Health and fitness May 2015

Health & Fitness Issue 1, May 2015

Small batch cooking

page 2

Poison precautions

page 6

Slash drug costs

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Page 2 - The Marshall Democrat-News, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Small-­‐batch cooking trend moves from human tables to pets' plates Small-batch cooking trend moves from human tables to pets' plates Food trends constantly evolve, reflecting society's growing awareness of how what we eat affects our health and the environment. More Americans are choosing foods with an eye to nutrition, natural and locally sourced ingredients, and sustainable preparation processes.

They're not just considering those factors for their own plates, either - they're thinking about them when it comes to choosing pet food, too.

"Trends in pet food have always mirrored what's happening in human food," says Geoff Bednar, senior scientist with Hill's Pet Nutrition.

"When human foods became more processed and mass produced with lessthan-healthy ingredients, the same thing occurred in some pet foods. Now, as consumer awareness shifts toward more healthful options, Americans are looking for the same positive qualities in the food they feed their pets."

A survey of grocery shoppers found that many are conscious of the ingredients that go into the food they choose and how that food is prepared.

Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed by the Hartman Group said they want food and beverages that are minimally processed, 26 percent

look for ingredients they recognize, and 25 percent seek foods with the shortest list of ingredients.

What's more, they're willing to purchase specialty items; nearly 75 percent of consumers say they made a specialty food purchase last year, according to Mintel Group Ltd., a market research firm.

"Consumers care about ingredients, and their understanding of the importance of ingredients is constantly evolving. As pet owners' expectations for their own foods change, it's natural that their expectation for the pets' foods will follow," Bednar says.

Pet food trends of recent years have included corn and grain-free foods, gluten-free options and foods made with more natural ingredients, such as ancient grains. The most recent trend - smallbatch style cooking - focuses on how pet food processing is associated by consumers with the quality and healthfulness of the finished product.

With the entry into the marketplace of products like Hill's Ideal Balance Crafted by Hill's Pet Nutrition, pet food manufacturers are responding to consumer demand for natural ingredients and increased care in the production process.

Small-batch style cooking invests extra preparation, time and at-

tention to detail to produce a higher-quality product on a smaller scale.

Microbrews are an example of small-batch cooking. Hill's employs small-batch practices to produce its new Ideal Balance Crafted product line, and incorporates the natural ingredients such as novel proteins (trout, salmon and tuna), whole and ancient grains (quinoa and buckwheat) and wholesome vegetables (sweet potatoes and peas) that health-conscious pet parents are looking for in food for their pets.

However, pet nutrition experts warn that natural does not always mean well-balanced nutrition.

That is why Hill's relies on pet nutritionists to carefully formulate recipes with select ingredients that together provide an optimal balance of nutrients for each of its products. Combining the science of perfectly balanced nutrition with the art of slower, more thoughtful cooking processes of small-batch preparation gives consumers a natural, carefully produced pet food option that does not compromise on nutritional balance. To learn more, visit HillsIdealBalanceCrafted.com.

"Just as they're seeking better options for their own tables, pet owners care about the quality of their pets' food, as well," ednar says.

Page 3 - The Marshall Democrat-News, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

5 tips to slash prescription drug costs Today's rising health care costs can feel out of control. Fortunately, prescription drugs are an exception. Consider these five simple ways to save money on your prescriptions so you can stay healthy and maintain your budget.

1. Ask about generic or lower-cost equivalents.Your health plan has a list of covered prescription drugs, called a formulary. Within that list are preferred drugs, which have a lower copayment cost for the patient. These are clinical or therapeutic equivalents to higherpriced brand drugs.

Always ask your prescriber or pharmacist, "Is there a generic for that?" It's a fair question. Many physicians write for the familiar brands, the "tried and true," or the newest, most highly marketed drug in the therapy class. Until you ask, they may not be well acquainted with lower-cost equivalents on your particular plan's formulary.

2. Don't be duped by drug

coupons.Hundreds of high-priced brand drugs offer coupons that apply to the consumer's share of the drug's cost. But beware: A temporary discount may end up costing you more in the long run. A recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 62 percent of coupons were for brand-name drugs for which lower-cost alternatives were available.

"Despite the short-term savings achievable with coupons, they do not offset higher, long-term costs because they're nearly always time-delimited," the study states. "Some coupons can be used once and others more than once.

But we found that few offered savings for more than a year. Once a coupon program ends, patients with chronic disease face copayments for these brand-name medications that are higher than for those generic alternatives."

3. Use preferred retail pharmacies for acute medications.Many prescription plans offer a preferred network of retail pharmacies within a wider network. These plans allow you to save between $5 and $10 on copayments just by choosing a preferred pharmacy.

Chances are good that a preferred pharmacy is conveniently located near you.

Before you fill a prescription for an acute medication, such as an antibiotic or painkiller, use your plan's pharmacy locater to find a preferred option. And inform your doctor, as he or she may now send electronic prescriptions directly to the pharmacy.

Medicare patients choosing a prescription plan should look for one that offers preferred networks. Savings at the pharmacy window can easily exceed any small difference in premium amount.

4. Use home delivery for chronic or maintenance medications.With home delivery, many patients can save up to 33 percent on their copayment costs and have the medication delivered right to their door.

Home delivery is a safe and convenient way to obtain medications that you use long term. Many pharmacy plans will provide you with a 90-day supply for a lower copayment. Be sure to tell your doctor that you use home

delivery so your prescription can be written for a 90-day supply.

There's an important bonus that can save you even more: Patients using home delivery are more likely to take their medication as prescribed (see No. 5).

5. Take your medications as prescribed.While it might be tempting to stretch your medication dollar by skipping daily doses, this can be harmful to your health and end up costing you significantly more money to treat the health complications that could have been avoided.

