CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote

June 4, 2024 / Get Well

How can your Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? The CommonHealth programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled wellness consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise and more for faculty/staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you. If you’re looking to book an event in July/August, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you.

Check out this week’s updates from CommonHealth.

  • It’s well-known that limiting your sugar intake can have significant health benefits. One of these benefits is improved brain function — specifically, a reduction in “brain fog.” Research has shown that excessive sugar intake can lead to forgetfulness. This is because high-sugar diets affect the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center. Check out this interesting article on sugar and its impact on the brain to learn more.  
    • Be sure to contact your CommonHealth campus coordinator if you are interested in scheduling a Sweet Surrender presentation in your office. The Sweet Surrender handout has details, tips and more to help you curb your sweet tooth!
  • Be sure to act FAST if you or someone you know is experiencing the signs of a stroke. To learn more about identifying signs and symptoms, please revisit the Weekly Wellnote from May 23. May was Stroke Awareness Month.  
  • Nominate your own CommonHealth Wellness Champion, the person in your office who inspires you to live your best, healthiest life. To nominate someone, fill out the form linked here. To learn more about the qualifications, please visit the CommonHealth website.

CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote Masthead with rainbow swish on black background. Below header: commonhealth dot virginia dot gov Top panel (with cartoon drawing of a smiling pink brain wearing sneakers and holding a water bottle) May Is Stroke Awareness Month When stroke strikes, every second counts. F.A.S.T. is how we respond to end stroke. F. Face Drooping A. Arm Weakness S. Speech Difficulty T. Time to Call 911 Three shorter columns below: Sugar Brain Fog? Yes, It’s a Thing (at bottom-left corner is stock photograph of colorful hard candy) Research has linked high sugar consumption to inflammation in the brain, which can lead to memory struggles. Ask your benefits administrator today to schedule an onsite presentation of CommonHealth’s Sweet Surrender sugar education program. 2024 CommonHealth Wellness Champions (with cartoon drawing of a gray dove and a green leaf) Is there a person in your workplace who inspires you to live your best? If you know a CommonHealth Wellness Champion, tell us their story to help inspire others to recognize the good and encourage each other to live well. Be sure to let your Champ know of your intention to nominate them for their accomplishments. Nominate a Wellness Champion by clicking the button below. (followed by pink button labeled "NOMINATIONS") A Little Bit Healthier This Week (with cartoon drawing of four people enjoying a cookout) As summer quickly approaches, follow these safety tips for your grilling festivities this summer. - Preheat your grill 15-25 minutes before you start cooking to make sure it reaches the right temperature. - Use separate cutting boards, utensils, and platters for raw and cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination. - Refrigerate foods while marinating. Happy grilling!! In footer: Contact CommonHealth: wellness at dhrm dot virginia dot gov

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Submitted by:
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu