Employee Health Services Newsletter - April 2026

Ensuring Better Sleep

Good sleep is a cornerstone to overall health, just like eating right, moving daily, and managing stress well.  On the job, this is even more important for individuals that operate heavy equipment or drive company vehicles.  Catawba Valley Health System’s Occupational Health Clinic and Catawba Valley Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Clinic have partnered to help you evaluate and manage the sleep health of your team.  In honor of May being Better Sleep month, click here for more information about their programs. 

Good sleep is essential for mental and cognitive health on the job and at home, physical health (reduces risk of obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes), and social well-being (enhances patience, empathy, and interpersonal interactions).  Yet, many of us don’t prioritize good sleep, and this is evident by observing our good sleep habits.  For instance, do you: 

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule 
• Create a dark & quiet environment for sleep 
• Reduce your screen time before bed 
• Manage your caffeine and/or alcohol intake, based on your sleep needs (7-9 hrs of good quality sleep/night) 

Most of us do not, however these small changes can make a profound affect on our ability to maximize the benefits of sleep to wake refreshed and ready to function at a high level at work, especially staff that operate with a CDL. 

Any employee with a CDL, requires a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination, at least every 24 months, that must be conducted by a licensed medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry. These examiners are monitoring various health conditions from high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as sleep apnea.  Catawba Valley Occupational Health has licensed medical examiners that can perform these exams- (call 828-326-3230 to schedule an appt) 

Some risk factors that can point to obstructive sleep apnea include: 

• Excessive daytime sleepiness 
• Loud or frequent snoring 
• High blood pressure 
• Neck circumference over 17 inches in males or 15.5 inches in females. 

If sleep apnea is suspected, CVOH can refer an individual to our Catawba Valley Pulmonology and Sleep Clinic to be assessed.  If apnea is diagnosed, the providers can then manage the treatment required, which often includes Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. 

If CPAC therapy is prescribed, the Occupational Health clinic will be able to certify the driver after one week of successful use and conduce annual recertification. 

Catawba Valley Health System seeks to take care of our community and one way we do that is providing services to our corporate partners that allows them to care for their team members.  For more information about how our Catawba Valley Occupational Health Clinic can assist you with the sleep needs of your employees, contact Debbie Lutz at dlutz@catawbavalleymc.org. 

Stroke Prevention & Awareness

Catawba Valley Health System is ranked in the top 6% of hospitals for providing stroke care. This care includes emergent care, as well as sharing education with community members to prevent a stroke event.   Since May is Stroke Awareness Month, click here to learn more about how CVHS can help your team be more stroke aware. 

May is Stroke Awareness Month, focusing on raising awareness, supporting survivors and promoting stroke prevention. The risk factors for a stroke include a combination of both uncontrollable and controllable factors. Examples of uncontrollable factors include age, gender, and family history. Controlled factors include diet, exercise and blood pressure control. Understanding these factors is crucial for stroke prevention.  

Regular health screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol are important for understanding your risk of a stroke. In addition, understanding your results and taking necessary precautions is critical. To learn more about critical lab values and understanding your lab report, click here.  

Making healthier lifestyle choices can significantly reduce your risk of stroke, along with other diseases and illnesses. Some of these choices include: 

• Choosing a low fat, high fiber diet that includes 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day; limiting foods high in cholesterol like eggs and red meats; substitute herbs and spices for salt; drink less caffeine/alcohol and more water. 

• Participating in physical activity or exercise for at least 30 minutes a day 

• Managing stress by practicing good self-talk, make time for self-care, and ask for help when needed 

The Employer Health Services team at Catawba Valley Health System can provide onsite health screenings with personalized results that are reviewed by a registered nurse. We can also provide onsite education and resources to assist employees in living a healthy lifestyle.  Which is important, because healthy employees are happier employees! 

For more information contact Meghan Harmon, Community Health Outreach Manager at mharmon@catawbavalleymc.org  or 828-732-6201. 

April is Occupational Therapy Month

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and one thing that occupational therapists deal with a lot, is overuse injuries.  According to the department of labor, over a 2-year period (2023-2024), the highest number of DART (days away, restricted, or transferred) cases were caused by overexertion, repetitive motion, and bodily conditions with a median of 14-days away from work.  Here at Catawba Valley Medical Center our occupational therapy department is available to treat early, which allows for better symptom management and prevention of lost time.  Click here to learn more about overuse injuries and how we can help! 

The National Safey Council reported the total cost of work injuries in 2023 to be $176.5 billion. This figure includes: 

• wage and productivity losses ($53.1 billion) 
• medical expenses ($36.8 billion) 
• administrative expenses ($59.5 billion) 

When to seek care: 

As with many conditions, early intervention is key to preventing time loss from overuse injuries, so have your employees seek care at the onset of pain, changes in sensation (tingling, numbness, pins& needles), or changes in joint movement or strength.   

What are common overuse injuries: 

• trigger finger 
• lateral and medial epicondylitis (elbow) 
• carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist) 
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (thumb) 

Ways we treat: 

Interventions are patient-specific and include: 

• exercise programs including blood flow restriction therapy 
• treatments such as ultrasound, heat/cold therapies, and Kinesio taping 
• joint protection and ergonomic education to prevent worsening of injury or additional injuries. 

Overuse injuries can be tricky to treat and rarely get better on their own, so seek the professionals at Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Center for Rehabilitation to guide your employees on the fastest road back to productivity.  For more information about how CVMC’s Occupational Therapists can help you take care of your staff, contact Jennifer O’Neill at joneill@catawbavalleymc.org.