What are the signs of postpartum depression?

Transcription

1 Volunteer State Health Plan 1 Cameron Hill Circle Chattanooga, Tennessee For BlueCare and TennCareSelect Members Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Live Smart. Live Better. Take Control. 2nd Quarter 2009 What are the signs of postpartum depression?... 1 Coronary Artery Disease... 2 Test your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Knowledge... 3 The ABCs of Diabetes Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke... 4 Diabetes and Your Eyes... 4 Make an asthma action plan... 5 Breathing Exercise Provides Relief of COPD symptoms... 6 Pregnant? Don t Smoke! Learn How and Why to Quit for Good... 7 Children at Risk for Fatal Diseases - Childhood Obesity... 7 Helpful Numbers... 8 What are the signs of postpartum depression? Sometimes, new moms get the blues. You may have heard of conditions called the baby blues or postpartum depression. These are both conditions that can affect women after pregnancy. Both are very common and temporary. But one of these, postpartum depression, is a little more serious. It might require more than just patience and time. How to know the difference The baby blues happen in many women in the days right after childbirth. It might last only a few hours or one to two weeks after delivery. With the baby blues, you may have sudden mood swings. One minute you feel very happy and the next you feel very sad. You may find that you cry for no reason. You might also feel: Impatient Anxious Irritable Lonely Restless Sad The baby blues do not always require treatment from a health care provider. Often, joining a support group of new moms or talking with other moms helps. Postpartum depression (PPD) can happen a few days or even months after childbirth. You might have feelings similar to the baby blues, but you feel them much more strongly. PPD often keeps a woman from doing the things she needs to do every day. If you feel like you can t function, this is a sure sign that you need to see your health care provider right away. Some warning signs of postpartum depression include: Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations, numbness or hyperventilation. Not being able to sleep or being very tired, or both. Not being able to eat or overeating. Trouble focusing, remembering or making decisions. Being overly worried about the baby. Not having any interest in the baby. Feeling worthless and guilty. 1 Being afraid of hurting the baby or yourself. While PPD is a serious condition, it can be treated with medication and counseling. There are also things you can do to try to feel better on your own. Try doing these things: Get plenty of rest. Always try to nap when the baby naps. Ask for help with household chores and nighttime feedings. Talk to your husband, partner, family and friends about how you are feeling. Do not spend a lot of time alone. Get dressed and leave the house run an errand or take a short walk. Talk with other mothers or join a support group for women with PPD. Your health plan covers mental health services as part of your benefits. Call customer service if you need help finding a mental health provider. BlueCare members call TennCareSelect members call

2 Heart News Coronary Artery Disease Your arteries are like a system of pipes. Your heart pumps blood into your arteries. When arteries are clear, blood flows freely. When arteries are not clear, the problems of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) begin. In CAD, fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances build into a plaque that coats the walls of your arteries. As the arteries narrow, oxygen-rich blood may slow. Clots may form and cut off blood flow. CAD may cause: Angina, a sharp or squeezing pain that may occur in your chest, neck, jaw, arms, shoulders and back Heart Attack, a complete blockage of blood flow to your heart that kills heart muscle and causes death if not treated Heart Failure, a condition in which not enough blood is being pumped through your body Arrhythmias, problems with the speed or beating of your heart Preventing CAD CAD is the most common form of heart disease and is the leading cause of death among men and women in the U.S. Steps to slow down the effects of the disease include: Exercise A healthy weight A healthy diet Controlling blood pressure Controlling blood cholesterol Controlling or preventing diabetes Quitting or not starting smoking or other tobacco use Consult your health care provider early if you have a family history of CAD. Work with your provider on a healthy lifestyle plan. 2

3 Test your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Knowledge 1. Question: Which one of the following is not a healthy cholesterol level? A. Total cholesterol level of 180 B. LDL cholesterol level of 30 C. HDL cholesterol level of 30 D. None of the above 4. Question: Which of the following is most likely to increase your LDL ( bad ) cholesterol level? A. Eating too much cholesterol B. Eating too much saturated fat C. Eating too much unsaturated fat D. Eating too much salt 2. Question: Exercise can help you do which of the following: A. Lower LDL cholesterol B. Raise HDL cholesterol C. Lower triglycerides D. All of the above 5. Question: What percentage of school-age American children is estimated to have high blood pressure? A. 0% B. 1-2% C. 5-6% D % 3. Question: According to the American Heart Association, what is the maximum amount of cholesterol that you should eat per day? A. 300 mg B. 500 mg C. 700 mg D. 900 mg Question: High blood pressure puts additional strain on which of the following parts of the body? A. Heart B. Blood vessels C. Kidneys D. All of the above Question: African Americans are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure than white Americans. A. True B. False The correct answers to this quiz are: 1. C 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. D 6. D 7. A For most people, healthy cholesterol and blood pressure numbers include: Total cholesterol of less than 200 LDL less than 100 HDL of 40 or higher Triglycerides less than 150 Systolic blood pressure (the top number) less than 120 Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) less than 80 Eating a healthy diet rich in soluble fiber can help lower cholesterol. Getting plenty of exercise can help lower bad cholesterol, raise good cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Talk to your doctor to find out where your numbers are and where they should be. For some people, diet and exercise might not be enough. Your doctor might prescribe medicines to help get your blood pressure or cholesterol numbers where they need to be. 3

