Bon Voyage

In March of 1973, I had just been elected to the Office of Health Benefits Representative for the newly formed Branch 1100 when an announcement about a training session for HBRs was released.

The NALC Health Benefit Plan had decided to invite HBRs to Reston, Virginia to view the Plan’s new home and also receive training on how best to serve our branch members.

My branch voted to send me, and when I arrived in Virginia, one of the first people I met was a man named Harry Boteler. This young man (he is slightly older than me) exhibited an unbridled enthusiasm for the Health Benefit Plan. It was clear he knew the Plan was created strictly for letter carriers and their families and that the expectation was to provide the best possible benefits and services to these union members.

In fact, I believe that anyone who could come out of one of his training sessions and not fully believe in the virtues of the NALC Health Benefit Plan had actually passed away and had not yet assumed a horizontal position.

As the years went by, I moved on to other positions in the NALC, but every two years there would come a National Convention and Harry would be there. We always took a few minutes to catch up on what was going on with each other.

Then, somewhat ironically, in 1994 I was elected as Director of the NALC Health Benefit Plan. This high and humbling honor gave me the opportunity to serve the NALC membership at another level. It also completed a 21-year circle back to Virginia and another “new” home of the NALC Health Benefit Plan.

But I digress. Getting back to Harry, the Health Benefit Plan, and his many years of service to the Plan, I write this article in part to announce Mr. Boteler’s retirement effective March 23, 2001.

Thankfully this is not an eulogy, but an expression of appreciation for Harry’s more than 36 years of dedication to the NALC Health Benefit Plan, the Plan’s employees and NALC letter carriers everywhere.

So, as the “institution” within the institution that is the NALC Health Benefit Plan moves on to a new chapter in his life, we say thank you for the legacy he leaves the Plan. For Harry, we truly mean Bon Voyage, for now he will have the opportunity to have a full season with his beloved boat.

We all wish for him a long, happy and healthy retirement which includes many, many of those beautiful Chesapeake sunsets!!!

New Medicines in Development to Treat Heart Disease and Stroke

In a recently released report, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America provided us with some good news – there are presently 122 new medicines in development to treat and hopefully beat heart disease and stroke – two of the top three causes of death in the United States. The new medicines are all either in human clinical trials or awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration – we may even see some on our pharmacy shelves this year!

PhRMA’s President, Alan Holmer, has stated that “new medicines have helped cut deaths from heart disease and stroke in half in the past 30 years, but these diseases are still the first and third leading killers of Americans, and pharmaceutical companies are determined to give doctors and patients even more powerful weapons against them.”

The 122 medicines in development include 18 for the treatment of stroke which kills someone in the U.S. every 3.3 minutes; 18 for congestive heart failure, which causes nearly 47,000 deaths annually; 11 for high blood pressure, which affects 50 million Americans, and 9 for heart attack, which takes more than 450,000 lives each year.

These medicines use some of the most cutting-edge technologies and new scientific approaches available. A review of some of these proposed treatments will verify this statement. The new medicines include:

• A genetically engineered version of a hormone secreted by the heart in response to heart failure which may be able to help some of the five million Americans with congestive heart failure.
• An anti-clotting drug derived from the venom of the Malaysian pit viper may be able to help some stroke patients recover faster. The idea for the drug came from a physician in Malaysia who noticed that blood from patients bitten by the Malaysian pit viper did not form clots and that a protein called fribenigion was essentially absent from the blood.
• An experimental vaccine may be able to boost levels of “good” cholesterol, or HDL, by blocking its transition to “bad” cholesterol, or LDL. The vaccine works by inducing antibodies against a portion of the protein responsible for the transfer.
• A medicine now used to treat rheumatoid arthritis may be able to help patients with congestive heart failure. The medicine works by blocking a substance called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which triggers inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Research has shown that TNF is present in increased amounts in damaged heart tissue. By blocking TNF from acting on a patient’s cells, the medicine may be able to prevent TNF from damaging the heart.
• A gene therapy that prompts the growth of new blood vessels to bypass blocked arteries may be able to help people with coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. An adenovirus, or cold virus, delivers genetic instructions to the heart to grow new vessels without infecting the patient with the virus.
• About half a million Americans each year undergo angioplasty to clear plaque from clogged arteries. In about 60 percent of those procedures, stents, or metal mesh structures that hold the artery open after the procedure are used. Although stents usually succeed in restoring blood flow and keeping the artery open, deploying them can cause blood clots that lead to heart attacks or death. An experimental medicine has been shown to cut heart attacks and deaths nearly in half. Because of these dramatic results, a clinical trial of the medicine has been halted so that all of the patients in the trial could receive the drug. This way, the patients who have been receiving a placebo will not be denied access to this new therapy.
• An experimental drug that reduces the heart’s need for oxygen may be able to help some of the seven million Americans who suffer from angina. The new medicine reduces the heart’s demand for oxygen by altering its metabolism. In tests, patients who took the drug were able to run on treadmills longer without experiencing pain.

