February is National Heart Month

Inside This Issue:

Director's Page Pharmacy Corner Heart Health

A little joy in Mudville...

As this is written, Open Season results are still trickling into the Health Benefit Plan.

So, please understand that the following numbers are not the final, official result of this past year's opportunity. 2,361 have joined the Plan while 1,188 have terminated and gone elsewhere.

Because the prime focus of gaining new members was aimed toward active letter carriers, this part of the article will address that group and their share of the above numbers.

1,383 active postal employees joined the NALC Health Benefit Plan while 674 changed to another plan. This leaves a net gain of 709 actives.

Now, the fact that more actives came into the Plan than left could be reported as a "positive" result of Open Season. In fact, in the "land of spin" that is the Washington, D.C. area, confetti and noise makers might appear under different circumstances.

However, I would be less than honest if I declared this past Open Season a success.

Those of you that were present at the Seminar last year will recall President Sombrotto's admonition that what the Health Benefit Plan needed was 10,000 active letter carriers to swell the ranks and begin to secure the operating foundation of the Plan.

Now, don't get me wrong, a slight gain is better than a loss and certainly better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick (or so you might think). Nonetheless, my eye really hurts and it hurts from a stick called frustration and disappointment.

Frustration felt for everyone who worked so hard and pushed so hard to wake up the active letter carriers to the golden opportunity presented by Open Season.

Disappointment over the thousands of letter carriers who could have and I believe should have taken the opportunity to make the switch to the Health Benefit Plan.

My personal thank you goes out to everyone who put forth the effort to recruit active letter carriers. Just as I thank each of the carriers who heard the call and committed themselves to the Plan.

Well, now it is almost March and time to hear from OPM and prepare for 2002.

In the meantime, even though we recently wrote about this concern, a frequent cause of out-of-network payments results from the members not verifying that a provider is still with First Health. Please take the time to insure that the membership in your branch fully understands the importance of using the 800 numbers.

You will be doing a real service to your letter carriers if you continue to "hammer" this point home.

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1. All prescription drug benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions stated in the official Plan brochure and are payable only when we make the determination that they are medically necessary.
2. Some drugs require prior authorization. If you have any questions regarding coverage, call the Plan at 1-800-433-6252.
3. The maximum dosage dispensed may be limited by protocols established by the Plan.
4. The only person that can write your prescription is a licensed physician.
5. We use an open formulary. If your doctor believes that a name brand product is necessary, or there is no generic available, he or she may prescribe a name brand from our formulary list. These preferred name brand drugs are selected to meet patient needs at a lower cost. To order the formulary pamphlet, call 1-800-933-6252.
6. If you receive a name brand drug when a federally-approved generic drug is available and your physician has not specified "dispense as written" for the name brand drug, you have to pay the difference in cost between the name brand drug and the generic.

Below are a few "Pharmacy Facts" that you may find interesting:

1. Relative to other personal expenses for household consumer goods and services, out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs amounts to a modest 1% of total out-of-pocket spending for individuals younger than 65 years old, and only 2.7% for those over 65.
2. Between the ages of 45 and 75, prescription use nearly triples.
3. Starting at age 15, women consistently use more prescriptions than men.
4. Even though the percent of generic drugs has increased from 33% to 45% since 1991, the sales of newly available generic drugs do not keep pace with changing mix of drugs as newer brand name drugs carrying higher prices replace older ones.
5. The total sales of the Top 20 generic drug manufacturers combined ($7.0 billion) was only slightly more than the sales of the single #1 top brand drug manufacturer in 1998.
6. Manufacturers of high cost new brand drugs often point to the need "to recoup their large investment in research and development." However, if you look beneath the surface, you'll find that research by pharmaceutical manufacturers often builds on the discoveries from basic research on causes, diagnosis, prevention and cure of diseases funded by taxpayers and the federal National Institutes of Health (NIH).
7. People with access to prescription insurance coverage use generics at a lower rate (50%) than those without prescription coverage (58%).
8. NALC members fill over 3,250 prescriptions every day of the year. Every two days, our members receive half a million dollars in new drugs.

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Food of the Month -- Grapes

The super antioxidant in grapes will protect your heart.

