awareness about this disease to help educate friends and family.

For more information on breast cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute’s website.

Don’t Let These Devices Steal Your Sleep

If you have trouble falling asleep, your phone may be to blame. Researchers at Harvard found that using your phone, or any electronic device, before going to bed can derail your sleep schedule and prevent a good night’s sleep. More specifically, using your electronic device before bed can disrupt your body’s REM sleep cycle and production of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone.

To reduce the sleep-stealing effects of electronic devices:

• Check your device’s settings for a “nighttime” mode, which adjusts the screen lighting to promote sleep.

• Refrain from using your phone for at least an hour before bed.

• Set your device’s sound settings to “silent” so that you won’t be woken up by texts or emails while you’re trying to sleep.

• Try reading a book or meditating to relax before bed instead of using your phone or watching TV.

The Dangers of Vaping

The use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, has grown exponentially in recent years—especially among young adults in the United States. Despite their popularity, these e-cigarettes are dangerous.

In fact, over 380 people have been hospitalized with severe breathing difficulties that are attributed to vaping, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vast majority of people who have been hospitalized are young adults. In these cases, doctors aren’t entirely sure what’s causing these hospitalizations.

While the investigations are still ongoing, public health officials are warning any e-cigarette users to seek immediate medical attention if they have any chest pain or difficulty breathing after vaping.