The IAA One Minute Blog

Everyone likes to have fun in the sun, especially in the water. Although water activities can be fun, it is important to remember that when it comes to water play, safety should always come first.

Children and Pools

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death of people between the ages of 5 to 24. Don't let your child become a statistic. Kids who are four years old should learn how to swim. Children who are younger (but older than one year) can learn as well.

Even after your child has learned how to swim, don't assume they are no longer at risk for drowning. All children need to be supervised, no matter what their swim level. Here are some safety tips:

• Having a fence (one that goes directly around the pool) between the water and your house is the best safety investment. Make sure to check with your local municipality-Licensing and Inspection Department, for installation regulations.
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
• Never leave furniture by the fence that would enable a child to go over it.
• Be sure to remove all pool toys and put them away, as children have drowned trying to retrieve a pool toy.
• Teach kids never to swim alone and to use the buddy system.

Remember, seconds count when it comes to water emergencies, so take the cordless phone with you when watching the kids.

Fun at Ponds and Lakes

Family trips to ponds and lakes during the summer can be fun. Be sure to keep these tips in mind:

Ponds or lakes may have jagged rocks, broken glass or trash. This calls for foot protection, such as aqua socks or water shoes.

• Ponds or lakes may have jagged rocks, broken glass or trash. This calls for foot protection, such as aqua socks or water shoes.
• Watch out for weeds that could tangle an arm or a leg.
• When boating in these areas, remember to designate a driver who will not be drinking. Most boating accidents (particularly teenagers) are related to alcohol.
• Develop a float plan: Whenever you go out on a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. If the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost or encounters other problems, help can reach you.

Fun at the Beach

Beaches are summer hot spots, and there are certain safety tips that everyone (no matter what age) should keep in mind:

• Only swim when there is a lifeguard on duty.
• You should not swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause swimmers to collide with them.
• Never stand with your back to the water because a sudden wave can knock you over.
• If you are caught in a rip current or undertow swim parallel to the shore or tread water and call a lifeguard for help.

What to do in Case of an Emergency

Even under the best supervision, accidents happen and emergencies arise:

1. If your child is missing, always check the pool first. Survival depends on quick rescue and restarting breathing as soon as possible.
2. See if the child's air passages are clear. If the child is not breathing, have someone who knows CPR administer it.
3. If you think the child has suffered a neck injury, keep the child on their back and brace the neck and shoulders with hands and forearms to help keep the neck immobilized.

Keeping calm during an emergency is the most important thing you can do. Keep a level head and make sure that the victim gets the proper help.

What IAA has to Say

The summer is a time to relax and keep cool in the water. Insurance Administrator of America  justs wants you to remember to keep safe. So have fun out there (safely) splashing in the waves. Just think of IAA as your insurance lifeguard, keeping an eye on you. Surfs up!

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Do you spend your days in an exhausted fog? Are you having difficulty concentrating on daily tasks, even after what you thought was a good night's sleep? This might be due to sleep apnea; a serious sleep disorderthat occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep.

What is Sleep Apnea?

People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly when they're asleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. This means the brain and the rest of the body do not get enough oxygen. There are two types of sleep apnea:

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.
2. Central Sleep Apnea: The airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.

The brain responds to this lack of oxygen by sending signals to the person to wake up enough to start breathing again. A cyclic pattern occurs throughout the night of falling asleep, airway collapsing, breathing cessation, drop in oxygen levels, waking up, and breathing again.

Risk Factors

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age. Risk factors are:

• Being male
• Being overweight
• Being over the age of 40
• Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
• Having large tonsils, a large tongue or a small jawbone
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD)
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies or sinus problems

Health Concerns

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks
• Depression
• Morning headaches

Untreated sleep apnea results in oxygen deprivation, which puts enormous stress on an individual's cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

Treatment Options

Those who suffer from sleep apnea often do not recognize that they have a sleep disorder and do not report their symptoms to a physician. It is time to seek a doctor when:

• Snoring is loud enough to disturb the sleep of others and yourself.
• Shortness of breath that awakens you from sleep.
• Intermittent pauses in your breathing during sleep.
• Excessive daytime drowsiness, which may cause you to fall asleep while you're performing daily activities.

A doctor will help you find the right treatment method:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): The patient wears a mask attached to a small machine via a hose.
• Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD): The patient wears a small, custom device like an orthodontic retainer or mouth guard.
• Weight loss

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America knows that getting a good night's sleep can be difficult. But adults do need six to eight hours of quality sleep. Anything that disrupts or fragments sleep, subtracts from the quality of sleep. IAA wants you to have a restful night, so be sure to see your physician if you are experiencing these problems. Just think of us as your insurance sandman. Sweet dreams!

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During any one year, more than half of all Americans go on a diet to lose weight. Some decide to use commercial weight loss programs and others rely on weight loss supplements. Insurance Administrator of America is here to report on the fact and fiction about these weight loss methods.

Joining a Weight Loss Program

Almost any of the commercial weight loss programs can work, but only if they motivate you to change the way you eat or increase the amount of physical activity you participate in. When choosing a program, make sure that the program includes all the recommended daily allowance for vitamins, minerals, and protein and is directed toward slow and steady weight loss. The rate of weight loss should be one to two pounds each week.

As with any type of program there are important questions that need to be asked:

1. Does the staff consist of qualified counselors and health professionals?
2. Are food choices flexible?
3. Are weight loss goals set by the client and/or health professionals?
4. What percentage of people complete the program?
5. What is the average weight loss among those who finish the program and at one year out?
6. What percentage of people have problems or side effects? What are they?
7. Is there a maintenance program to help keep weight off once it is lost?

