HBR Report—January-February 2005

Volume 05-1
January 2005

DIRECTOR'S REPORT–Thomas H. Young, Director

Happy New Year!

For some of you, this will be the beginning of your term as Health Benefit Representative, for others, welcome back! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work and dedication during the past Open Season. We are looking forward to an exciting 2005.

January is the month we generally begin to review the past Open Season’s results to see what the numbers may mean in this year’s operation. However, because the Postal Service extended the Open Season until the beginning of January, the results will likewise be delayed — so, stay tuned!

This is also the time when our efforts begin in earnest to look toward 2006 and to what our approach will be with the Office of Personnel Management in preparation for the Annual Call Letter — likewise, stay tuned!!!

Plans are underway for our upcoming Health Benefit Seminar at Ballys in Las Vegas. Although the venue has changed from the Tropicana, everything else will be in place for the usual fine presentation to give our Health Benefit Representatives the tools to meet the needs of our membership. Still a work in progress, the format will likely follow that of our 2003 seminar. Countless hours are put in by the staff in preparing the venue and materials in order to provide the best possible educational experience for our Health Benefit Representatives. So, plan now to attend this coming Fall. Registration materials will be included in the April edition of the HBR Report.

Again, happy new year, and may you be blessed with health, happiness and peace in this new year!

THE PHARMACY CORNER

No Flu Shot—You’ve Caught the Flu—NOW WHAT!!!

Essentially, a bout with the flu must be allowed to just run its course. Symptoms can be relieved with bed rest and by keeping well hydrated. A steam vaporizer may make breathing easier and pain relievers will take care of the aches and pains. Food may not seem very appetizing, but an effort should be made to consume nourishing food. Recovery should not be pushed too rapidly; returning to normal activities too quickly just invites a possible relapse or complications.

What about drugs?

Since the flu is a viral infection, antibiotics are useless in treating it. However, antibiotics are frequently used to treat the secondary infections associated with the flu, so a visit to the doctor may be in order tomake you more comfortable. There are also prescription medications on the market to help shorten the duration of flu, such Tamiflu and Flumadine, etc.

If you are at high risk from complications of the flu, you should consult your doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms. Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and young children. Your doctor may recommend the use of an antiviral medication to help treat the flu.

Look out for these emergency warning signs.

Adults:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.
Sudden dizziness.
Confusion.
Severe or persistent vomiting.

In Children:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing.
Bluish skin color.
Not drinking enough fluids.
Not waking up or not interacting.
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held.
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
Fever with a rash.

(For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control Website — www.cdc.gov/flu)

Most people turn to over-the counter medications to treat flu symptoms, but it is not necessary to purchase a medication marketed specifically for flu symptoms. Any medication that is designed to relieve symptoms such as pain, sniffles and coughing will provide some relief. Medications containing alcohol, however, should be avoided because of the dehydrating effects of alcohol. The best medicine for symptoms is simply an analgesic, such as aspirin, acetaminophen or naproxen.

Without a doctor’s approval, aspirin is generally not recommended for people under 18 owing to its association with Reye’s syndrome, a rare aspirin-associated complication seen in children recovering from the flu. To be on the safe side, children should receive acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat their symptoms.

Just remember — get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids!

HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Start the New Year with a survey of your fitness levels.

These four numbers give you a snapshot of your health. With so much health advice in the news today, just thinking about what you should or should not be doing can be a dizzying prospect. Harvard doctors agree that health can be an overwhelming topic. But they say that if you have a handle on the following four numbers, you can have a pretty good idea of where you stand and what to do about it.

1
Your body mass index (BMI). Many people are overweight and don’t think they are. The health risks climb when you reach the overweight level. Here’s what they mean:
Underweight is a BMI of less than 18.5, and normal weight is a BMI of 18.5
to 24.9.

Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9, obesity is a BMI of 30 and morbid obesity (which the HBP uses for consideration of coverage) is 40 or higher. If your calculation shows more than 24.9, it’s time to lose weight. To get a fast BMI rating, see http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. Just enter your height and weight.

2
Your blood pressure. Ideally, it should be 120/80 or below. Starting at 115/75, the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardio-vascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10.
People with systolic blood pressure (the first number) of 120 to 139 or a diastolic of 80 to 90 are "pre-hypertensive." Changes in diet and activity patterns can help prevent cardio- vascular disease at this level.

3
Your fasting glucose. If you have two fasting plasma glucose measurements of 126 mg/DL or greater, you have diabetes.

4
Your LDL cholesterol level. Your bad cholesterol reading should be below 100, but 70 is better. Diet, exercise, and medications like statins, or all three, can lower your LDL, reducing your heart disease risk by about a third.

