Summer Health Checklist:

Transcription

1 Summer 2018 VOLUME 40 Destination Health Summer Health Checklist: Annual Checkup and Immunizations The start of summer is the start of fun at parks, pools and backyard barbeques. One item on your summer health checklist should be a yearly physical exam from your Doctor. It s also a good time to ask what screenings and vaccines you might need. As you age, your body, feelings, and support systems are changing. The annual exam is a time for the Doctor to review your health history and talk about changes, healthy choices, and mental well-being. Continued on Page 2... New App! IN THIS ISSUE Immunizations for Kids, Teens & Adults Page 4-5 Meditation Can Improve Heart Health Page 6 Get an Annual Well-Woman Exam Page 7

2 Continued from Page 1 One question that you may have for the Doctor is Do I still need immunizations? The answer is yes! There are immunizations (also called vaccines) that should be given to protect against sickness. Some of the immunizations are: Flu shot Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) Pneumococcal vaccine (recommended for adults age 65+ and adults younger than 65 who have certain chronic health conditions) Shingles vaccine (recommended for healthy adults age 50 and older) Call your Doctor today to schedule your annual exam. Combining Home Remedies with Modern Medicines When you get sick, do you reach for home remedies (such as rubbing alcohol), while using medicine prescribed by your Doctor? Today, more people combine both. Doing so is called complementary medicine. Home remedies may include sipping tea or eating garlic to soothe a cold. They can also include natural treatments, from the ancient practice of yoga to massage therapy to soothe pain. In spite of popular belief, people don t choose home remedies because they lack of access to medical care or hold negative views toward modern medicine. Cultural beliefs often drive people to use home remedies. While most of these remedies are harmless, some could have bad side effects. Rubbing alcohol, for example, used in large amounts could harm children and older adults. Before you decide to use a home remedy passed to you by a grandparent or an elder, practice some caution. Talk to your Pharmacist or your Doctor first. 2 Source:

3 Everyday Ways to Reach Your Destination Health Care Corner Create Refreshing Spa Water Water infused with fruit and herbs can help your body feel better. Doctors suggest drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day! Putting herbs and fresh fruit in the water adds minerals and vitamins. It also makes the water taste slightly sweet and yummy! Directions: Fill a glass mason jar or large pitcher with cold water. Add fresh fruit and herbs (choose 2 or 3 from the list below). Herbs have a strong flavor. If you use herbs, a little goes a long way! Let chill and let soak for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve cold! Suggested Ingredients: Lemon helps reduce fluid retention Cucumber reduces puffiness and bloating Mint soothes the stomach Lime helps with digestion Basil reduces inflammation Strawberry boosts immunity Orange aids the acid/alkaline balance Spa water lasts for 2 3 days. (Lemons, oranges, limes and cucumbers last longer.) 3

4 IMMUNIZATION TIMING Polio (IPV) MMR Varicella (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) MenACWY (MCV4) HepA (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) Polio Polio (Hepatitis A) (IPV) (IPV) MenACWY (MCV4) MenB MMR HepB (measles, mumps, and rubella) Polio HepB (IPV) (Hepatitis B) (Hepatitis B) Please ask your Doctor how far apart to have the vaccines. For more information, visit: Hib HepB Hib Hib (Hib meningitis) (Hepatitis B) (Hib meningitis) (Hib meningitis) Flu Vaccine Every Fall Everyone 6 and older should get one. 15 PCV PCV PCV PCV (Pneumo) 18 (Pneumo) (Pneumo) (Pneumo) HepA Varicella (Chicken Pox) (Rotavirus) RV (Rotavirus) RV (Rotavirus) RV (Hepatitis A) (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) 2018 Inland Empire Health Plan. All Rights Reserved. HSO

