Welcome! Welcome to another exciting and informative issue of the Wellness eZine by Sagicor. We would like to thank you for the overwhelming and positive feedback you’ve given on our debut issue. Our feature on the successful Sigma Corporate Run was wellreceived and we look forward to your assistance as we continue to provide equipment to the Bustamante Hospital for Children. In this issue, our aim is to continue highlighting the importance of maintaining your health and the benefits associated with making healthy choices every day. As always, your feedback is invaluable to us, so please feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to wellnessezine@sagicor.com
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What you need to know Simplifying health insurance terms
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Cover Feature Sagicor/JTA National Athletic Championships unearthing and developing young talent
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Dietary Advice Cholesterol: Are you at risk?
Sagicor Advice The importance of a critical illness plan My Fitness Yoga tips from Subhadra Bowman Family Health Health benefits of a soda-free diet Health News Healthy Home Preventing children from getting poisoned Ask the doctor Why women should have a preconceptional visit Highlights 41st Annual Sagicor Corporate Awards
What you need to know
Simplifying
health insurance terms
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et us take a few minutes to gain a better understanding of your health insurance benefits. This starts with simplifying some common terms that you may see or hear while you are accessing your benefits. In looking at a health insurance brochure or during a visit to your doctor, you may come across the terms: Basic Benefits, Major Medical, Deductible, as well as Reasonable and Customary charges. These terms are all related to the amounts payable under your health insurance plan. Let us take a deeper look at the terms: Basic Benefits – This relates to your first level of covered medical expenses. These benefits include doctor’s visit, coverage for hospital room and board, maternity benefits and prescription drugs. Major Medical – Most Sagicor plans allow additional coverage once the Basic Benefits have been exhausted. Major Medical provides the extra protection you need to help meet large expenses resulting from a serious illness or severe accident. Deductible – This is a one-time fee that is charged in order to access your Major Medical benefits. Claims for services covered under Major Medical are reimbursed less the deductible until the total amount is satisfied. For example, your plan pays a maximum of $5,000 for prescription drugs under the basic benefits and 80 per cent for
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the additional expenses under the Major Medical benefits, which attract a $5,000 deductible. If you are charged $15,000 for a particular drug, $5,000 will be paid from the Basic Benefit and as a result your total benefit will be exhausted. You must then pay the remaining $10,000 upfront and submit a claim for reimbursement under the Major Medical. The reimbursement will be based on 80 per cent of the amount paid less the $5,000 deductible. Reasonable and Customary charges (R&C) – This is simply an average of the rates charged by providers, such as, doctors or pharmacist for their services. You may have also seen the term Usual, Customary and Reasonable charges (UCR), which is used interchangeably with R&C. Sagicor reviews the R&C for each procedure annually. When reviewing your benefits, you may often see this term being used in relation to surgical benefits and diagnostic treatment. Therefore, if a provider charges more than the R&C, the claim reimbursement will not be paid based on the charges submitted but rather the predetermined amount set for the service. Now that you are more familiar with these terms, the next step is to practice checking your schedule of benefits to be sure of the extent of your coverage.
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Dietary advice
Cholesterol: Are you at risk?
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ave you been diagnosed with high cholesterol? Is lowering your cholesterol a goal? Then you need to first know what cholesterol is. Cholesterol is the waxy, fat-like substance found in your bloodstream and every cell in your body. Without cholesterol, our bodies would be unable to produce cell membrane, Vitamin D and various hormones, such as progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone. While cholesterol is normal as well as important to some body functions, there is trouble when our bodies have too much. An oversupply of cholesterol – a condition known as hypercholesterolemia, will result in the waxy substance starting to form blockage in the arteries, which can lead to stroke and heart attack. Cholesterol is of two types: ‘good’ and ‘bad’. ‘BAD’ CHOLESTEROL Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) is what is known as ‘bad’ cholesterol. It carries cholesterol to tissues, including the ar-
teries. Most of the cholesterol in the blood is the LDL form. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood, the greater your risk for heart disease. ‘GOOD’ CHOLESTEROL High-density Lipoproteins (HLD) is what is known as ‘good’ cholesterol. HDL protects your body by carrying cholesterol away from your arteries back to the liver, which removes it from the body. A low level of HDL cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease. CHOLESTEROL SOURCE Cholesterol comes from two sources. It’s produced in your body, mostly in the liver and it’s found in foods that come from animals, such as meats, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy products. Egg yolks and organ meats are high in cholesterol. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every five years.
