AETNA BETTER HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY

Transcription

1 AETNA BETTER HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY Winter 2017 Connect with others: It s good for your health When life is hectic, it s easy to become isolated. We put our heads down and push through chores and deadlines. The to-do list never ends. Take time to connect Taking the time to connect with others is important. Social networks can help lift our mood and improve our health. Maintaining strong ties with family, friends and workmates can help: Ease stress. Reduce the risk of depression. Reduce loneliness. Lower blood pressure. Boost the immune system. Increase happiness. According to one study, the key difference between happy people and those who were less happy was good relationships. Provide a sense of purpose and meaning. Provide support if you re dealing with a chronic illness. Making bonds stronger It s true that humans are wired to connect, but sometimes the wiring needs a new place to plug in. Take some time to think about your interests. Ask yourself these questions: What do I enjoy? What would I like to learn? What would I like to do? Then, brainstorm ways to enjoy those interests in a social setting. Building social connections takes time and effort, but it s a skill you can use all of your life. After all, no matter what your age, a hug from a friend can help lighten a heavy load. A co-worker s support can lift your spirits. Sharing a laugh with friends boosts feel-good hormones that can strengthen your mind, heart and health. Sources: Mental Health America; Offce on Women s Health Having strong ties with family and friends can actually help you stay healthy. Having a circle of support may help us live longer too. Standard U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 Aetna Better Health of New Jersey 3 Independence Way, Suite 400 Princeton, NJ

2 HEALTH TIP: Nutrition is an important aspect of living with diabetes. Work with your provider to choose an eating plan that you will be able to follow. Have diabetes? Keep these letters of the alphabet in mind A diagnosis of diabetes means you ve got a lot to track. Here s an easy way to remember some key screening tests: The first three letters of the alphabet. A is for the A1C test. It shows what your blood sugar has been in the past three months. High blood sugar can hurt your heart, blood vessels, kidneys and eyes. The A1C goal for many people with diabetes is below 7 percent. B is for blood pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. It raises your risk of both a heart attack and a stroke. It also causes kidney disease. Most people with diabetes should keep their blood pressure below 140/90. C is for cholesterol. LDL the bad cholesterol clogs your arteries. It causes heart attacks and strokes. On the other hand, HDL the good cholesterol helps protect your heart. Cholesterol goals vary by person, so work with your health care provider to help get yours in a healthy range. Be sure to ask your provider: What your A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers are. What these numbers should be. What you can do to reach your targets. Sources: American Diabetes Association; National Diabetes Education Program Quality improvement at Aetna Better Health of New Jersey Our Quality Management department wants to make sure you receive good health care and services. That includes: Health management programs that work for you. Easy access to quality medical, dental and behavioral health care. Help with any complex or chronic conditions or illnesses. Support when you need it most. High satisfaction with your doctors and with us. Our quality improvement activities each year include: 2 Contacting you to remind you to get care (like wellchild check-ups). Sending you postcards or newsletters about health topics. Reviewing the number, quality and kinds of services you receive. Reminding your doctors and you about preventive health care. Making sure you re continuing to get the care you need. Checking that your calls are answered quickly and that you get the right information. Ensuring your doctor has all the information needed to care for you or your child. We have many quality programs. You can call Member Services at , TTY: 711, to learn more about what we do to improve your care. We re also happy to give you a printed copy of our program goals and how we re doing. You can read updates on our website at

3 Strike up a conversation Talk to your kids about not smoking You can t count on being there to help your child say no if someone offers him or her a cigarette, but by speaking up early and often about smoking you may be able to snuff out a habit before it starts. Most smokers pick up the habit before their 18th birthday, but experts recommend that you start talking to your kids about the dangers of smoking long before then probably sooner than you may think. With a kindergartner, for instance, you might start with saying something as simple as Smoking is bad for your body. Here are some more suggestions for what to say and do as your child grows: Make your feelings known. When deciding about issues such as smoking, children often ask themselves, What would mom or dad think? So be sure your kids know where you stand that you don t want them to smoke because you love them and don t want them harmed, and that you ll be disappointed if they do smoke. Put a face on it. Kids need to know the dangers of smoking. If you know someone who died from a smoking-related illness, mention what happened to that person. Play up the ugly stuff. Kids may worry less about getting lung cancer someday and more about what might happen to them now if they smoke. Point out that the reality of smoking having stained teeth, bad breath, a nagging cough, and smelly clothes and hair is different from how smoking is portrayed in the media. Build a relationship on trust and communication. When children feel like they can talk with you, they ll be more likely to speak up if they re pressured to smoke. Listen to what your kids say about their lives, and get to know their friends. Be a role model. When parents smoke, their kids are more likely to become smokers too. If you smoke, set an example by quitting for good! Until then, don t let your kids see you smoke and don t let anyone smoke in your car or home. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids 3

