Welcome to the Local 4 Funds Office Wellbeing Hub.
We’re glad you’re here!
We’re glad you’re here!
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
— Jim Rohn
Karen Larsen
Social Worker and Care Coordinator
Yawning? Hard time getting up with morning? You’re not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, almost half of adults report that they feel sleepy between three and seven days a week. Generally, adults need at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Chronically getting too few hours of sleep can lead to negative health effects.
Why is sufficient sleep important? Adequate sleep provides both physical and mental health benefits. Poor sleep can contribute to auto and workplace accidents, and poor school performance. But getting adequate amounts of sleep can have a variety of positive health effects. Getting good quality sleep can lead to a reduction in stress, improvement in memory, better cardiovascular health, healthier blood sugar levels, decreased levels of inflammation, healthier weight, and mood improvement.
What can you do to improve your sleep habits?
- Stick to a routine for sleep time and wake times, even on the weekends.
- Limit the use of caffeine, especially after 2 p.m.
- Exercise! In addition to the health benefits of keeping active, it helps with sleep. Try to exercise earlier in the day.
- Quit smoking/vaping/chewing tobacco.
- Limit your use of alcohol. While drinking alcohol before bed may make you drowsy, it actually interferes with sleep.
- Keep your bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature.
- Avoid using electronics in the bedroom. This includes TVs, cell phones, tablets, gaming devices and computers.
If you are not sleeping well, talk to your health care provider. They can assess reasons for your sleep problems, address potential sleep disorders, and help you to work out a plan to improve your sleep. This month’s Tips from Lyra has more information on the importance of sleep; see the post under Tips from Lyra.
For more information about sleep and sleep disorders, see the following link from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/index.html
In Good Health,
This Month’s Featured Partner
TruHearing
You may not think of it, but your hearing is a part of your overall wellness.
If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves, get complaints from others about the volume of the television, people tell you that you shout or you think everyone around you mumbles, you may be experiencing hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be frustrating not only for the person experiencing the loss, but also for their friends and family. While age is the greatest predictor of hearing loss, approximately 15% of adults ages 40-59 have hearing loss in both ears. The causes of hearing loss can include genetics, noise exposure, infections, and head injuries. Johns Hopkins University notes that it takes people on average 10 years of hearing problems before getting help.
Signs of hearing loss may include tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, difficulty talking on the phone, increased difficulty hearing high pitched sounds or distinguishing sounds in a crowded or noisy setting.
While hearing loss can be frustrating, there are also health concerns that are associated with hearing loss, including social isolation, cognitive impairment, falls, and mobility problems. Social isolation can occur when people are unable to keep up with conversations and begin to withdraw from social contact. That can lead to issues such as depression and dementia. Hearing also plays a role in balance. When you experience hearing loss you may miss out on cues that help with walking and preventing falls. Many Local 4 Members work around loud noises on a daily or near daily basis. You want to be able to hear adequately on the work site for safety reasons.
An evaluation from a professional can assist you in determining if you have hearing loss and the best steps forward.
If you think that you may be experiencing hearing loss, our hearing benefit partner, TruHearing, provides free hearing tests and an allowance of up to $1,300 per ear, every four years, for hearing aids. They also have a free online hearing screening tool on their website at www.TruHearing.com/IUOELocal4. Please note that you must contact TruHearing at 888-934-2739 to schedule an appointment and to maximize your hearing benefit. Click here for more information on TruHearing.
For more information on hearing loss, check out the sites below:
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health
- Johns Hopkins Medicine “The Hidden Risk of Hearing Loss” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, snowblowers, power trimmers are equally to blame as industrial machinery, construction work, or large concerts.
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when we are exposed to harmful noise levels such as sounds that are too loud or loud sounds heard for too long. This results in damage to the hair cells that convert the sounds we hear into electrical signals that get sent to our brain. NIHL can be caused by an extreme impulse sound, such as an explosion, or a continuous exposure to loud sounds over a period of time.
A good rule is to avoid noises that are “too loud” and “too close” or that last “too long” to avoid having NIHL. The damage to our hair cells and auditory nerves can result in temporary to permanent hearing loss. Exposure to loud conditions may also lead to tinnitus – a ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears. In order to avoid such damage to your hearing it is important to wear protection such as earplugs and or earmuffs.