4 The ABCs of Diabetes Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke When you have diabetes, you are more likely to have a heart attack and stroke. Diabetics also tend to develop heart disease at a younger age. To fight heart disease and stroke, learn to control your ABCs. A is for A1C. The A1C test (sometimes known as the HbA1c or hemoglobin A1c test) measures your average blood glucose (sugar) over the last three months. ººYou should have the A1C test at least twice a year. ººYour A1C goal is below 7. B is for blood pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. ººHave your blood pressure checked at each visit with your health care provider. ººBetween doctor visits, take advantage of free blood pressure checks offered by hospitals or other trusted community agencies. ººYour blood pressure goal is below 130/80. C is for cholesterol. Bad cholesterol, or LDL, builds up and clogs your arteries. ººYour cholesterol should be tested at least once a year. ººYour LDL cholesterol goal is below 100. Take action on your Diabetes ABCs. Talk with your health care provider about diet and exercise changes and medications that can help you Diabetes and Your Eyes High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves in your eyes. This can cause diabetic retinopathy. This disease must be found early and treated. If not, you could lose your eyesight. reach your ABC goals. Your doctor s recommendations may include: ººAt least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as brisk walking, on most days of the week ººEating less fat and salt ººEating more fiber whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans. ººReaching and staying at a healthy weight ººStopping smoking ººTaking medicines as prescribed ººAsking about the benefits of taking an aspirin a day ººAsking others to help you manage your diabetes What can you do? Check your blood sugar levels often. Use diet, exercise and medicine prescribed by your doctor to control your levels. There is often no pain or real change in your eyesight until the disease is serious. So follow these tips to catch eye disease early: ººDiabetics should have a dilated eye exam with an eye care professional every year. ººPregnant women with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam during their first three months of pregnancy. ººReport any changes in vision to your health care providers. 4

5 Make an asthma action plan Asthma has several symptoms: coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. But there s one thing it shouldn t make you feel: powerless. In fact, there s a lot you can do to keep asthma symptoms from flaring up in the first place. Your doctor can show you how. Find your triggers Your physician can work with you to develop a plan that will help keep your asthma under control so you can live a healthy, active life. The first step is to identify your asthma triggers. These are irritants and allergens that cause your asthma symptoms. Triggers vary from person to person but may include dust, animal dander, tobacco smoke, mold, pollen, polluted air and chemicals from products such as hair spray. Your doctor can give you advice on how to reduce your exposure to triggers. Keep symptoms in check The next step is to faithfully take the medicines that help prevent and control your asthma symptoms. Most people with asthma use both long-term and fast-relief medicines. Long-term medicines help keep the airways open and can prevent asthma symptoms from flaring up. They come in both inhaled and pill form and should be used daily as advised by your doctor. Fast-relief medicines can help control asthma symptoms when they occur. You should carry a quick-relief inhaler throughout the day and use it as directed. Your doctor also may recommend using a peak-flow meter. When you blow into the device, it displays a number that shows how well your lungs are working. Your doctor will help you determine your personal best peak-flow number. When your peak-flow meter shows this number, your asthma is under control. Prepare for emergencies You ll also need to know what to do if you have a serious asthma attack. You should call your doctor if: Your medicines don t provide relief. Your peak-flow number is less than half of your personal best. And you should call 911 if: You have trouble walking or talking because you re out of breath. Your lips or fingernails are blue. Your doctor can give you further advice on what to do in an asthma emergency. Check with the experts See your doctor regularly to make sure your asthma plan is working well. These visits are also a good time for you to voice any questions or concerns about your asthma treatment. Call your doctor if you d like to learn more about keeping asthma under control. 5

6 Breathing Exercise Provides Relief of COPD symptoms Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath can all be daily symptoms for someone living with COPD. If you have one of many lung conditions classified as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), breathing exercises might improve your lung function and lessen the frequency and severity of your symptoms. Here are two breathing exercises that might help improve your lung function. Remember that these exercises might not be right for everyone with COPD. Talk to your health care provider to see if this kind of exercise is right for you. Slow, deep exhale: 1. Sit down. Sit up straight, but relax. 2. Breath in through the nose. 3. Purse lips slightly (as if to whistle). 4. Breathe out slowly through pursed lips. The point of this exercise is to spend a long time breathing out. Make your breath last while going out about three times longer than your breath in. 5. Do not force the air out. The purpose of this exercise is to improve the movement of air in and out of your lungs. Start by doing this four to five times a day until you get the pattern right. You can utilize this exercise to restore your normal breathing pattern when you begin to feel short of breath. NOTE: If you start to feel light-headed during this exercise, you might be taking in too much air. Breath more slowly, and this feeling should go away. Breathing through the diaphragm This next exercise will help you strengthen your diaphragm, a muscle that makes breathing easier. 1. Lie on your back in a bed with your knees bent. 2. Place one of your hands on your abdomen. 3. Place your other hand on your upper chest. 4. As you inhale through your nose, make your stomach move out and keep your upper chest as still as possible. 5. As you exhale through pursed lips, let your stomach fall inward. Your hand on the upper chest should remain as still as possible during the entire procedure. This will likely be hard at first. You might find that you tire easily after only a short time. But keep at it! With regular practice, you will start to notice that it takes a lot less effort to breathe. 6