4 Take your best shot It s not too late to get the flu shot Even though this year s flu season is in full swing, you can still help protect yourself from the flu if you get the immunization now. As always, your best defense against the flu is to get a flu shot. Who needs it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu. It s especially important that people at high risk for getting complications from the flu get the shot. That group includes kids younger than 5 years old; adults 65 and older; pregnant women; and people who have chronic health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. Anyone who lives with or is in close contact with someone on that list should also make getting the shot a priority. Also ask your doctor about a pneumonia shot. Adults should get one pneumococcal shot after age 65, or earlier if they have certain health risks. Older adults may also need a second pneumonia shot called PREVNAR 13. It takes several weeks for the flu shot to take effect. Since flu season can continue until May, the sooner you get your shot the better. If you cannot leave your home to get a flu or pneumonia shot, you can call Member Services at (TTY: 711) for help. What else can you do? Even if you ve had your flu shot, you should take these steps to avoid the flu virus: Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Stay away from sick people. It s also important to minimize the spread of germs to others. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue away. If you get sick with a flu-like illness, stay home until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without taking a feverreducing medicine. FLU SEASON ALERT Influenza can be miserable and deadly. Nearly everyone 6 months or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. It takes 2 weeks for the flu shot to be fully effective. Get it now so you re protected when you need it. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Don t wait. Don t hesitate. Get a flu shot! 4

5 Your postpartum check-up: Questions to ask If you ve recently had a baby, you ve probably seen a lot of your doctor. Prenatal check-ups are important for you and your baby s health. So is your postpartum check-up. That s when your doctor will check to see how you re recovering from your baby s birth. It s a great time to ask any questions you have about your health physical and emotional. For example: Q: When will I have my period again? Why it s worth asking: There s a range of what s normal. If you nurse your baby which delays periods your next one might be months away. Your doctor can tell you what to expect. Q: Why shouldn t I get pregnant right away? Why it s worth asking: Becoming pregnant again within a year after giving birth raises the risk that your baby will be born too early. Keep in mind not all kinds of birth control are safe to use if you re nursing. Q: What s the best way to lose baby weight? Why it s worth asking: The safest way is to drop pounds gradually, especially if you re nursing. Your doctor can help you do that with tips for sticking to a healthy diet and exercise plan. Q: When will I feel like myself again? Why it s worth asking: Many new moms feel sad and weepy for a few days after giving birth. That s normal. However, if your sadness doesn t go away, you might have what s called postpartum depression. It s a serious condition that can make it hard to care for your baby and yourself, but it s very treatable. So be sure to speak up if you re sad and depressed. Sources: March of Dimes; National Institutes of Health; Offce on Women s Health Expecting a baby but feeling blue You re having a baby, but you don t always feel like you re carrying a bundle of joy. In fact, you feel sad a lot and cry a lot too. You don t have fun doing things you used to enjoy. Is this all simply a part of being pregnant? Possibly, but it s also possible you have prenatal depression. If so, you re not alone. Experts say that about 1 of every 5 moms-to-be has this condition. Some of the signs include: Feeling hopeless. Feeling overwhelmed. Not taking good care of yourself. Having no energy. Crying a lot. Pulling away from friends and family. Sleeping too much or too little. Depression has many causes. Stress and hormone changes that come with pregnancy are two causes. Don t feel guilty about your feelings. Instead, give your doctor a call. He or she can help you get through this time. Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Offce on Women s Health HEALTH TIP: It might help to talk to other moms-to-be who feel the same. Ask your doctor about a support group. 5

6 Well-child visits: A healthy idea Well-child visits are regular check-ups. How often they occur usually depends on a child s age. Your doctor will want to see your baby every month or so for a while. For an older child, yearly check-ups may be enough. Here are three reasons why well-child visits are a good idea: 1. These check-ups let your doctor see how your child is growing. 2. They are a good way to make sure your child is up-to-date on immunizations. 3. They give you a chance to talk with your provider about anything that s on your mind. That s hard to do if you made an appointment because your child is sick. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics HEALTH TIP: Write down questions as you think of them. Take that list with you to your child s next appointment. Dental care Taking good care of your baby s grin There s nothing sweeter than a baby s smile. Did you know that taking care of that smile starts before those pearly whites even break through the gums? That s right. Babies need dental care like older kids. They can get cavities too. To help them have a healthy smile, follow these tips: Clean your baby s gums. You can use a soft infant toothbrush or a clean, wet cloth. Brush those tiny teeth. Once your baby s teeth come in (usually between the ages of 6 and 12 months), brush them twice a day. Use a soft brush made for little ones and a tiny amount (about the size of a rice grain) of toothpaste with fluoride. See a dentist soon. Experts say babies need their first check-up before their first birthday or when their first tooth comes in. It may seem early, but check-ups can help prevent dental problems before they start. Sources: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; American Dental Association Teething hurts. Soothe teething by rubbing a clean, damp cloth or a clean finger on your baby s gums. 6