If you're not clear on just what an antioxidant does, here's a simple explanation -- it keeps LDL, or bad cholesterol, from oxidizing. Oxidized cholesterol is what sticks to the inside of your blood vessels and can block them or make them narrow. Antioxidants keep that scary situation from developing, and those found in grapes and grape juice are some of the most effective.

Doctors at the University of Wisconsin Medical School say that keeping your LDL in check is a good start on preventing heart disease. It is also necessary to keep platelets, components in blood that cause it to clot, from sticking together unnecessarily.

The flavonoids in grape juice are perfect for that job, so drinking grape juice gives you two benefits instead of just one. There's still another -- grape juice also contains potassium which helps to control high blood pressure.

Grape juice, incidentally, has only a third of the flavonoids found in wine. Fermenting grapes draws flavonoids from skin and seeds into the liquid. So, a glass of wine now and then might be a good thing for your heart.

Seafood Safety:

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) reports that seafood is the leading cause of food-related illness in the U.S. Eggs were the second-leading cause, followed by beef. Vegetables and fruits, particularly lettuce and sprouts, contributed to many illness outbreaks.

CSPI underscores the need for thorough cooking, prompt refrigeration of foods after cooking, and careful washing of fruits and vegetables. Don't prepare vegetables with utensils or on surfaces used for raw meat until they have been carefully washed with soap and hot water.

Preventing Cataracts:

Most people who have cataract surgery are over age 60, but the causes are found early in life. Here are a few steps that help to prevent cataracts from forming:

Protect the eyes from ultra-violet radiation. Wear sunglasses.

Take antioxidants. A Tufts University study suggests that taking 400 mg of Vitamin C a day can reduce the risk for severe cataracts by 77 percent. Vitamin E is also helpful.

Get enough magnesium which helps dilate blood vessels in the eyes.

Drink six eight ounce glasses of water a day to remove toxins from eye lenses.

Eat less saturated fat. It triggers the formation of damaging free radicals.

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February is American Heart Month

Antibiotics and heart disease

Doctors now think there is a connection between heart disease and a type of chronic inflammation affecting the arteries. Some think the culprit is chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria, a common source of respiratory infections. They say it causes heart attacks by disrupting the plaques that build up and narrow diseased arteries. Large trials are under way, say doctors at Harvard Medical School, to see whether antibiotics show benefits. If the theory works, there could be a Nobel Prize in it for the scientists.

Statins may be wonder drugs

Statins like Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor have revolutionized treatment of high cholesterol and heart disease. They can be taken once a day and have few side effects. Now studies are showing that statins have other benefits, including stroke reduction. There is a growing body of evidence that statins can prevent osteoporosis, and studies appearing recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association associate statins with a reduced risk of bone fractures of all kinds, including the hip.

Many ignore high blood pressure

Only a quarter of Americans diagnosed with hypertension have the condition adequately controlled. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has changed guidelines for hypertension so the optimal blood pressure is now considered 120/80 or below. Normal is considered 130/85, and hypertension is 140/90. A variety of drugs help control blood pressure. The key is sticking with a program and taking the pills as prescribed.

Gene therapy shows promise

In spite of some past failures, gene therapy continues to hold great promise for heart disease treatment. Doctors at Tufts University report good results in treating the muscle tissue of the heart.

Suspect a heart attack -- get to the ER right away

The wait and see approach to diagnosing a heart attack is dangerous. In some cases, it's fatal.

Clot-busting drugs that could save your life are only effective if given within six hours of the attack's onset. During that time, they can prevent serious damage to the heart.

Don't be shy, and don't try to be brave. If you suspect that you're having a heart attack, go to the emergency room immediately.

Heart care basics:

Most Americans are aware that prevention and even reversal of heart disease are possible but heart disease remains the major killer of men and women in this country. Clearly, not enough of us are listening.

These are the basic steps everyone should take to keep heart disease at bay:

Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They are determined by the amount of animal fat you eat. For each one percent you reduce blood cholesterol, your risk of heart disease declines by two percent. A healthy diet includes five servings of vegetables each day.

Control blood pressure. Hypertension damages delicate blood vessels, especially in the heart, kidneys and eyes. High blood pressure leads to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other health disasters.

Don't smoke. Smoking is responsible for 350,000 deaths a year from heart disease, according to a U.S. Surgeon General report. It is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. Smoke damages the lung and the heart.