7 Pregnant? Don t Smoke! Learn How and Why to Quit for Good Most people know that smoking causes cancer, heart disease and other major health problems. But women who smoke during pregnancy put themselves and their unborn babies at risk for other health problems. The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include premature birth, certain birth defects and infant death. Even being around cigarette smoke puts a woman and her baby at risk for problems. Did You Know? Smoking makes it harder for a woman to get pregnant. Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely than other women to have a miscarriage. Smoking during pregnancy causes major health problems for mom and baby. For instance, smoking is one of the causes of problems with These days, it s hard to find a child who does not own at least one computer or video game system. In addition, television, fast food and the internet all have a major place in our kids lives. What is the result of this common childhood lifestyle? Childhood obesity (being overweight). Childhood obesity is now being called a public health crisis. Children are more obese today than ever before. But what s the big deal? the placenta the source of the baby s nutrition and oxygen during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born too early and have low birth weight making it more likely the baby will become sick or die. Smoking during and after pregnancy is one of the risk factors of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies born to women who smoke are more likely to have a cleft lip or cleft palate types of birth defects. The Good News Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. But for women who are already pregnant, quitting as early as possible can still help protect against some health problems, such as low birth weight. It is never too late to quit smoking. 7 Quit for Good! It is important to quit smoking for good. Some women might think it is safe to start smoking again after their baby is born. But these babies are not out of harm s way. Babies who are around cigarette smoke have weaker lungs than other babies. They are more likely to have other health problems such as infections and more frequent asthma attacks. Being around cigarette smoke is also one of the risk factors of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Though quitting for good can be hard, the benefits are worth it a healthy baby and many more years of good health to enjoy with him or her. Call for free help to quit smoking. Hearing impaired members call Children at Risk for Fatal Diseases - Childhood Obesity (continued on page 8)

8 Childhood Obesity (continued from page 7) The problem is not just about being fat. Childhood obesity puts children at risk for developing major health problems and disease at a much earlier age than ever before. Children are now being diagnosed with conditions like: Hypertension, Stroke, Colon cancer, Chronic inflammation, Diabetes, Increased blood clotting tendency, and Other cardiovascular (heart) disease risk factors In fact, being obese as a child makes a person twice as likely to die of heart disease later in life. What s the Solution? Making lifestyle changes for the whole family can be challenging. But, stick together and focus on one small change at a time. Soon, you ll realize the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips for making little changes that make a big difference: Start small. It s easiest to change one small thing at a time. Once that change has become a habit, start working on something else. Eat in. Reduce the number of meals your family eats in fastfood and other restaurants. Keep portion sizes reasonable. Encourage your kids to help you shop and prepare meals. Get Physical. Limit the amount of TV, computer and video game time the whole family gets. Try to spend time walking, riding bikes or going to the park together. If you make it a family event, everyone will benefit. Stock the good stuff. Fill your cupboards with fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods. Junk food and sugary drinks should be banned. Remember this your kids (and you) will eat what s most at hand. Keep it positive. Don t focus on your child s weight as the reason for change. Focus on being healthier and happier. Work on changing behaviors instead of changing appearance. Helpful Numbers Customer Service: BlueCare members call ; TennCareSelect members call CareSmart Call if you have any questions about the CareSmart Disease Management Program. Also call if you need to talk to your CareSmart nurse about your disease. *Nurseline Have a health question? Registered nurses are available to talk to you any time, day or night. *Health Information Library This audio Library has more than 1,200 recorded messages on a variety of health topics. Access the number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. *Services of independent companies serving BlueCare and TennCareSelect members. Sources: National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FDA Heart Health Online; American Diabetes Association; National Diabetes Education Program; HAP.org; American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Volunteer State Health Plan Para información acerca de TennCare en español llame al No one is treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, language, sex, age, religion or disability. Do you think you ve been treated unfairly? Do you have more questions? Do you need more help? You can make a free call to the Family Assistance Service Center at In Nashville, call For more information about interpretation and translation services, which are free to the enrollee, BlueCare members call TennCareSelect members call Volunteer State Health Plan, Inc. (VSHP), BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc. (BCBST) and BlueCare are independent licensees of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. VSHP is a licensed HMO affiliate of BCBST. This document has been classified as pubic information. This newsletter is not meant to take the place of your doctor s advice (7/09) 8