January 2019

January is Thyroid Awareness Month
The thyroid, a small gland located in the neck, influences many of your body’s vital organs, including your heart, brain, liver and skin, by producing hormones to help them operate. However, thyroid disease can happen when too much or too little of this hormone is produced, causing your body’s regular functions to speed up or slow down, which can have negative effects including weight gain, feelings of anxiety and swelling in the neck.

The two types of thyroid disease are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid gland, which produces too much thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces less than the normal amount of thyroid hormone, resulting in the decrease of many bodily functions. There are many tests and treatments to determine if you have a thyroid condition. Treatment for hyperthyroidism usually includes prescription drugs, radioactive iodine therapy and/or surgery. Hypothyroidism tends to be treated most effectively with a prescription thyroid replacement hormone.

If you’ve experienced any pain in your neck while swallowing, or notice any swelling or protrusions near your collarbone, contact your physician about a thyroid evaluation. For more information, please visit http://thyroidawareness.com/.

In this issue of Live Well, Work Well read about 

• Beware: New Year = New Fad Diets
• Your Guide to Avoiding Winter Illnesses
• Fast Facts About the Common Cold
• 3 Tips to Beat the Post-holiday Blues
• Recipe: Kale and Tuna Salad

Live Well, Work Well – January 2019 Video

Rescue Your Skin This Winter
Taking care of your skin the right way can be difficult. When the temperature and humidity levels drop though, the task can seem almost impossible to achieve. Having dry skin may not seem like the most concerning health problem, but not treating dry skin can result in:

• Itchiness
• Cracked, painful skin
• Eczema
• Bacterial infection
• Dermatitis

This winter, you should limit how much hot water you expose your skin to as hot water rapidly dries out your skin. Additionally, you should use minimal soap and make sure that the soap you use is gentle on your skin. Finally, make sure that you’re properly moisturizing to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

How to Make a S.M.A.R.T. New Year’s Resolution
According to research, only 8 percent of the people who make New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them. This could be due to people setting unrealistic goals or setting no goals at all. If you want to make a resolution in the new year and actually stick to it, consider setting a “SMART” goal—one that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

For example, let’s say that your goal is that you would like to take three CrossFit classes per week for 60 days. If you achieve your goal at the end of that 60-day period, you should reward yourself with something worthwhile. Then, keep your original goal going with consecutive SMART goals after you complete each one. Remember that when you set your SMART goal, you should determine your reward then, as well. That way, when you’re five weeks in and tempted to throw in the towel, you can set your sights on that specific reward and remind yourself how close you are to getting it.