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Dietary advice
Food Serving Size Cholesterol Level Boiled egg 1 225mg Cream cheese 1oz 27mg Butter 3.5oz 250mg Beefsteak 3.5oz 70mg Chicken 3.5oz 60mg Kidney (beef ) 3.5oz 375mg Liver ( beef ) 3.5oz 300mg Ice cream 3.5oz 45mg Sponge cake 3.5oz 260mg
HOW TO LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVEL
t Fill up on vegetables t Avoid vegetable and salad toppings, such as chopped eggs, crumbled bacon and cheese t Select foods that are steamed, garden fresh, broiled, boiled, baked, roasted, poached t Decrease saturated fats and trans fat t Increase soluble fibre, such as oats (10-25g per day) t Eat whole fruits instead of juices t Drink skimmed milk, low-fat yogurt instead of whole milk t Use lean, well-trimmed meats baked, broiled, roasted or stewed; shrimp is low in fat but high in cholesterol t Discard fat which cooks out of meat; chicken and turkey t Use oil and margarine made from unsaturated fats such as corn, cottonseed, soya bean, sunflower and olive t At Chinese restaurants, look for items that are steamed, Jum (poached), Kow (roasted), Shu (barbecued) t At fast food restaurants order salads, grilled chicken sandwiches t If you are overweight, lose excessive weight (A healthy BMI is between 18.5-24.9) t Regular physical activity can help you lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol t To accomplish all this, it is suggested that at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, at least four days a week, be a part
of your plan to lower cholesterol.
Information provided by Sasha Thomas and Janet Rankine-Henry, Nutrition Specialists. For more information email sashatthomas@yahoo.com and hopejay_2000@hotmail.com
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Cover feature
Sagicor/JTA National Athletic Championships
unearthing and developing young talent
Students participate during the JTA/Sagicor National Athletic Championships
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more to the overall event. However, the relationship with the JTA goes back to 1988, through predecessor, Blue Cross of Jamaica.
“Sagicor strongly believes that athletics develops the youngsters today into better leaders for tomorrow and this is what we are about, promoting development amongst our youngsters so that the nation can benefit in the future,” said Barrington Groves, brand manager, Sagicor.
“We realised that this was a relationship that we must continue. The JTA/Sagicor Primary, All-Age and Junior Championship is the only meet in Jamaica that captures all the schools at this level, which means it is able to unearth all the talent spread right across all the 14 parishes,” Groves said. “This is attractive to any sponsor and that is one of the reasons why we continue the partnership with the JTA. We believe in the meet.”
The curtains came down in spectacular fashion on the 29th staging of the event on May 19, as Portland secured its third hold on the trophy with 315 points, 35 more than closest rival St Andrew. Over the course of two days, the National Stadium was abuzz with the energy of the best of Jamaica’s primary, all-age and junior high school athletes. Since 2009, Sagicor has contributed in excess of $16 million in sponsorship, contributing far
Since coming on board as sponsors, Sagicor has worked tirelessly with the JTA to grow the meet and improve its national profile. One of the biggest steps was to move the meet from its original Thursday and Friday dates to Friday and Saturday, beginning with this year’s staging. This has already paid dividends, as the crowd at the National Stadium was significantly larger than at any previous staging of the meet.
hen Sagicor Life Jamaica became the title sponsor of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association/Sagicor National Athletic Championships, the company knew it was not only helping to develop talent but also investing in Jamaica.
