HPSJ Focus newsletter Spring/Summer 2017

Spring/Summer 2017

Your Health FOCUS

What should I know about opioids?

Opioids are pain meds that you can only get through a doctor. Opioids can help ease pain for some people, like those with advanced cancer or surgical pain. But opioids can also be unsafe if taken at unsafe doses.

Before taking opioids for other health issues, such as chronic pain, nonopioid choices and safety risks should be reviewed with your doctor. Some of these risks are addiction, overdose and death.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Men's Health Testing

Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids have quadrupled. Now, 91 Americans die each day from taking too much of their opioids. This recent rise in deaths is linked with a rise in opioids being prescribed in the U.S. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, the following points are vital to remember.

BBQ Turkey in Pepper Shells Recipe

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Raising a Reader

7 Seasonal Allergies

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What should I know about opioids?

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1. Know the signs of opioid overdose – including pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness and slow or shallow breathing. Seek urgent medical care if this happens.

Want more information?

3. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping new meds. They may interact with your opioids.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides drug disposal tips:

2. Take opioids only as prescribed by your doctor. Use the lowest amount needed for the shortest time possible.

4. Follow up on a regular basis with your doctor.

Is your pain lessened? Do you feel better? Could you lower your dose and still have the same pain control?

5. Store and get rid of opioids safely. This helps stop them from getting into the wrong hands.

This is an even bigger worry if your house has children and pets.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides basic facts on their website:  www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/patients. html

 www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/resourcesforyou/ consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ understandingover-the-countermedicines/ ucm107163.pdf  www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/ EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ ucm186187.htm

For other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist!

Men's Health Testing

Men, let’s face it. You’re not the best at getting to the doctor to learn more about the tests you need to stay healthy, and that’s a fact, not just something made up.

As stated by the National Health Interview Survey in 2014, 38.5 percent of men had not seen a doctor within the last 6 months, and 10 percent of men haven’t seen a doctor in over a year. Before you brush off the thought of going to see your doctor more, be sure you’re up-to-speed on what tests are vital for males.

You should visit your doctor often, even if you feel healthy. The purpose of these visits is to: • Screen for health care issues

• Rate your risk for future health problems • Support a healthy life

• Make sure you have all your shots • Help you get to know your doctor

Steps to Take to Being Healthy: Men Ages 18-39 Blood pressure: Men should have their blood pressure checked at least every 2 years during this age range, unless your

doctor notes a high blood pressure issue. Men with high blood pressure should have it rechecked yearly. If you don’t take care of it, this health problem can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney issues, eye issues, and heart failure.

Cholesterol testing: High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and blood flow issues. Men should start having a cholesterol testing every 5 years if they are 35 or older. High-risk people, those who use: • Tobacco, weigh more than they should, have high blood sugar, • Have high blood pressure, have a past of heart disease,

• Or have a family past of heart disease, should start cholesterol screenings at age 20.

Diabetes (High Blood Sugar) testing: High blood sugar can strike at any age, and this test will depend on other things reviewed during a doctor visit. Some things that the doctor takes looks at: • Do you weigh more than is healthy?

• Do you have a family past of high blood sugar?

• Do you have high blood pressure?

Dental exam: Yearly to bi-yearly dental visits are a vital part of good health.

Eyesight exam: Eye care is one more vital part of health, and healthy people should see their eye doctor every 2 years, as stated by the National Institute of Health. If you have an eyesight issue, you may need to see your eye care doctor more often.

Immunizations: Men in this age range should keep in mind yearly flu shots, tetanus boosters (every 10 years), the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and the chicken pox shot.

Steps to Take to Being Healthy: Men Ages 40-64 Blood pressure: Men in this age group should still be checked every 2 years unless your doctor feels you need more frequent visits.

Cholesterol testing: Again, cholesterol should be checked every 5 years as a healthy adult. If you have had cholesterol issues in the past, your doctor may suggest you are checked more often.

Diabetes (high blood sugar) testing: At age 45 and older, high blood sugar should be screened every 3 years. If you are high-risk for high blood sugar due to your fitness level, family traits, or family past, screenings may need to be done more often.

Osteoporosis (brittle bones): Bone health is a worry for all aging adults, so don’t skip this in your plan to being healthy. Men should check with a doctor about their own risks and make a plan for testing between the ages of 50 and 70.

Immunizations: Yearly flu shots, tetanus boosters (every 10 years), and shingles or herpes (cold sores) zoster shot once after age 60.

Dental and eye exams: At this age, there are still yearly or bi-yearly dental exams. Eye exams may be needed every year, mostly if you have eyesight issues by this time or are at a high-risk for having a problem.

Steps to Take to Being Healthy: Men Ages 65-Over

Blood pressure: Every 1-2 years, based on your risks.

