Controlling Your Asthma

Transcription

1 YOU Need help making an appointment or getting A ride to your checkup? Call Customer Service at: BlueCare Member Service: or TennCareSelect Member Service: The hours are Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. For BlueCare and TennCareSelect Members under age 21 In Case of an Emergency Suppose you re babysitting, and the little girl you are watching starts choking on a piece of fruit. Or, you re visiting your grandmother, and she falls down and hits her head. Would you know what to do? To be prepared, you can: Learn basic first aid Know where to find medical information and supplies, and how to use them Know the address of where you are and who to call during an emergency Never leave children unattended Avoid distractions, like going online and texting Take a class in CPR Learn the Heimlich maneuver If the emergency is life threatening, call Even non-activated cell phones with power can be used to call While waiting for paramedics to arrive: Stay calm and try to keep the person calm. Do not leave the person unattended. Test your first aid knowledge. Circle the correct answer. 1. Rinse cuts and scrapes with cool/warm water. 2. To stop bleeding, do/ don t apply firm but gentle pressure, using gauze. 3. Do/Don t put butter or oil on burns. 4. Lean your head forward/ backward to help stop nosebleeds. We re new on Facebook for BlueCare and TennCareSelect members. Learn more about your benefits and get health and wellness tips. Connect with us today by visiting 1 Answers: 1. Cool 2. Do 3. Don t 4. Forward Sources: teen/school_jobs/jobs/babysit_ threethings.html?tracking=t_ RelatedArticle; safety/safebasics/babysit_ emergencies.html?tracking=t_ RelatedArticle; firstaid.html; familydoctor/en/preventionwellness/staying-healthy/firstaid/first-aid-burns.printerview. all.html; familydoctor/en/diseasesconditions/nosebleeds. printerview.all.html; emergencycareforyou.org/ YourHealth/AboutEmergencies/ Default.aspx?id=26024 Like us on Facebook! 4th Quarter 2013 BlueCare SM TennCareSelect Para información acerca de TennCare in español, llame al Controlling Your Asthma If you have asthma, you know that sometimes asthma symptoms can get in the way of things like playing sports and hanging out with friends. That s why it s important to take control of your asthma. The first step is working with your doctor to make a written asthma action plan. Following an asthma action plan will help you prevent flareups and deal with the ones you can t prevent. Your asthma action plan will give you clear instructions so you can: Avoid triggers that make your asthma symptoms worse Notice early symptoms of a flare-up and treat them Take the right steps to deal with an asthma flare-up Know when to get emergency care Be sure to keep a copy with you at all times and share it with people like teachers and coaches. Source: treatment/a_action_plan.html#

2 Plan to Avoid Drinking and Driving Scenario: Let s say you ride with some friends to a party. The driver, whom you thought planned to stay sober, ends up drinking. Now it is time to leave, but you re nervous about getting in the car. What should you do? Plan ahead. Give yourself several options for getting home safely. Here are some tips to help you: Stay smart and speak up. If you haven t had anything to drink and have your driver s license on you, ask for the keys and get the group home safely. Find another ride. Try to find another sober friend to give you a lift. Call someone to pick you up. While most teens don t want to call a parent, chances are mom or dad would be happier that you called them rather than put yourself in danger. You could also call another family member or visit for-the-public/aaas-role/public- To help you solve the secret message go to kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol. html#. Next unscramble the words to fill in the blanks. Then match the letters by number to the spaces to reveal the secret message about teen drinking and driving. 1. Drinking too much alcohol may cause alcohol. oipsnoign Alcohol is a, which means it slows the functions of the body. ressdpanet with alcohol during the teen years is common. xpreimetnatnio education/sober-ride to find a safe ride program near you. If possible, stay where you are until morning. Just be sure to let your family know where you are and that you are safe. 2 Remember, the best way to avoid drinking and driving is to stay away from situations where drinking occurs. Find the Secret Message! The best way to stay safe is to drinking. vdoia to a trusted adult if you think you need help. lkta 6 3 Answers: Make a plan to avoid drinking and driving! 1. Poisoning 2. Depressant 3. Experimentation 4. Avoid 5. Talk Sources:

