live well, work well: August 2012

August 2012

Brought to you by: Henriott Group

Start a Successful School Year with Healthy Vision As many kids are gearing up to begin a new school year, Prevent Blindness America wants to encourage parents to add “get my child’s eyes checked” to the their list of things to do. Having a child’s vision tested by an eyecare professional can help them towards greater success in the classroom since much of a child’s learning is done visually.

Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month in an effort to encourage parents to learn about ways they can help protect their child’s vision.

Parents and caretakers are encouraged to visit preventblindness.org for free information on a variety of children’s vision health topics including eye conditions and eye safety.

Many children may not know that they have a problem because they think how they see is how everyone else sees. An eye exam is the ideal way for parents to know if their child has a vision problem.

Parents should also watch for the following signs: Eyes don't line up, one eye appears crossed or looks outward Eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen Eyes are watery or red (inflamed)

Adult Immunization

For eye conditions such as amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” the earlier it is detected and treated, the greater the chance of preventing permanent vision loss.

Amblyopia occurs when the brain and the eye are not working together effectively. As the brain develops and receives diminished images from the affected eye, it begins to suppress those images and favor the unaffected eye. If this condition persists without treatment, the weaker eye may become totally ineffective for vision.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month—the perfect time to make sure you and your loved ones are up to date on your vaccinations.

For more information on children’s eye health and safety, please call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit their website.

Check with your health care provider today to confirm that you are up to date on the following vaccinations:

Many people mistakenly believe that vaccinations are most beneficial for children; however, immunizations are just as important for adults. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services reports that 50,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases each year.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis Measles, mumps, and rubella Pneumococcal pneumonia Influenza Hepatitis A and B Varicella (chickenpox)

DID YOU KNOW Some people believe that immunizations aren’t safe, but the CDC cites that vaccines undergo years of testing before they can be used, making them both safe and effective.

Eat Sensible, Eat Seasonal, Eat Local Seasonal, local food is fresher and tastes better. Local farms don’t need to cultivate produce or breed livestock suitable for long-distance travel; instead, they can focus on producing the tastiest food possible.

Local produce is more nutritious than food that is out of season. As soon as a fruit or vegetable is harvested, its nutrients start breaking down. The longer it takes to get to your table, the fewer nutrients it has.

Shop at farmers markets and farm stands Participate in community supported agriculture Dine at restaurants that source their food locally Visit locally owned food producers regularly

Local food is often less expensive. Because transportation costs are minimal when you buy local and in-season, farmers are often able to sell their goods at reduced prices.

Tips for Eating Local Know what’s in season Ask grocery store managers about the origins of their products

Make the Most of Your Health Care Dollars Stay in-network. Make sure your doctor(s), laboratory, and hospital are a part of your health plan's provider network so you save on copays and coinsurance amounts.

Use alternatives to emergency services. A visit to the hospital emergency department is generally unnecessary for issues such as the flu, minor cuts and sprains, or urinary tract infections. Overall costs are usually lower at medical aid units (MAUs) and urgent care centers.

Take the tests. Receive the screenings, tests, vaccines and other care that your plan covers as recommended by your doctor. When you and your family stay healthy, you can avoid doctor's visits and time off from work.

Take your medicine. To receive the full benefit of your medicine, remember to take the recommended dosage for as long as your doctor prescribes it. People who take their medicine(s) as prescribed need less health care — and less expensive care. If you don't understand how to take your medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Baked Trout Olé Fresh and summery with a slightly spicy kick, this light dish won’t weigh you down—even in extreme heat. To keep it equally delicious and nutritious, remember to bake the fish with only a small amount of oil.

2 pounds trout fillet, cut into six pieces (other fish may be used) 3 tbsp. lime juice (about two limes) 1 medium tomato, chopped ½ medium onion, chopped 3 tbsp. cilantro, chopped ½ tsp. olive oil ¼ tsp. black pepper ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. red pepper (optional) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse fish fillets, pat dry, and place in baking dish. In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients together and pour over fish. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until fish is fork-tender.

Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: 1 piece of fish. Each serving provides 230 calories, 9g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 58mg cholesterol, 162mg sodium, 60 mg of calcium and 1 mg of iron. Source: www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Find the best price for the medication you need. Always ask if a generic prescription drug or an over-the-counter (OTC) drug would be best for you. Some generics are up to 80 percent less expensive than brand names and also have the lowest copays.

Tips from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware

This brochure is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional. © 2012 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.