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In addition to funding the event, Sagicor goes beyond the two-day meet to support the educational development of the student athletes. The champion boy and champion girl of the meet each receive five-year scholarships to their chosen secondary institution. This year’s recipients are Gavayne Smith from Westmoreland and Tizadie Johnson from St. Andrew.
nise the importance of this activity,” said Clayton Hall, president-elect of the JTA. “Sagicor is a nation builder at heart and they have come on board with the JTA to ensure that we look out for the interests of these children. I want to thank Sagicor for coming on board in such a major way over the years to ensure that this meet remains a meet of quality.”
“We are saying to them that yes, you have performed well on the track, but we are also encouraging you to perform well in the classroom,” Groves said. “These are student athletes, meaning they are students before they become athletes. Athletics without education, in our opinion, is really baseless.” Even for those who aren’t winners, the experience of coming to the national stadium to perform, is one that will live with them for the rest of their lives.“The JTA recognised the need to build our athletes at this level and we are thankful to Sagicor, who continuously recog-
The top 40 student athletes from the championships now turn their attention to the upcoming Caribbean Union of Teachers meet, where they will seek to retain Jamaica’s hold on the trophy against other athletes from across the region. The bi-annual event will take place in July at the National Stadium. “We are hoping that on home soil, in this our Olympic year, in this our 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, we will retain the CUT championships,” Hall said.
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Sagicor Advice
Critically covered
The importance of a Critical Illness Plan Reality factors to consider: 1) Health care providers prefer to have their payment upfront before any procedure or medical aid is administered. 2) There are many instances where persons have to dip into their savings, take out a loan and/or rely on children or other family members with the burden of assisting financially. 3) An individual may have to go overseas for health care; therefore, airfare and accommodation along with medical expenses must be considered. 4) For many survivors, unfortunately a relapse of a critical illness is possible and this can cause additional financial strain.
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Critical Illness Plan provides financial ease for the daunting reality faced when diagnosed with a critical illness. This enables an individual to focus on getting healthy rather than worrying about paying for medical or personal expenses whilst recuperating or undergoing treatment. The evident increase in society’s life span is heavily attributed to medical advances; however, the ability to finance these medical expenses has increasingly become a concern. Health plans, major medical, salary and even an individual’s assets can end up being insufficient to cover medical bills, business concerns and family expenses to name a few. WHY TAKE OUT A PLAN NOW VERSUS LATER? The cost of a Critical Illness Plan tends to be cheaper at a younger age and when persons are in good health. Waiting until certain health conditions occur can prove to be expensive or the plan may not be available to an individual at that stage. I DON’T HAVE ANY FAMILY HISTORY OF CRITICAL ILLNESSES, DO I NEED A PLAN? Critical illnesses are now linked to a person’s lifestyle, which includes their diet, exercise, personal habits and environment. So it is wise to be covered. WHAT DOES A CRITICAL ILLNESS PLAN COVER? Cancer, heart attack, stroke, blindness, coma, deafness, loss of speech, paralysis, major burns, kidney failure, benign brain tumour, aorta graft surgery, major organ transplant, Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery bypass surgery, multiple sclerosis, loss of limbs, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, aorta surgery, heart valve replacement. Note that hypertension and diabetes, which are extremely prevalent, may lead to some of the conditions mentioned. Be proactive and put a plan in place that provides a financial safety net from the devastating effects of a critical illness. Protect everything you’ve worked hard for, and give yourself the freedom to concentrate on fighting for a longer and healthier life.
Loeri Robinson Sagicor Financial Advisor
My fitness
Yoga tips from Subhadra Bowman Instructor and creator of Yoga Angels, Subhadra Bowman, shares tips on how to be healthy using yoga.
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WHY IS FITNESS IMPORTANT? Fitness is important because it gives us the wellness necessary to balance our lives experiences. If we are not fit, we cannot survive and live healthy and wealthy lives. The benefits of being fit are extensive and proven over the years to bring longevity and vitality.
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WHAT’S YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE? Well, my personal fitness routine has changed dramatically over my 17 years of teaching. I began with aerobics and body building in 1990, moved into yoga in 1995 and have incorporated energy work over the previous years. So my daily routine can begin with some yoga, a run, meditation and sometimes just one of the above. It’s according to how I am feeling that day which guides me to honour my needs.