3 Teens, Treats and Teeth Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. The holidays are a fun time to celebrate and visit with friends and family. They are also a time when there may be lots of delicious meals and tasty treats. It can be very easy to want to eat everything in sight! However, just because the food is there, doesn t mean we have to eat it. When you have many good foods to choose from, the best thing to do is choose only your favorites, and only take a small portion of those foods. Many of the special foods around during the holidays are sweet treats like dessert and candy. The problem is, too much sugar can hurt your teeth! Eating lots of sugar can cause cavities, which are little holes in your teeth that can hurt and get worse if not treated by a dentist. Even though they may be tasty, you should avoid gummy and chewy candies. These can get stuck in between your teeth and in braces. Chocolate is a better candy to eat because it melts quickly. It is also good to drink water after eating chocolate to rinse the sugar off your teeth. Anytime you eat candy or a sweet treat you should brush your teeth afterward. Brushing will help clean the sugar off your teeth. Flossing can also help get any pieces of candy that may have gotten stuck between teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth after a sweet holiday treat can help keep your smile healthy and bright. Take Care of Your Pearly Whites! Beginning October 1, 2013, TennCare welcomes back DentaQuest* as its dental plan for members under the age of 21. Beginning at age 1, members should get a dental checkup once every six months. These checkups are free. Please visit a DentaQuest dentist. Do you need to find a dentist? Please call or go to their website at *DentaQuest is an independent company serving BlueCare and TennCareSelect members. DentaQuest s number and website address are listed for your convenience. DentaQuest does not provide Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services. Manage Your ADHD If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, it s important to talk to your doctor regularly. This is especially true if you were prescribed medication to treat your ADHD symptoms. Make sure that you go to your follow up appointment within a month of being prescribed your medication. This helps you and your doctor see how things are going and deal with any problems. Your doctor may try a couple of different medicines or dosages before finding what works best for you. Source: ritalin.html 3

4 You and the Flu You re invited to protect yourself from the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that all persons 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated each year. That includes you. When: As soon as the flu vaccine becomes available or any time during flu season which runs from October through May. Where: As a BlueCare or TennCareSelect member you can get a flu shot for free: From your Primary Care Provider (PCP) At your county health department At most walk-in clinics At your local pharmacy (drug store) Why: To spare yourself the misery of getting sick and to help prevent the spread of the virus. For people with certain medical conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, HIV, heart problems or asthma, the flu can cause serious complications. How: Call your PCP. Make an appointment for a flu shot. If you hate getting shots, ask your PCP about getting the nasal-spray flu vaccine. If you can t get a flu vaccine from your PCP, try one of the other options listed above. Sources: Diabetes Fact or Fiction: Knowing the difference can help you manage it better You can get a lot of information about diabetes easily and quickly. But not all of it is accurate. A health care provider is the best resource to know fact from myth to manage diabetes. Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. Fact: Type 1 diabetes is genetic and happens when the pancreas can t produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight can increase a person s risk of Type 2 diabetes. So limiting sugar to stay at a healthy weight is a good idea. Myth: You can outgrow diabetes. Fact: People with Type 1 diabetes will always need insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes may be able to better control diabetes with lifestyle changes. But they will likely always have the tendency toward high blood sugar. 4 Myth: Being overweight means you will eventually have Type 2 diabetes. Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, but other things play a part. Myth: Everyone with diabetes needs insulin. Fact: Type 1 diabetics need insulin because their pancreas doesn t make any. Some people with Type 2 diabetes need insulin, but others can manage it with medicine, diet and exercise. Talk with a doctor about other topics to manage diabetes. This is the best source to know what s right for you. Sources: American Diabetes Association - diabetes-myths/?loc=dropdowndb-myths Nemours - basics/diabetes_true_false.html