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Cholesterol testing: Every 5 years, based on your risks.

Diabetes (high blood sugar) testing: Every 3 years, based on your risks.

Osteoporosis: (brittle bones) Men over age 70 should think about having a bone mineral density testing.

Prostate cancer testing: Is for men who are high-risk. The rate you need to watch this will depend on your health and family past.

Colon cancer testing: Age 50-75, testing for colon cancer is in the form of fecal tests, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. Testing, based on the test, is done every 5 or 10 years.

Immunizations: At age 65 or older, get a pneumococcal shot if you have never had one, or if it has been more than 5 years since you had the shot. Men in this age range should also have an yearly flu shot, tetanus boosters (every 10 years), and a shingles or herpes (cold sores) zoster shot after age 60.

Hearing test: Older adults go through age-related hearing loss often, so be sure to have your hearing checked if you have any hearing loss warnings.

As an adult, you should visit your doctor first, and talk about your health risks, eating habit concerns, and plans for the future.

Sources for cancer chart: Info from: www.karmonos.org Info from: www.menshealthnetwork.org Info from: www.heart.org Source for diabetic eye exam: ADA: Eye Care, 2015 www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/ complications/eye-complications/eye-care.html

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BBQ Turkey in Pepper Shells

Ingredients

What You’ll Need

• ¾ pound Lean ground turkey • 1 Large onion peeled and chopped • 1 Medium green bell pepper seeded and chopped • 1 (14½-ounce) can diced tomatoes no salt added • 1½ cups Low soduim canned black beans drained and rinsed • ½ cup Barbecue sauce prepared • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder • 1 teaspoon Liquid smoke • 3 Bell peppers (any color)

Cutting board Sharp knife Can opener Measuring spoon Measuring cup Medium skillet Spatula or spoon Large microwave safe dish with lid Large plate

Directions

Brown ground turkey in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink; drain excess fat.

Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add all remaining ingredients except the whole bell peppers; simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat.

Meanwhile, cut the whole bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds Place in a microwave safe dish with a small amount of water.

Cover and microwave bell peppers on high until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Remove peppers from dish and place on a large plate. Spoon turkey mixture into bell pepper shells and serve.

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Low Added Sugar

Did you know?

HPSJ has an online search tool where you can find which drugs are covered and which providers are in our network.

This can be found on the home page of www.hpsj.com/ members.



No computer?

Call HPSJ Customer Service at 888.936.PLAN (7526).

Or TTY/TDD 711.

Raising a Reader

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Instilling a love of reading in a child is one of the best gifts a parent can give them! To read aloud is a vital way for a child to learn words. It excites their brain cells to grow stronger and more fully.

“Your child’s doctor is also likely to ask how your baby is making sounds or how many words your toddler can say. We ask these questions as a way of tracking your child’s language development,” says Dr. Maggie Park, California Children’s Services Medical Director.

Studies show that children whose parents read to them often know more words by age 2 than children who have not been read to. “[We] encourage them to continue to talk, read, sing, draw, and play with their children,” said Dr. Park.

In San Joaquin County, recent data show that only 34% of third graders score at grade level or higher on language-arts tests. Studies show that the skill to read well by the end of third grade is a strong sign of future success. Once a child has fallen behind in reading, many never catch up.

“A child who is not reaching his developmental milestones may [also] have a speech and language disorder. Speech delay can also be an early warning sign of a hearing loss or of a developmental disability such as autism. The earlier we detect a possible problem, the earlier we can start to help,” says Dr. Park.

A child who has poor reading skills may grow into an adult with poor reading skills. Low reading skills have been linked to poor health, higher rates of emergency (ER) visits and less routine care. Reading is vital to fill out health forms and know how to take medications (meds). Raising a strong reader may lead to children who live healthier lives.

Here are some tips from First 5 California® on how to inspire a lasting love of reading.

• Be a reading role model and let your child see you read • Plan a family book night by reading jokes and riddles • Fill a toy bin with kid-friendly books and coloring pages. Make them easy for your child to find • Ask older children to read to the younger ones • Limit the amount of TV the whole family watches The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no more than one to two hours a day of TV for kids older than age 2 – and no TV for kids under age 2.

There are many ways for parents to raise a strong reader. They can start by: • Keeping plenty of books for all ages in the home • Pointing out words for their child to sound out • Using many silly voices to read • Letting the child pick their own books • Reading the same books over and over again

Are books too expensive?

Parents who are not able to pay for books, should visit their local library to borrow books or look for Little Free Libraries® or reading programs in their area.

For more information on Little Free Libraries®, visit www.littlefreelibrary.org/ about.

Until third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they are reading to learn.