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HOW CAN YOGA HELP WITH FITNESS? Yoga is the gateway for all disciplines! Yoga enhances performance through building strength, endurance and flexibility. To be really fit, you need all three aspects to be balanced. Many people are strong and even have endurance, but they are stiff and therefore suffer from pain, especially in their joints. This, unfortunately, is not fitness. The flexibility of the body and mind is critical to prevent disease. The health benefits of yoga are extremely extensive. Yoga can aid with flu, digestion, attention deficit disorder (ADD), headaches, insomnia, backaches, knees, shoulders, hips and ankles injuries. People have found yoga to assist with cancer, HIV, heart disease, stroke, cystic fibrosis and the list continues.
Subhadra Bowman
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My fitness
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DO YOU HAVE TO BE FIT TO DO YOGA? No, you do not need to be already fit to do yoga. You should go to yoga and take a beginner class. You need to be willing to become fit and begin the process with grace and remain consistent. To be consistent takes establishing a routine that you will follow for an extended period of time. Whenever you miss your, routine do a makeup class.
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EXPLAIN THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF YOGA AND DO PERSONS NEED TO BE ‘SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED’ IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE? Yoga means ‘to yoke’, as to create union externally and internally. Therefore, you will find your inner higher consciousness will be activated naturally. It is a by-product of removing tension from the physical, emotional and mental body through doing what’s known as asanas (poses), which translates as ‘ease eliminating disease’. Our spirit is a large percentage of being a human being so the body, mind and spirit integration will develop through practicing yoga. Yoga can be done by anyone of any faith as everyone is blessed with a body, a mind and a spirit.
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IS YOGA AGE-SPECIFIC? No, yoga is not age specific. However, there are appropriate practices for different ages and stages that should be adhered to. Yoga Angels offers yoga for everyone such as prenatal/ postnatal (pregnancy and after); kids yoga, ages 3 to 6, 7 to 12 and teenage programmes. We offer beginner, intermediate and advanced adult classes. We have classes for seniors that we call our golden classes. To date, our youngest students are three and the oldest is 85 years young.
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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR TYPES OF YOGA? There are multiple schools of Hatha yoga that their foundations are governed by lineages and traditions such as Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundilini, Vinyasana, Bikram, Anasurya and power yoga. Each of these types of yoga has its specialty. It’s best to do some research and get familiar with each style and its specialty.
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WHAT PRECAUTIONS DO PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE WHEN DOING YOGA? People need to inform their teachers about what’s happening in their bodies. They need to let the teacher know if they are pregnant or on their menstrual cycle, or if they have a specific disease from which they are healing. Do not eat directly before class; a 90-minute time frame at minimum is best before a class. They also must know to only work from a place of humility and not ego and to keep their competitive nature out of the yoga class and challenge themselves to progress steadily in their yoga practice and life. To learn more about Subhadra Bowman and Yoga Angels, visit www.yogaangels.com or www.subhadrabowman.com
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Family health
soda-free diet
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oda has become a major part of many families’ diets, but with the rise in weight-related problems and other ailments such as hypertension and diabetes, we should certainly look at the effects these foods have on our health. One of the major ingredients in soda is high-fructose corn syrup, which is a concentrate used to increase the sweetness of foods. Studies have shown that this can be a major contributor to obesity, because it inhibits your body’s ability to tell you when you are full. Many people believe that diet soda is a good alternative, but the artificial sweeteners have been found to be linked with certain types of cancer. These are just a few of the many reasons that a soda-free diet is a much better lifestyle choice for the long run. As parents, we should be encouraging our kids to live the healthiest lifestyle possible, which includes limited processed foods and drinks and providing them with healthier alternatives such as fruits and vegetables and natural juices. Instilling good habits in them today will mean that they will likely continue to practice good health choices as they grow older.