5 Do You Struggle with Substance Use? Quitting tobacco, alcohol or drugs is hard. Many kids and teens do not feel they can do it. You may not see that you have a problem. Sometimes substance use is just too big to handle alone. You may need to ask for help. Put a check in the box next to each question that is true for you: qqdo you do badly in school? qqdo you lose interest in things you used to like, such as sports or music? qqdo you get in trouble at school or with the law? qqdo you use substances to have fun, forget problems or relax? qqdo you have blackouts? qqdo you drink or use drugs alone? qqdo you keep secrets from family? qqdo you lie, steal or sell stuff to get money? If you answered yes to any of the above, you should ask for help from a parent, counselor, teacher or other trusted adult. What matters the most is to find support. For tips and help with substance abuse, call: Tobacco QuitLine QUIT-NOW Alcoholics/Drug Hotline HELP Al-Anon/Alateen Hotline The Alcohol and Drug Information Hotline Source: kidshealth.org/teen Is Your Weight in a Healthy Range? Doctors use the terms overweight or obese to describe when someone is at greatest risk of developing weight-related health problems. A couple of extra pounds are not a health risk for most teens. But teen obesity is bad news for both body and mind. Not only can it make someone feel tired and uncomfortable, carrying extra weight puts added stress on the body. As they get older, teens who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease. They are also at a higher risk of being bullied and depression. The best way to find out if you are at a healthy weight or if you need to lose or gain weight is to talk to your PCP. He or she can compare your weight with healthy norms to help you set realistic goals. Source: food_fitness/weight_center. html#cat

6 Free Services As a BlueCare or TennCareSelect member, you can get the following free services: Information on FREE interpretation and translation services TENNderCare information in an audio or Braille format, if needed A ride (if you need one) to your doctor or health department Just call: if you are a BlueCare member; if you are a TennCareSelect member. Stay Connected! If you re going to move or if you have moved, call the Family Assistance Service Center at Make sure it has your current address. You need to call even if BlueCare or TennCareSelect already have your new address. Save bluecare.bcbst.com as one of your favorite links. This useful website gives you lots of good information about your health. report abuse Report Fraud or Abuse To report fraud or abuse to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) you can call toll-free or go online to tn.us/tenncare and click on Report Fraud. To report provider fraud or patient abuse to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), call toll-free

7 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 692 POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE CHATTANOOGA TN ATTN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS COMMUNICATIONS BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TN 1 CAMERON HILL CIR CHATTANOOGA TN Do you need help with this information? Is it because you have a health, mental health, or learning problem or a disability? Or, do you need help in another language? If so, you have a right to get help, and we can help you. Call Customer Service. BlueCare members call TennCareSelect members call Do you have a mental illness and need help with this information? The TennCare Advocacy Program can help you. Call them for free at If you have a hearing or speech problem you can call us on a TTY/TDD machine. Our TTY/TDD numbers are: BlueCare ; TennCareSelect

8 JUST FORYOU 1 Cameron Hill Circle Chattanooga, Tennessee Habla español y necesita ayuda con esta carta? Los miembros de BlueCare pueden llamar al Los miembros de TennCareSelect, pueden llamar al We do not allow unfair treatment in TennCare. No one is treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, religion, language, sex, age, or disability. Do you think you ve been treated unfairly? Do you have more questions or need more help? If you think you ve been treated unfairly, call the Family Assistance Service Center for free at In Nashville, call Need help in another language? You can call for language assistance. BlueCare members call TennCareSelect members call Interpretation and translation services are free to TennCare members. BlueCare Tennessee and BlueCare, Independent Licensees of BlueCross BlueShield Association Chance to Win 13ALM1671 (8/13) $100 Gift Card What would you buy with a $100 gift card? School clothes, CDs, athletic equipment, electronics? This could be your decision if you re the lucky winner. How to be eligible to win Just get your TENNderCare well-care checkup from your doctor or health clinic before December 30, Fold bottom up to this line Two ways to enter 1. Call us at Tell us when and where you received your wellcare checkup and the name of the doctor who did your checkup. 2. Or fill out this form. Cut this page out of the newsletter. Fold into thirds with the address on the outside. Tape shut. Drop in the mailbox. Be sure to mail your entry no later than January 5, PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE INC. We ll put your name in the drawing for the gift card. Remember, the checkup is free for TennCare members under the age of 21. And a yearly checkup is important even if you re feeling well. It also gives you a chance to ask your doctor about any of your questions or concerns. Your address: Street City State ZIP Phone I received my yearly well-care checkup on (date) At (where) By (name of doctor or nurse) BlueCare or TennCareSelect Member Name Member s ID Number (look on your health care ID card) 8