The program you select should help you improve: dietary habits, increase physical activity, and help you change other lifestyle habits that may have contributed to your weight gain in the past.

Taking Supplements

15% of American adults use diet supplements to boost weight loss. These products claim to decrease appetite, block fat absorption, and increase metabolism. Currently, most weight loss experts do not recommend many products marketed as weight loss supplements due to lack of evidence.

There are six products consumers can buy at the drugstore that have some evidence behind them:

• Calcium
• Fiber
• Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
• Green tea extract
• Meal replacements
• Orlistat

When taking a weight loss supplement, you need to consult your doctor as they have side effects and may interfere with medications you already take.

Lose Weight the Healthy Way

When choosing a weight loss method, remember that when you lose weight, it needs to be done in a healthy manner. Here are some weight loss strategies:

1. Make a commitment
2. Find your inner motivation
3. Set realistic goals
4. Enjoy healthier foods
5. Get active, stay active
6. Change your perspective 

Stay Healthy With IAA

IAA wants you to make sure whatever weight loss program or diet supplement you turn to is the right one for you. Also, think about implementing a Wellness Program at your company so you can be rewarded for your new healthy habits. IAA wants you to lead a happy and healthy life. Just think of us as your self-funded insurance dietician.

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On Thursday, June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Healthcare Reform law is constitutional. Unless repealed, the law will take effect on January 1, 2014. The law will extend coverage to tens of millions of Americans who now lack it.

Three Important Provisions

There are three provisions in the new law without which, it would not work:

1. Health Insurance Exchanges: Under the new law, buyers in the individual market will be able to purchase insurance through a health insurance exchange in 2014. In the exchange, insurance companies will only be able to use the following criteria for setting premium rates: geographic area, age, family size, and whether or not you smoke.
2. Financial Penalty: Those who fail to obtain coverage and do not qualify for exemptions based on religion or income will have to pay a fine (this is known as the Individual Mandate). If consumers do not have insurance by 2014, they will owe $95 or 1% of taxable income, whichever is greater. The penalty rises in 2015 to $325 or 2% of taxable income. In 2016 it would be $695 or 2.5% of taxable income and a maximum of $2,085 per family.
3. Subsidies: To make insurance more affordable for low income families, subsidies will be offered. Those under 400% of the federal poverty line (incomes of about $45,000 per year for an individual or $92,200 for a family of four) will be eligible for the subsidies.

Benefits that have already been implemented will stay for now.

Important Facts

There are some important things to take note of:

• The Supreme Court limited one provision of the law that would require states to comply with eligibility requirements for Medicaid or risk losing their funding. This was held as constitutional as long as states would only lose new funds if they didn't comply with the new requirements, rather than all of their funding.
• Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from penalties that otherwise would be imposed for not covering their workers.
• Small businesses with fewer than 25 workers and average wages of less than $50,000 get tax credit to help cover their workers.

All of these points are helpful to keep in mind as we head into the future of healthcare.

What Does This Mean for You?

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to remember that this is just the end of the inning, not the game. The Supreme Court's decision effectively upholds the law for now, but its future depends on which party controls the White House and Congress after elections in November. The law has triggered changes and innovations in the health, insurance, and employee benefits business, and IAA will continue to provide clients with cutting edge inside perspective. IAA is looking forward to working with you as this unfolds.

If this topic interests you, click here and here to read more about healthcare reform.

As people age they may feel that exercise can no longer play a role in their lives. The truth is, no matter what age you are, exercise should always be part of your daily routine. Exercise can improve your quality of life and you don't have to spend a lot of time doing it to see and feel improvements.

Improve Your Life Through Exercise

Not only can exercising help you age gracefully, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can help:

• Control your weight
• Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Reduce your risk of some cancers
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Improve your mental health and mood
• Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls if you're an older adul
• Increase your chances of living longer

Everyone can gain from the benefits of physical activity. Age, ethnicity, shape or size does not matter.

Getting Started

According to the American Heart Association and U.S. Government Guidelines, a sedentary lifestyle is now recognized as a leading preventable cause of death. Participation in a regular exercise program is vital to maintaining good health. Here are some tips for getting started:

• Be consistent
• Set realistic goals
• Use the buddy system
• Find a plan that fits into your lifestyle
• Find a physical activity that you enjoy
• As a general goal aim for 30 minutes of physical activity every day

If you have a chronic health condition talk with your doctor to see if your condition limits your ability to be active.

Exercise and Age

As people hit old age they lose some things which could be prevented:

• Strength and muscle: Sarcopenia is the term used to describe loss of muscle, strength, and quality of tissue often seen in older adults. Some experts say that muscle mass declines about 1% each year from age 30.
• Cardio endurance: As we age, we often lose aerobic fitness and experts believe that this contributes to reduced mobility in daily life.
• Flexibility: Joints change with age and this can lead to stiffness, decreased range of motion and more injuries.
• Balance: Balance exercises can help you avoid injuries from falls and keep you independent and mobile.

Muscle strength declines as people age, but studies report that when people exercise they become stronger and leaner than others in their age group.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America understands that the pressures of home and family life can mean that there is little time to fit in exercise, but it is important to find the time. IAA wants you to lead a healthy and active life and exercise is a key factor. So take advantage of the nice summer weather and start exercising today!

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