Staying well

Men are highly aware of the fact that they may develop prostate cancer, especially in later life, but consider this:

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that men are more likely to develop bone problems than they are to get prostate cancer.

Men and women at every age can prevent osteoporosis by drinking milk, even small amounts throughout the day are beneficial. Adding a few tablespoons of milk to coffee or tea can help improve your daily consumption.

A Harvard-Tufts study shows that men with high homocysteine (a blood factor that increases heart disease risk) are four times likelier to break a hip. However, levels can be brought down by taking B vitamins, so drink some milk, get a blood test, and walk through retirement.

More praise for oatmeal

A new study shows that antioxidants in oatmeal help keep plaque from forming in arteries. The Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center of Aging at Tufts University made the discovery.

Soluble fiber in oats helps lower bad cholesterol, reduces heart disease risk, and helps to control blood sugar.

Food of the Month – Wine

Toasting the New Year has been a tradition for hundreds of years and maybe for longer than that. Geologists say people have been making wine for more than 5,000 years.

In recent years, wine has achieved status for its health benefits. Red wine, when consumed in moderation, increases the level of good cholesterol, decreases the bad kind and discourages the formation of clots that can close off arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes. These benefits have been known for some time, but the good news about red wine keeps coming.

It reduces the incidence of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness, according to new information from the American Geriatrics Society.
According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2003, red wine reduces ulcer-causing bacteria,
A University of Virginia study shows that a protein in red grape skins kills cancer cells.
A 2004 study by Worcester Medical Center in Massachusetts shows that red wine lowers risk of heart attack for men with high blood pressure.
A 2004 study by Harvard Medical School in Boston shows anti-aging effects are generated by red grape skins and red wine.

Read this before starting to shovel snow

Check these instructions from a specialist in ergonomics before you head out to tackle the beautiful white stuff:

Keep your spine in an upright, neutral position.

No slouching or twisting.
Bend at the hips and knees to get lower to the ground.
Use your leg muscles to
lift the load.

Avoid throwing the snow if you can.

Keep the load low to the ground and close to your body.
If you must throw it, don’t throw it far.
Use the big muscles from the hips and legs to push the snow whenever you can.

Adequate rest is critical.

How long you can work depends on how heavy the snow is, your physical condition, and how cold it is outside.
If you feel fatigue, pain, or shortness of breath, rest until you feel normal again. If you have shortness of breath for a prolonged period, see your doctor immediately.
Using a snowblower is also physically demanding and requires rest breaks.

Get water in a new bottle

When you refill an empty plastic water or juice bottle, you could be serving up some dangerous bacteria for yourself. It’s easy for bottles to become contaminated. And since most bottles never fully dry out, every time you refill the bottle you recontaminate the new water inside.

A study by Case Western Reserve University also shows that the more often you refill a plastic bottle, the more likely it is that toxic chemicals from within the plastic will leach out into the water.

Six Superfoods for Your Cold.

What You Should Eat to Help Fight Off A Horrible Winter Cold —

While you are planning your attack on winter colds, think nutrition. There are specific foods that are full of the vitamins and nutrients you need to help bolster your immune system. A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies and low-fat meat will certainly help you during this cold and flu season.

Stay hydrated, water and de-caffeinated drinks will give your body what it needs to stay healthy. Also, add the following items to your shopping list this winter:

Yogurt — research shows that one cup of yogurt a day may work to keep the gastro-intestinal track healthier. Make sure the label says the yogurt has live cultures as the cultures are what have the positive effect on your GI track.

Muesli – now is the time to trade in those sugary breakfast cereals for a bowl of muesli (a whole grain, oat based cereal with dried fruit, nuts and seeds). Whole grain foods like muesli contain more nutrients than highly processed foods that can help keep your immune system strong. If you just can’t seem to get used to Muesli, try a whole grain oatmeal instead.

Oranges – no surprise that oranges made this list — just one orange a day provides your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

Garlic – if your friends and family can stand it, go heavy on the garlic this winter in your dinner recipes. This vegetable is packed with allicin, an antibiotic that has been shown to prevent complications from a cold.

Lean Ground Beef — this is an excellent source of protein, zinc and selenium. Lean ground beef can help keep your cells healthy and fight off illness. Flavor your lean ground beef with a little garlic, shape into hamburgers and serve on whole-grain rolls for the ultimate cold fighting dinner for your family.