HERE ARE SOME BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH A SODA-FREE DIET: 1) Less calories. Sodas are a big part of caloric intake for the diet and a 20 oz bottle contains approximately 240 calories. According to New York University professor Marion Nestle, paediatricians who treat overweight kids said many of their patients take in 1000 to 2000 calories per day from soft drinks alone. The daily recommended diet should consist of about 2000 calories. 2) Soda consumption has been linked to increased risks of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, weight gain caused by extra calories, osteoporosis, and diabetes because of increase in sugar intake, among others. Cutting soda out of your diet will decrease these risks significantly. 3) Many coloured sodas stain and corrode teeth. Studies have shown that sodas destroy 10 times more enamel from teeth than fruit juices. The high acidity content in soda is the cause of corrosion to the enamel. The cumulative effects of your dietary habits will have an effect in the long run.
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Health news
News updates
SKIN CANCER DRUGS ARE HELPING PATIENTS LIVE LONGER Drug company GlaxoSmithKline has been running latestage trials on two experimental skin cancer drugs to be used in the treatment of melanoma. The drugs, trametinib and dabrafenib were tested in patients with the BRAF gene mutation which is present in about half of all melanoma patients. The results of the tests with both drugs found that patients lived for a median of 7.4 times longer before the disease worsened. These numbers were double that of traditional chemotherapy treatments and had fewer side effects on the patients. The company plans to file for approval of the drugs as therapies for melanoma skin cancer. JAMAICAN LOBBYISTS AIM TO BAN SMOKING IN PUBLIC AREAS Lobbyists are trying to appeal to Parliament to pass laws that would prevent people from smoking in public areas. The legislation, which was initiated in 2005, is still awaiting approvals from the relevant government bodies as there were conflicts in the proposed regulations with the Public Health Act. Government may be slow to enact such legis-
lations as the focus may be on tax collected from tobacco products. However, there are many benefits to enacting the ban, such as saving on medical costs associated with smoking. There is a large population of people affected who are not actually smokers and putting these laws into place can reduce the health effects to them and, in the long run, the public health costs that would be incurred with the spillover effects. PREMATURE BABIES AT A HIGHER RISK FOR MENTAL DISORDERS A recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry reported that babies born prematurely are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. Babies born at less that 32 weeks were reported to be seven times more likely to develop bipolar disorder, three times more likely for depression and twice likey for psychosis. Researchers suspect that the health issues are likely caused by the shortened period of development than babies carried to full term. There are also stressors associated with premature babies, medical complications and being in the incubators for extended periods instead of bonding with parents.
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Healthy home
How to prevent poisoning of children in the home
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afety first. That’s one of the most important things to remember when using chemicals in your home. Here are some tips that should help to prevent poisoning and safeguard the health of your children: Store all prescriptions away from the reach of children. Kids have enquiring minds, so it’s important that you store medications in cabinets high up. Also, never call tablets candies when coaxing your children to take them. When you’re not around, they will think it’s OK to take these ‘candies’ by themselves. Don’t store cleaning products or other household chemicals in soda bottles. Keep in original containers with original labels so kids don’t confuse the contents. It’s easy for a child to see a familiar label and assume that what’s inside the bottle is safe for consumption. Avoid this! Never leave kids unattended when using products like detergents or floor cleaners. For example, you hear the phone ring in the middle of wiping the floor and you run to answer it not remembering that your two year old is close by. You return shortly after to find her innocently drinking the cleaner. You don’t want this to happen so never leave kids unattended, no matter how short a time. Never put roach and rat powders on the floors. Yes, pests are annoying and you’re willing to do whatever is necessary to rid your home of them. Well, everything except putting powders and pastes on floors, especially in homes with small children who move around on their hands and knees. Imagine how easy it is for your child to make contact with the poison then put their fingers in mouth, eyes, etc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POISONING CONTACT: Caribbean Poison Information Network 237 Old Hope Road Telephone: (876) 927-1680-8 ext 2300 Toll Free: 1-888-POISONS
BE PREPARED As careful as we are sometimes, accidents do happen. Therefore, it is important that you know exactly what to do in case of accidental ingestion of poisonous substances. 1) Learn CPR- The type of CPR you will apply will depend on the size of the child, whether a baby or teenager. Do your research, attend a class if possible, but ensure that you know what to do. 2) Keep a First-Aid Kit around the home. Aside from being handy for cuts and bruises, your first aid kit should also contain substances that can help with relief in cases of poisoning. Ask a professional for suggestions on what to include. 3) Put the numbers of doctors, ambulances, parents’ work and cell numbers and neighbours’ contacts on the reffrigerator. You won’t always be home and if an emergency should occur while you leave the kids with the babysitter or younger sibling, that person should know exactly who to call for assistance. Discuss this with them before leaving the house.
