Drug & Alcohol Testing

Nova Medical Centers offer onsite drug and alcohol testing 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to ensure the workplace is safe from unnecessary risk.

To order:

  • During Business Hours call 1-866-480-1310 or click here to email.
  • After Hours please call 1-866-480-1310, option 2.
Blog Maintaining Mental Health at Work

Maintaining Mental Health in Your Work Environment

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Work can be like your second home. You spend most of your time during the day, if not all week, contributing to fulfilling your company’s goal and/or job requirements. Being that this may be your career choice, you should enjoy what you do and work should not take away from your happiness. With these few mental health advice, hopefully, you can get a push to train your mindset to enjoy your work environment for your own happiness and wellbeing.

Let’s start here…

  • Building relationships with your co-workers is important. This allows the workplace to feel comfortable and friendly. Healthy relationships establish an inviting atmosphere to share personal concerns and relate to others, who may have similar feelings that can build a support team with one another.
  • Getting fresh air or a little sun exposure can uplift your spirits. “Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin,” according to Health Line article; “Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused.” Try to incorporate small work breaks outside to restore your energy and refresh your day.
  • Get well-rested. Exhaustion can contribute to sadness, fatigue, loss of energy or lack of motivation. You should wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your day, not wishing you had an excuse just to fit in some extra hours of sleep! Read our Nova blog for great tips to achieving a good night’s rest.
  • Communicate effectively with your manager or employer. We are all human and might have some bad days or need a mental health day to ourselves. If you’re feeling down or not yourself, respectively, express to your boss about your concerns and take a day to restore your mental health. That way you can return to your daily responsibilities or job with refurbished positively thinking to be productive.
  • Try out different activities outside of work that will help or contribute to a healthy mind. Things such as yoga, establishing a new workout routine, walks outside, more time with loved ones or maybe pick up a painting or cooking class. Get involved with anything that you feel will make you make and feel great about yourself.

When you take care of yourself, not just physically but mentally too, you are able to treat loved ones or co-workers around you at your best capabilities and contribute to your work confidently without it feeling like a burden or it taking away from your peace of mind. If you feel like you may need extra guidance with restoring your mental wellness, reach out to a certified physician who will be happy to assist you with your needs and provide you with a proper plan. Health is Wealth!

oral care; healthcare; holiday tips

4 Oral Health Tips for the Holidays

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Nothing like going to the dentist and leaving with fresh breath and cavity-free! To maintain those healthy teeth, your dentist might advise you to stay away from those surgery drinks and tasty treats. With the holidays approaching, that could sound like torture. Keep calm, with these few oral tips; you can indulge in all those holiday sweets without encouraging any new toothaches.

Don’t overindulge with the sweets. If you can help it, limit your intake of sugary foods and desserts. According to Healthline, “a select group of harmful bacteria produces acid in your mouth whenever they encounter and digest sugar”. This process is known as remineralization, unfortunately, the acid from those sugars is breaking down the tooth enamel. This is the outer layer of protection for your teeth; when this is broken down over time, you are prone to developing cavities. You don’t necessarily have to give up the sweets, just enjoy in moderation.

Drink water often with and in-between meals. Water is a great way to rinse and wash away let over food lingering in your mouth, around your gums and tongue. It may not be as effective as a mouth wash, but water doesn’t contribute to the harm of your teeth enamel as it is flushing away leftover particles before they stick.

Try to brush after each meal. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice daily. But, during the holiday season, it can be good to strive to brush more often given that you are in taking more food and beverages. In the New York Times, article, it is advised to wait at least 20-30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth. Remineralization occurs after sugar enters your mouth and brushing your teeth too soon can speed up that process.

Floss often, if a toothbrush is not accessible at the moment. Of course, it is not likely to keep a toothbrush handy in your pocket, but it could be easier to travel with some floss. Along with drinking your water, floss also is a convenient option to remove leftover food trying to settle in-between your teeth. “More than 500 bacterial species can be found in plaque”, according to the American Dental Association; “Cleaning between teeth removes plaque that can lead to cavities or gum disease from the areas where a toothbrush can’t reach”.

Yes, it is possible to maintain a healthy smile during the holidays. You can happily give into sweet sugary temptation as long as you continue good dental hygiene practices. If you have any additional concerns or need more oral advice, reach out to your dentist for their expertise.

6 Exercise Tips for Moms

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Being a mom can be the most rewarding job but also the most exhausting. You are not only trying to balance your day to day routines, but you’re also making sure the family stays on schedule. As busy as you are, you may tend to think, how in the world are you going to fit an exercise routine when you can barely fit in the time to do laundry? With a little determination to incorporate physical health into your crazy routine and a few pointers to assist, all is possible, momma!

  1. Create a schedule. Keeping your family on a schedule also keeps you on a schedule. A daily schedule can prevent the feeling of frustration and overwhelming and can help form good habits all while prioritizing your time efficiently. Once you create a consistent routine that fits everyone’s needs, the easier it will be to squeeze in a workout.
  2. Prepare the night before, so you are not rushing in the morning. When rushing, you may forget items or tasks to do that may affect the remainder of your day. Key things to prepare could be your favorite smoothie, lunch for the family, and everyone’s clothes for the next day. Try pre-packing a workout bag, to eliminate one less worry before your workout session and reduce potentially wasted time.
  3. Workout before the day starts. This is the time to get away, energize and mentally prepare yourself for your long active day. In New York Times article, Heather Milton, an exercise psychologist for New York University’s performance lab, adds, “Morning workouts tend to be completed by those who prefer to check exercise off their list for the day before the rest of the daily to-do’s, children’s needs, busy gym or decrease in motivation hit them”.
  4. Don’t make your workouts long. When keeping your workouts to a minimum, your ability to stay on your morning schedule is effortless.Healthline.com explains that 30-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) burns more calories all while shortening your workout time. A physical health journal study from NSCA found that HIIT, “burned 25-30% more calories than other forms of exercise”.
  5. Include your kids, sometimes. Every parent’s daily routine is different; you may not have many opportunities or enough time to be apart from your children. A few workouts to consider could be outdoor walks or runs, workout groups or even mommy and me yoga. By having an interactive workout with your children, can establish new intimate bonding time. Another great benefit runners world article elaborated was on physical active mothers being an influence on their children to being more likely to be active, as well.
  6. Set goals that include incentives, not just for self, but also for your kid(s) too. As a parent, you tend to put your children’s needs before yours. To prevent a possible guilty conscience from just rewarding yourself, include your kids such a tasty treat to frozen yogurt.

Working out keeps you active, fit, energized, and increases your stamina. All beneficial aspects to having a productive day being the busy parent you are. These tips are designed to help, not just busy moms, but everyone in creating a healthful routine that best fits your personal life needs.