Lose weight. One of every three or four Americans is 20 percent or more above recommended weight. Obesity promotes high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes that contribute to heart disease.

Exercise. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity and high cholesterol levels. Numerous studies show that staying active can help prevent heart disease.

Food for the Heart:

The American Heart Association is changing the way it makes diet recommendations. No more mystifying percentages. The doctors are simply telling us which foods are good (or not good) for heart health.

Fish is a lifesaver. For the first time, not one but two three ounce servings of fatty fish per week are recommended. Whether fresh or canned, tuna, salmon and mackerel have high levels of desirable omega -3 fatty acids.

Avoid transfatty acids found in partly hydrogenated oil. Check labels for partly hydrogenated oil, often found in baked goods, fast foods, and some margarines.

Eat five fruits and/or vegetables a day. Start with apples, pears, oranges, peas, celery, brussels sprouts and squash. Except for cabbage and cauliflower, the more colorful the better.

For protein, eat beans, fish, skinless poultry and lean meats. Six ounces a day is usually enough to keep your muscles healthy.

Get the right fats and oils. Olives, walnuts, avocados and canola and olive oil can help raise levels of HDL (the "good cholesterol"). All fats should be eaten sparingly.

Limit processed foods, crackers and store-bought cookies. They are often made with partly hydrogenated oils that have transfatty acids.

Limit fast foods. They are usually high in saturated fats.

Limit alcohol. Men should have no more than two drinks a day and women should have no more than one. One drink is 12 ounces of beer, four ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

Exercise: Strong moves for a stronger heart.

If you always knew that exercise was a good idea but never got around to doing much, Heart Month is the perfect time to begin.

There are two ways to approach it. The most effective way would be to schedule a regular activity at a health club. You can learn to love the gym where you get a break from stresses of life, do something that makes your blood pump and come away relaxed and invigorated. If there is a gym near your home that has programs for your level of fitness, you're half way to a stronger heart.

Get over the thought that going to the gym is a selfish use of time. It benefits your heart and your morale. It makes you stronger and more effective in other areas of your life.

The second way to exercise is to do it at home or away from home. Doctors at the U.S. International University in San Diego say modifying their environment helps people exercise regularly. One student got herself bicycling every day by placing the bike in front of the door before leaving home each day. Environmental modification could mean leaving your walking clothes out so you see them when you get home or wake up in the morning. Rearranging one's space proves to have a powerful influence on the person's life.

Though it's more difficult to stick to, if you can arrange two or three 10 minute exercise stints every day or two, you're on your way to a stronger heart. Maybe you can ride your exercise bike for 10 minutes in the morning or take a 10 minute walk at lunch time.

If you haven't exercised for a long time, even a limited amount of exercise can have big benefits.

Think it over. The gym isn't too expensive when you consider the benefits. You aren't too busy to exercise if you really want to get fit and strong.

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How to determine which extension cord is right for the job

Power requirements vary for different tool applications. Using the wrong extension cord can damage a tool or create a fire hazard.

Cords differ in the number and thickness of the wires, the type of plug and the length of the cord.

Wire thickness determines the amount of power that will be delivered to the tool. Common sizes, or gauges, are 18, 16, 14 and 10. Oddly, the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire. So, of these, the 10 gauge is thickest and will deliver the most power.

You can always use a thicker cord than the one called for in the tool instructions, but not a lighter one. When in doubt, choose the heaviest three-prong cord available.

The length of the cord can also cause problems. Don't use a cord that is far longer than what you need especially if you leave the excess cord coiled. Leaving coils in the cord allows heat to build up on the wires which can get hot enough to melt the insulation. Always uncoil a cord fully before using it.

Never hook a three-prong cord to a two-prong cord. It can be done with some two-prong cords, but it is very dangerous.

When working outdoors, choose a cord with an outdoor rating. They usually bear the designation "W-A." Please don't allow the cord to lie in the sun for extended periods. The sun's ultraviolet rays can cause insulation to deteriorate.

Occasionally, a good cord can get cut or damaged in the middle. Never try to salvage it by taping the wires together. Instead, make two smaller cords out of it by adding a socket to one and a plug to the other. Always unplug extension cords when they are not in use.

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