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Ask the doctor
Why women should have a preconceptional visit By Dr Andrea Gardner Carey
WHAT IS A PRECONCEPTIONAL VISIT? The word ‘conception’ describes the time when the male sperm and the female egg join to form one unit (the conceptus), at which time the woman has ‘conceived’. Note: she may not yet be pregnant; that comes five to six days after conception, in which the conceptus has entered the inner lining of the uterus. Therefore, a preconceptional visit is in fact a medical evaluation of women (and in some cases, their partners as well) prior to conception. In other words, couples that are planning to get pregnant in the next few weeks or months should visit their obstetrician to ascertain if pregnancy is safe to pursue in the near futur WHY DO WOMEN NEED A PRECONCEPTIONAL VISIT? I have always maintained that in general, many Jamaicans consider themselves healthy and often neglect to do the annual general check-ups that every person should have been doing from age six onwards. It is often when they visit for a minor complaint that other, more serious, medical issues are identified. Frequently, the first time Jamaican women present to a health care provider is when they suspect that they may be pregnant. Yet it is during that visit that serious lapses in general health are identified and in some cases, potentially lifethreatening medical conditions are being diagnosed for the first time. Or worse. Sometimes, patients were aware that they have serious illnesses, defaulted from care (or in some cases, were advised not to pursue pregnancy due to the high risk of death) and decided to get pregnant anyway. Believe it or not, as I write this, I remember the faces of a few patients who played this form of Russian roulette with their lives and unfortunately, they did not win. I hate to see women be irresponsible with their health and welfare.
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TREATMENT In the early 19th Century, women who pursued pregnancy and delivery had a one-in-three risk of dying. Due to many advances in public health and obstetric care, that terrifying statistic has fallen to about 100 women for every 100,000 pregnant ladies in Jamaica. However, obstetricians throughout the country still maintain that this number of maternal deaths is far too high and significant attention is being made by both our government and health providers to markedly reduce this figure. Yet we must have the cooperation of our women. If you have a known illness, please make sure that it is under control and that your attending doctor agrees that pregnancy is an option. Even allow those doctors to meet with you long before conception is being planned, so that your health team and your family can be fully informed about the future. If you think you are healthy, still go and see an obstetrician, to ascertain if there are any areas that may need to be addressed, like obesity or poor nutrition, because both of these extremes increase the possibility of pregnancy complications. Quite often, just a few months of delay may be all that is needed to undo these issues and increase the possibility of an uneventful pregnancy. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE PRECONCEPTIONAL VISIT? In addition to a thorough evaluation of your general health, your obstetrician will review your immunisation and nutritional status, as well as your previous obstetric history. If you are changing practitioners, please bring a
letter or documentation from your previous provider so that continuity of care can be maintained as well as more detailed information about any complications that may have occurred, so that your new doctor is fully aware of everything. The whole point of this visit is to enable your obstetrician to reduce any areas that can make your future pregnancy complicated. So if your immunisation has lapsed, if you need changes in medication that will prevent abnormalities in your baby or if other specialists need to be involved in your care, your obstetrician can coordinate all of this. You, your family and your obstetrician want to have the safest pregnancy possible and the preconceptional visit gets the ball rolling in the right direction.
Let me know how you are doing! If you have a medical question you’d like answered in an upcoming issue, email DrAndreaGardnerCarey@gmail.com
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Highlights
41st Annual Sagicor Corporate Awards
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Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited 28-48 Barbados Avenue Kingston 5, Jamaica.
Phone: 1-888-Sagicor (724-4267) Fax: (876) 929-4730 www.sagicorja.com
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