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Well Child Visits

Did you know Well Child visits are a part of your child’s HPSJ benefit?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children visit their doctor at least once a year for a Well Child visit. These yearly physicals help make sure children are reaching milestones as they grow. This is also when parents can talk with the doctor about any problems, screen for common issues and make sure kids have all their shots.

Children’s Wellness Checklist: Year-by-Year Tests

Recommended Screening

Birth to 2 Years

Size Measurements

Weight, length & head circumference at each visit Body Mass Index (BMI)– 24 (2 years old) & 30 months (2 and a half years old)

Vision (Eyesight) Testing Hearing Testing Fluoride

All newborns by 1 month

(Blood Iron Tests)

Ages 11-18

Height, weight & Body Mass Index (BMI) at each visit Ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10, or as your doctor advises Ages 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10, or as your doctor advises

Ages 12, 15, 17 & 18, or as your doctor advises

When older than 6 months, evaluate for sufficient fluoride in drinking water.

Cholesterol

Hemoglobin or Hematocrit

Ages 3-10

12 months

What to expect at your yearly child’s Wellness visit?

No matter how old, it is vital you and your child have a relationship with the doctor – as well as getting yearly health exams. Whether it is to talk about your family record and habits, or checking vital signs, routine visits can help keep kids healthy, or get healthier.

Together, you and your doctor can make a plan that works for you and your child.

School is out for the summer, but the doctor is still in Summer is the time to plan your child’s visit with their doctor. Get your visit in before the school year starts.

Testing of at-risk children and adolescents (after age 2 but by age 10)

If your child is starting kindergarten, you should plan the visit early.

Do not wait until the school year is about to start. That is what other parents will be doing. If your doctor’s office gets very busy, your visit may not get scheduled in time – or your doctor may be so rushed seeing lots of patients, he or she may not be able to give you all the time you would like.

Reference: American Pediatric Association and Clinical Guidelines

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Seasonal Allergies

Itching, sneezing, runny nose?

Stuffy nose?

Runny nose & stuffy nose?

Use Antihistamines!

Examples: • Zyrtec (cetirizine) ℗ • Claritin (loratadine) ℗ • Allegra (fexofenadine)

Use decongestants!

Examples: • Sudafed PE (Phenylephrine) Stop use if symptoms do not improve in seven days and see your doctor.

• Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) Stop use if symptoms do not improve seven days and see your doctor.

Common side effect: insomnia • Afrin nasal spray (oxymetazoline) Do not use more than three days.

Common side effects: temporary burning, stinging

Use steroid nose sprays!

Examples: • Flonase (Fluticasone) Talk to your doctor after six months of daily use.

• Rhinocort (Budesonide) ℗ If symptoms do not improve after two weeks, talk to your doctor.

• Nasacort (Triamcinolone) If symptoms do not improve after one week, talk to your doctor.

Common side effects: headache, dry nose

Talk to your doctor if symptoms do not improve after one week.

Itching, sneezing, runny (With stuffy nose) Use decongestants!

Examples: • Zyrtec-D (cetirizine/ pseudoephedrine) • Claritin-D (loratadine/ pseudoephedrine) • Allegra-D (Fexofenadine/ pseudoephedrine) Common side effect: dry mouth Stop use if symptoms do not improve in seven days and see your doctor.

*Talk to your doctor before you consider using products with pseudoephedrine. These products may raise your blood pressure. *Flonase can be used in children 4 years of age or older. *Rhinocort can be used in children 6 years of age or older. *Nasacort can be used in children 2 years of age and older. *Afrin nasal spray can be used in children 6 years of age or older. *Claritin, Allegra and Sudafed can be used in children 2 years of age or older. *Zyrtec can be used in children greater than 6 months of age. ℗ = Safe in pregnancy Sources: Product labels for each over-the-counter medication.

What are seasonal allergies?

• Also known as hay fever

• Occur when seasons change throughout the year

• Caused by pollen from trees or grasses and mold What are symptoms?

• Stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing • Itchy eyes

• Itchy throat

For help reading any labels, please call HPSJ Customer Service, 888.896.PLAN (7526), TTY/TDD 711.

7751 S. Manthey Road French Camp, CA 95231 888.936.PLAN (7526) TTY/TDD 711 www.hpsj.com

Over

years of community

Summer Learning and Summer Eating No parent or child should worry about food security. Ever.

When it comes to school, good nutrition is vital for learning, every day and all year long.

During the school year, most children who need food get free or reduced-price lunches at school. But, what are they supposed to do when school is out for the summer?

This is where San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County come in. They are making sure that no kid goes hungry this summer.

Many schools in Stanislaus and San Joaquin offer free breakfast or lunch for kids all summer. For a list of sites visit www.hpsj.com/members. At HPSJ, we wish for every child to have a healthy, nutritious summer.

Summer Food Program www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summerfood-service-program

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