Green Bell Peppers – this vegetable is one of the best sources of vitamin C. Also, the flavonoids found in the peppers actually are thought to enhance the antioxidant action of the vitamin C. Believe it or not, green peppers also contain a natural painkiller — capsaicin. So, sauté some green peppers and onions and serve as a side with steak, burgers or chicken. Your stuffed-up head will thank you!

February is American Heart Month:

Here’s how to protect your heart

Now is the time to take stock of how you’re treating the most important organ in your body. Check this information and see how you are applying it to your daily life.

Your heart is a muscle. The stronger it is, the better it will work for you. It needs to be exercised, which means regular activity like walking, running, or lifting weights.
Like any organ of your body, the heart won’t serve you well if it’s surrounded by fat. Working toward a satisfactory body weight will help your heart do its job.
Fill your refrigerator with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and poultry. Keep whole grain products on hand as well as heart-friendly oils such as canola and olive oil.
Your heart won’t work at all if it gets plugged up. A lump of cholesterol will do it, (which means you’ll be wise to skip the fatty foods), and a blood clot will do it. Check with your doctors to see if an aspirin a day can keep your blood flowing freely.
Hearts object to being excited all the time. Anger, stress, and the burden of carrying a grudge make it work harder. Do yourself a favor. Mend your fences, and channel your anger into productive action. Plan your work, then work on your plan so you’re not stressed.
Don’t use tobacco. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit smoking.
High blood pressure can be a heart breaker. Limiting salt and drinking a glass of orange juice each day can keep blood pressure at normal levels.

If your doctor has prescribed medication for your hypertension, be sure to take it every day.

Heart Health Week is Feb. 1-7.

Check the ABCs of women’s heart attack symptoms.

Women’s heart attack symptoms are sometimes more subtle than men’s. Watch for these signs:

Angina, chest pain, back pain, or deep aching and throbbing in the left or right bicep or forearm.
Breathlessness, or waking up having difficulty catching one’s breath.
Clammy perspiration.
Dizziness, light-headedness, fainting.
Edema, swelling, particularly of the ankles and/or lower legs.
Fluttering or rapid heartbeats.
Gastric upset or nausea.
Heavy fullness or pressure-like chest pain between breasts and radiating to the left arm or shoulder.

Branch Reimbursement Certificates:

A copy of the Branch Reimbursement Certificate has been included with this newsletter. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the certificate and pass it along to your Branch Secretary. The certificate MUST be completed in full and signed by the Branch Secretary. When completing the certificate, take into consideration all expenses incurred by your branch with respect to your job as Health Benefit Representative (educational materials, long distance telephone calls, attendance at health fairs, etc.). Also, make sure the secretary fills in both the number of members and the expenses incurred. You will receive the lesser of these entries.

In order to assure that you have the most up-to-date information about your branch membership as of December 31, 2004, you will need to either fill out the request form printed below or call the Health Benefit Plan for a copy of your Branch Printout. You will receive two copies of the printout (one for your records and one to return with the completed Branch Reimbursement Certificate).

Please remember that these certificates are due at the Health Benefit Plan no later than April 30, 2005.

REQUEST FOR BRANCH PRINTOUT

Branch #________________

Name:__________________________________________

Title:___________________________________________

Address:________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Return to HBR Reports, NALC Health Benefit Plan HomePage or NALC Headquarters HomePage.

This page was last updated on February 1, 2005.

If you have any questions or comments about our health benefit plan, please write to the National Association of Letter Carriers Health Benefit Plan at 20547 Waverly Court, Ashburn, VA 20149 or call 1-703-729-4677. For automated general benefit information, call 1-888-636-NALC.

1	Your body mass index (BMI). Many people are overweight and don’t think they are. The health risks climb when you reach the overweight level. Here’s what they mean: Underweight is a BMI of less than 18.5, and normal weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9, obesity is a BMI of 30 and morbid obesity (which the HBP uses for consideration of coverage) is 40 or higher. If your calculation shows more than 24.9, it’s time to lose weight. To get a fast BMI rating, see http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. Just enter your height and weight.
2	Your blood pressure. Ideally, it should be 120/80 or below. Starting at 115/75, the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardio-vascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10. People with systolic blood pressure (the first number) of 120 to 139 or a diastolic of 80 to 90 are "pre-hypertensive." Changes in diet and activity patterns can help prevent cardio- vascular disease at this level.
3	Your fasting glucose. If you have two fasting plasma glucose measurements of 126 mg/DL or greater, you have diabetes.
4	Your LDL cholesterol level. Your bad cholesterol reading should be below 100, but 70 is better. Diet, exercise, and medications like statins, or all three, can lower your LDL, reducing your heart disease risk by about a third.