Further information regarding the 122 new medicines in development can be obtained by contacting the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, either by mail at 1100 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, through their Website, or by phone at (202) 835-3400.

After more than 36 years of service to the NALC Health Benefit Plan, Harry Boteler will officially retire on March 23, 2001.

Thee Plan was merely in its infancy when Harry entered as a Claims Adjuster. He left us for a period in 1963 and returned in 1968 as a Claims Analyst 1. From that point he maneuvered his way through the Claims Department and in 1971 (during John Swanson’s tenure as Health Benefit Plan Director) he became Management Coordinator – a forerunner of his current position as the Plan’s Administrator.

Harry started with the Plan when it occupied a small section of the NALC Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C. He was instrumental in coordinating the Plan’s move to an unknown place called Reston and, after growing by leaps and bounds, moved the Plan to its new location where it proudly resides today in Ashburn, Virginia.

Through his many years, he has served under six Directors, seen a definite growth in employees and membership and witnessed the Plan’s becoming the formidable organization that it remains today within the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program.

Harry’s contributions to this Plan will forever be evident within its policies, procedures, general operation and even the building in which we work. Many of you have witnessed Harry’s complete dedication to this Plan during the Plan’s annual Health Benefit Seminars and presence at the Biennial Conventions of the NALC. Harry served the NALC with true devotion to the letter carriers, thinking only of their well being, and was always there for them when they needed the Plan to meet their health care needs. When the Plan went into its annual contract negotiations with the Office of Personnel Management, his one and only thought was to negotiate the fairest contract possible for the letter carriers that were members of this fine Plan. He was truly devoted to each and every one of you.

Although the Plan will continue on its course, no one will ever be able to replace Harry in our hearts. The entire staff at the Health Benefit Plan wishes him well and we want him to know that he will always remain an integral part of the NALC Health Benefit Plan family.

Please join us in wishing Harry the best – wherever this new passage in his life will carry him.

Food of the Month – MILK!

Milk really does do a body good.

It’s not unusual to find people who say they don’t drink milk because it has too many calories. But those who avoid milk to lose weight are on the wrong track. Doctors now know that low fat, high calcium dairy foods actually help to burn off fat.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee and elsewhere have concluded that the calcium in milk increases the metabolism. That means the body burns off more calories and fat.

When the ads say “Milk does a body good,” they tell the truth. In addition to calcium, a glass of milk contains a quarter of the vitamin D you should have every day, 10 percent of your vitamin A, and 15 percent of your protein. It’s easy to decrease fat in your diet by using low-fat milk or skim milk.

The Food and Drug Administration researchers sponsored an ongoing diet survey of 15,000 Americans and put them into groups based on the milk they drank. Those that drank low fat milk got seven fewer grams of fat per day in their total diet and took in 92 fewer calories a day than those who chose whole milk. Those who drank nonfat milk reduced their total fat intake by 15 grams and total calories by 140.

If you want to put more calcium into your diet but don’t like to drink milk, there are other ways to get it.

• Calcium-fortified orange juice contains highly absorbable calcium.
• Chocolate in milk changes the flavor but doesn’t reduce the benefits.
• Puddings are a favorite treat and gives you both milk and calcium.
• Chocolate or butterscotch pies are easy to make and have the same benefits as puddings.

Puddings and pie fillings are available in sugar-free versions, which cut even more calories.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The bad news is that cancers of the colon (large intestine) and rectum kill more people in the U.S. and Canada each year than any type of cancer other than lung cancer. Still, about six out of every ten people over age 50 have never had any kind of test for colorectal cancer.

The good news is that colorectal is one of the most curable types of cancer if polyps are detected early. The cancer shows up first as one or more small polyps (growths of tissue) in the intestinal lining. Usually the polyps produce no symptoms, so people have no idea they are there. In some cases they may cause bleeding, constipation, diarrhea or cramps.

Not all polyps turn cancerous, but all should be removed. The NALC Health Benefit Plan provides the following tests for a $5 copayment (if a PPO provider is used) and 70% coverage if a non-PPO provider is used:

• Fecal occult blood test – one annually, age 40 and older.
• Routine Sigmoidoscopy, screening – one every five years, age 50 and older.

Commit to a healthy life to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer: It takes a lifelong commitment to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer:

• Be active, exercise regularly.
• Eat a low fat diet.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Get tested after age 50.

March 18-24, 2001 — National Poison Prevention Week.