5 Vaccines for Adults Adults need vaccines at certain times to help prevent diseases that could be serious. Talk to your Doctor about the ones that are right for you. See the list below for vaccines the CDC recommends for your age. * Vaccines based on age: What Vaccine? Who Needs It? How Much? Pneumococcal Adults 65 or older 2 vaccines: 1 dose of PCV13 (conjugate vaccine), and then 1 dose of PPSV23 (polysaccharide vaccine) Shingles (Zoster)* Adults 50 or older 2 doses Human papillomavirus (HPV) Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)* Chickenpox (Varicella)* Females age 26 or younger, males age 21 or younger, males age 26 or younger with weakened immune systems, or HIV or who have sex with men Adults born in the U.S. in 1957 or later who have not received MMR vaccine or who had lab tests that showed they are not immune to measles, mumps, and rubella Adults born in the U.S. in 1980 or later who have not received 2 doses of this vaccine or never had chickenpox One-time series of 2 or 3 doses (recommended if you have not received full series) One time for most adults. Note: Some people, such as college students, international travelers, or health care professionals, should get 2 doses (recommended as a catch-up if you didn t receive it as a child) One-time series of 2 doses (recommended as a catch-up if you didn t receive it as a child) What Vaccine? Influenza Vaccine Tdap Td vaccine booster Who Needs It? When? Everyone (including pregnant women) Every year during flu season. Everyone (including pregnant women) One time no matter when you go your last tetanus (Td) vaccine. Every 10 years. For more vaccines needed and to learn more, visit Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention *Live vaccines should not be given to pregnant women or people who have a very weakened immune system. That includes people with HIV infection and a CD4 count less than

6 Meditation Can Improve Heart Health Meditation is a method of calming the mind and reaching a state of awareness that is unlike your usual waking state. It is an ancient practice that has been trending in recent years. Studies over the past two decades show that this practice can help reduce your risk of heart disease. This is why many more people are now adding it to their lifestyle. The Heart of Meditation Meditation involves sitting quietly with your eyes closed and focusing on your breathing or a mental picture. It could also involve repeating a single word or phrase called a mantra. The goal is to keep your mind focused on the present moment and away from stressful or other thoughts. As your mind calms down, so does your body. Practicing meditation supports your heart in many ways from changing how you cope with stress to lowering high blood pressure. Take a Seat There are many ways to meditate, but here is a simple routine to get started: Sit on the floor or on a chair and close your eyes. Breathe slowly. Relax your muscles, starting with your feet, legs, and thighs. Roll your shoulders back slightly, and tilt your head to the left and then right. Say the word peace or a phrase that calms you with each breath out. If your thoughts wander (and they will), go back to repeating the pattern. Continue for about 20 minutes. 6 Source: American Heart Association

7 Why an Annual Well-Woman Exam is Important Your Doctor also may suggest a mammogram (an X-ray of the breast). This checks for potential breast cancer before there are signs of the disease. Breast cancer testing is a good way to find abnormal cell growth so that it can be treated. If you are a woman age and have not had a mammogram in the past two years, call your Doctor for an appointment. Plus, you may get a Pap test a reliable test that screens for cervical cancer. s 30-64, get a Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV) test together every five years or a Pap test alone every three years. s 65+: Ask your Doctor. A yearly Well-Woman Exam is good preventive care and it also gives you the chance to learn more about the best ways to take care of your health. This exam has three parts: 1) Review of health history 2) Exam (involves breast and pelvic exams) 3) Evaluation of other health issues Cervical cancer is most likely curable when found and treated early. Eat Healthy. Save Money. A grocery store on wheels! Choose from a large selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. Pay with EBT, cash or debit/credit cards. Save up to 30% off grocery store prices For a full list of Mobile Fresh stops in your area, visit Family Service Association at bit.ly/mfstops or call (951) , M F, 8am 5pm. 7

8 P.O. Box 1800 Rancho Cucamonga, CA Questions? Call IEHP Member Services IEHP (4347) IEHP (4347) for TTY users 8am 5pm Monday-Friday Visit us at Stay Connected. Follow us! IEHP complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call (TTY: ). IEHP cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al (TTY: ). IEHP 遵守適用的聯邦民權法律規定, 不因種族 膚色 民族血統 年齡 殘障或性別而歧視任何人 注意 : 如果您使用繁體中文, 您可以免費獲得語言援助服務 請致電 (TTY: ) 2018 Inland Empire Health Plan. All Rights Reserved. ILDS Ask the Doctor Q A How can the Doctor examine me if I m in a wheelchair? Some of our Doctors Offices have accessible exam tables designed for people with disabilities in mind. These exam tables can be lowered to wheelchair level (about inches from the floor). Then you can transfer to the exam table easily without having to be lifted. After your transfer, the table can be raised to the Doctor s level.