Adherence to your prescribed therapy is the best way to make sure you get the most from your pharmacy benefit. Take your medication at the proper time and frequency as indicated by your doctor, and refill and renew prescriptions as early as possible so you are never empty-handed. Express Scripts offers mobile apps, as well as auto-refill and renewal reminder programs to help you stay on track.

For more information, visit lab.express-scripts.com.

Page 4 - The Marshall Democrat-News, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Page 5 - The Marshall Democrat-News,Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Page 6 - The Marshall Democrat-News, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Avoid an accident with poison prevention at home Nearly 1 million children under the age of 5 are exposed to potentially poisonous medications and household chemicals every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And more than 60,000 young children end up in the emergency room each year from wrongly ingesting medications.

It's not only parents who need to be aware of the risks; many of these incidents occur outside of a child's home. In fact, in 23 percent of the cases in which a child under age 5 mistakenly ingested an oral prescription drug, the medication belonged to someone who did not live with the child, such as an elderly relative or grandparent.

Medications can be poisonous, too Parents know to keep household cleaners and other chemicals out of the reach of children, but should also be cautious about prescriptions, over-thecounter medications and vitamins.

There is no better time than now, during Poison Prevention Week, to learn more about preventing accidental and unintentional poisonings.

Here are some important tips you can share with family and friends.

Be cautious of colors: Medications are colorful and attractive to children and can be mistaken for candy. For example, Tums look like SweeTarts, and Advil and Ecotrin resemble Skittles or M&M's. Parents should not encourage children to take their medication by comparing it to candy, as this may lead to improper use.

Lock it up: Don't leave your next dose out on the counter where a child can reach it. Tightly secure caps and lock up all medications and vitamins in a cool, dry place. Keep medications in their original labeled containers so if there is an emergency, you can tell medical personnel exactly what the child ingested.

Do not share: Be sure to remind children that they should never share their medications. When playing "doctor," friends and younger siblings of those tak-

ing a medication are often the recipients, leading to an accidental poisoning. This is an important message for teens, too, as this behavior often leads to prescriptiondrug abuse.

How to respond to accidental poisonings If you suspect a child has ingested a potentially poisonous substance, here is what you should do: Know your numbers: If the child has collapsed or is not breathing, dial 911 immediately. If the child is awake and alert, call the poison hotline at 800.222.1222 and follow the operator's instructions. If possible, have available the victim's age and weight, the container or bottle of the poison, the time of the poison exposure and the address where the poisoning occurred.

Know the signs: Reactions to ingested medications or household products may vary. Look for signs such as vomiting, drowsiness and any residue odor on the child's mouth and teeth. But know that some products cause no immediate symptoms, so if you suspect that your child has ingested a potentially hazardous substance, call the poison hotline immediately.

Keep calm: It's important to remain calm so you can effectively communicate with emergency personnel. If the child ingested medication, do not give anything to the child by mouth until advised by the poison control center. If chemicals or household products have been swallowed, call the poison control center immediately or follow the first aid instructions on the label.

Medications can keep you healthy but can be extremely dangerous if taken by the wrong person or in the wrong amount. Add in a child's insatiable curiosity, and you have the ingredients for a very serious and dangerous situation.

Fortunately, with a little vigilance, you can keep your little ones safe.

For more information, visit lab.express-scripts.com.

“Medications can be poisonous, too.�

Page 7 - The Marshall Democrat-News,Wednesday, May 27, 2015

More than just annoying: The link between snoring and heart disease Snoring isn’t pleasant for anyone not the partner who has to sleep beside the snorer, nor the snorer whose breathing may pause repeatedly throughout the night. But did you know that loud, excessive snoring is often a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that if left untreated - can cause you to be five times more likely to die from heart disease?

Along with good nutrition and regular exercise, healthy sleep is essential for a healthy heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S, so treating sleep apnea is good for your sleep and your heart.

According to the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disease that afflicts at least 25 million U.S. adults.

“Obstructive sleep apnea is destroying the health of millions of Americans, and the problem has only gotten worse over the last two decades,” says Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

and a national spokesperson for the Healthy Sleep Project. The project is a collaboration between the AASM, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Sleep Research Society and other partners.

Sleep apnea involves repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep, which can put an enormous strain on the heart.

Severe sleep apnea can reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood and cause dangerous surges in your blood pressure. This stress triggers your body to respond in ways that may promote heart disease.

Sleep apnea may be far more common than you think. Between 30 percent and 40 percent of adults with high blood pressure also have sleep apnea.

The rate of sleep apnea soars to 80 percent among people with high blood pressure that do not respond to treatment with medications. Research even shows that sleep apnea can affect the shape, size and performance of your heart.

“The good news is that detecting and treating sleep apnea can improve your heart health and other clinical outcomes,” Morgenthaler says.

The primary treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy. CPAP therapy keeps your airway open by providing a stream of air through a mask that you wear during sleep. Treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy improves blood pressure control and reduces the risk of heart disease. It can even reverse the changes to the shape and size of the heart that can be caused by sleep apnea.

Excess body weight is the leading risk factor for sleep apnea, and loud snoring is a common symptom. Other warning signs for sleep apnea include choking or gasping during sleep, and daytime fatigue or sleepiness. Visit stopsnoringpledge.org to pledge to “Stop the Snore” by talking to a doctor about your risk for sleep apnea.

“Treatment of sleep apnea can be life-changing and potentially life-saving,” Morgenthaler says. “For the best possible clinical outcomes, people with heart disease should discuss their risk for sleep apnea with their doctor.”

For more information, visit projecthealthysleep.org.

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Page 8 - The Marshall Democrat-News, Wednesday, May 27, 2015