By an annual presidential proclamation, March 18-24 has been declared National Poison Prevention Week. The goal of the event is to encourage people to learn the dangers of accidental poisoning and to take preventative measures.

Poison is generally thought of as something you accidentally eat or drink. However, other kinds of poisoning can be just as dangerous.

These are the most common types of poison and the steps you can take to avoid them:

Ingested poison:

• Turn on a light when taking medicine at night. Read the dosage instructions each time.
• Keep all substances in their original containers so you and others know for sure what they are. This includes medications, cleaning products, pesticides and herbicides.

Inhaled poison:

• Be aware of fumes emitted by chemicals and other materials.
• Know when you should wear a respirator or mask for personal protection. Read all directions on products carefully and follow them.
• When working in an enclosed space, check to see that ventilation equipment is working properly.

Absorbed poison:

• Be aware that many chemicals, herbicides and pesticides can be absorbed through the skin.
• Always wear protective clothing or a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and gloves when applying or spraying with these products.
• Read directions and cautions.

March 27, 2001 – American Diabetes Alert: Epidemic Increase in Type 2 Diabetes

One exception to the improving health of the nation is the near epidemic increase in Type 2 diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 14 to 16 million Americans have this form of diabetes. Half of them don’t know they have it, because they have never been diagnosed. Type 2 was formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, because most victims were over age 40. Today, however, doctors are finding Type 2 in many children due to the soaring rate of obesity and sedentary lifestyles of both the adult and child population.

Considering the devastating effects of the disease, lack of treatment is a serious problem. Anyone who is over 40, overweight and doesn’t exercise should have a simple blood test for diagnosis.

Exercise is now known as the major preventive action people can take. Studies offer strong evidence that physical activity helps to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Scooters Send Many to the ER

They aren’t motorized and aren’t used in the streets. Shiny foot propelled scooters seem safe enough, but they have increased emergency room traffic.

The top month for ER visits by scooter users, both adults and kids, was last August when 4,000 people were treated for scooter related injuries, usually caused by falls. About a third of the injuries were fractures and dislocations, mostly to the arms and hands.

This year there are many more scooters in use and the ERs are gearing up for a whole new crop of injured riders and people they have crashed into. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that scooter riders:

• Wear a helmet that meets CPSC standards plus knee and elbow pads.
• Ride on smooth, paved surfaces where there is no traffic. Stay away from streets or surfaces with water, sand, gravel or dirt.
• Do not ride at night.
• When riding inside buildings, watch for pedestrians and irregular surfaces.

Thermometers: Mercury Danger

Several U.S. cities have banned the sale of mercury thermometers. Mercury poses a serious threat to health, especially for children.

The big danger is from inhaled mercury vapor, which is released after a thermometer breaks and mercury soaks into carpeting or flooring. Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Michigan say if a thermometer breaks, close off the room, open windows and turn on fans for good ventilation. Call the poison control center for instructions on safe cleanup. Mercury causes damage to the nervous system. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in one case a single broken thermometer in a school contaminated a science lab, restroom and two homes.

Glass alcohol thermometers, digital thermometers and ear thermometers are good replacements.

Early Joint Protection

If you take an aggressive round of anti-inflammatory drugs soon after a joint injury, you may help to prevent osteoarthritis that could follow.

A British study reported in Arthritis Today suggests that anti-inflammatories may protect type II collagen, a protein that’s a major component of joint cartilage. It degrades in the year following an injury.

Drink Tea for Better Bones

Women who drank one or more cups of tea a day have denser bones than those who drink no tea at all. No extra benefit was gained from drinking more than one cup, according to a study described in New Choices.

What’s Sapping Your Strength???

Doctors writing in Health magazine say these are common causes of feeling tired too much of the time:

• Stress: Worry wastes a tremendous amount of energy. Release tension with yoga, meditation or physical activities.
• Lack of sleep: Turn off the TV and get to bed on time.
• Depression: Fatigue and insomnia are common signs of depression. If the blues and sadness linger, get help. Counseling, medication and exercise can help you feel better fast.
• Lack of exercise: Your body is like a car. It won’t work right if you don’t use it. Work out three or four times a week.
• Irregular diet: Skipping breakfast or lunch is asking for trouble. Sugar and caffeine give you a boost but then send you into an energy slump after a short time.

Attention Branch Presidents and Secretaries:

Your Branch Reimbursement Certificates (along with a copy of the current branch printout) must be completed and postmarked no later than April 30, 2001 in order to receive your branch reimbursements for 2000. If you have not already done so, call the Plan and request two copies of your Branch Print-out (one will be returned with your Branch Reimbursement Certificate and one for your files). Any questions regarding completion of your reimbursement certificate can be directed to Kathy Kish in the Plan’s Administrative office.