7 Lead poisoning: Five ways to protect children Lead is a poisonous metal that s harmful to children s health. Years ago before people knew it was dangerous lead was put in paint. That means that in older housing, kids might come in contact with lead. They may chew on paint chips, for example, or as paint breaks down, it may contaminate dust. That dust can get on toys or other things kids put in their mouths. To protect your family: 1. If your home was built before 1978, ask your health department how to get it tested for lead. 2. Keep children away from peeling paint or surfaces they might chew on. 3. If your home is being updated, keep children out of the home until work is complete. 4. Wash children s hands and toys often. 5. Regularly use a wet mop on bare floors. Wipe windowsills and window wells with a wet cloth. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 24-hour nurse line Our members can call our tollfree medical advice line at , TTY: 711, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained medical professionals answer every call. They are always ready to help with medical questions and problems. You and your family can get health advice whenever you need it, at no cost to you. 7

8 Urgent care or emergency care? When you can t see your doctor maybe it s the weekend or after offce hours you may think your only option for help is a hospital emergency department. However, for non-emergency situations you do have another choice: an urgent care center. You may be able to see a provider more quickly at an urgent care center than at a hospital. Consider urgent care for things such as: A cold or cough that doesn t get better in several days or a cold that gets worse and is accompanied by a fever. A minor cut that might need stitches. A rash, especially with fever. A bout of vomiting and diarrhea that lasts for more than a few hours. A severe sore throat or a problem swallowing. However, you ll want to call 911 or go to the emergency department if you or your child has signs of a medical emergency. Those include: Any significant change in behavior, such as being confused, delirious or excessively sleepy or becoming increasingly less responsive or unconsciousness. A severe headache or vomiting, especially after a head injury. Uncontrolled bleeding. Problems breathing. Increasing pain or severe, persistent pain. Severe or persistent diarrhea. Going into labor. Good things to know Urgent care centers don t require an appointment. Most have evening and some weekend hours, but they aren t open 24 hours a day. Many of them offer services like X-rays, lab tests and medications. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Emergency Physicians Helping the elderly and disabled avoid injuries at home Do you worry that a disabled relative might fall and be hurt? Falling is a common accident for people whose sight and hearing aren t what they used to be. The following are ways you can help. First, make sure your relative has: A phone connected to a landline. House numbers that are visible from the street. Now, use this list to make your loved one s home even safer: In the bathroom Add a raised toilet seat. Install grab bars in showers and tubs. Be sure tubs and showers have non-skid surfaces. Throughout the house Get rid of tripping hazards like throw rugs and clutter. Place furniture so rooms are easy to move around in. Clear pathways for walking or using a wheelchair. Put handrails on both sides of stairs. Make sure stairwells have enough light. Fix loose stair treads and add nonslip treads. Have your loved one carry a panic button to call for help. Source: American College of Emergency Physicians 8

9 Asian chicken with honey and ginger Makes 4 servings. Ingredients 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 green onion, chopped 2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, peeled and grated 1 ½ pounds skinless chicken breasts Directions In small skillet over low heat, combine honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, onion and ginger. Stir until honey melts, about 1 minute. In medium baking pan, cover chicken with sauce until well-coated. Arrange breast-side down, ensuring parts don t overlap. Tightly cover pan with aluminum foil. Marinate 2 hours (longer is better) in refrigerator. Before cooking, remove pan from refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place covered baking pan in oven, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover pan, and turn chicken over. Bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees. Baste once with pan juices after 10 to 15 minutes. Nutrition information Serving size: ¼ recipe. Amount per serving: 178 calories, 2.5g total fat (less than 1g saturated fat), 11g carbohydrates, 27g protein, 0g dietary fiber, 375mg sodium. Source: American Institute for Cancer Research This newsletter is published as a community service for the friends and members of Aetna Better Health of New Jersey. This is general health information and should not replace the advice or care you get from your provider. Always ask your provider about your own health care needs. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. Contact us Member Services hours a day, 7 days a week TTY: March Vision TTY: 711 DentaQuest TTY: Coffey Communications, Inc., All rights reserved. NJ ENG

10 AETNA BETTER HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY Nondiscrimination Notice Aetna complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Aetna does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Aetna: Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: o Qualified sign language interpreters o Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats) Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: o Qualified interpreters o Information written in other languages If you need a qualified interpreter, written information in other formats, translation or other services, call the number on your ID card or If you believe that Aetna has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with our Civil Rights Coordinator at: Address: Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator 4500 East Cotton Center Boulevard Phoenix, AZ Telephone: (TTY 711) MedicaidCRCoordinator@aetna.com You can file a grievance in person or by mail or . If you need help filing a grievance, our Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Offce for Civil Rights electronically through the Offce for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C , , (TDD). Complaint forms are available at Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company, and its affliates. NJ

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