TENNderCare. 1st qtr. 2nd qtr

Transcription

1 TENNderCare 2nd qtr 1st qtr Stay Fit, Stay Safe School s almost out for the summer. Just in time to do the things you want to do on your time. With warmer weather and longer days, you can use your free time to add exercise and sports to your daily routine. No matter what activity you choose, you can take some steps to stay safe. Physical Activity Safety Tips for the Summer Stretch and warm up your body before exercising to prevent injuries. If you exercise after dark, wear bright-colored clothes or use reflectors. Make sure someone you trust knows where you re going and when you ll be back. Swimming/Water Safety Tips WALK! Respect all posted signs and warnings. Don t dive into shallow waters or above ground pools. Wear a life vest when boating, skiing or if you re not a good swimmer. Bring a friend. Never swim alone. Running, Jogging and Walking Safety Tips Walk, jog or run in open areas or along a welltraveled trail. Stay on sidewalks or pedestrian designated areas. Be alert! Pay attention to small, dark areas where people could hide, especially in wooded areas or around buildings. Bike and Skating Safety Tips Always wear a helmet. And make sure it is put on properly. Helmet should be padded and snug, yet comfortable when strapped. Not all helmets are the same. Check with your local sporting goods shop about which helmet is right for your sport. Know your equipment. Check your chain, tires, wheels and brakes to make sure they are properly mounted and safe. Skate or ride in designated locations. Never wear headphones while riding or skating. Participating in physical activities is a healthy way to stay busy this summer. By playing it safe, you can help make sure this summer will be fun! Resources: TeensHealth, Bicycle Safety, Teens Ages 15 to 19 Years, health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_ sheets/teens_15-19_years/bicycle_safety_15-19_years. htm

2 As summer temperatures increase, your body will need more water. This is especially important when you plan on having fun outdoors. Too much sun and not enough water can lead to heat-related illnesses. When your body releases more water than it s taking in, it can lead to serious heat-related illnesses. Signs of dehydration include dizziness, vomiting, less and dark-colored urine, dry or sticky mouth and muscle cramps. What can you do to prevent dehydration? Drink plenty of water before, during and after going outdoors. And drink often (every 20 minutes). Even if you re not thirsty! It s more than your body overheating. It s due to heavy loss of water and salt. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, nausea, headaches, rapid heartbeat, clammy skin, thirst, muscle cramps and increased body temperature. Do you know what to do? Get out of the sun and into the shade or a building with air conditioning. Sip cool water. DO NOT drink alcoholic, sugary or caffeinated drinks. Loosen tight clothing. Take a cool shower, bath or apply cool water to your skin. When your body temperature reaches 104 F, damage to your organs and brain can occur. Signs a person is having a heatstroke are similar to heat exhaustion, except now the person may have stopped sweating. They may also feel agitated, confused or begin to hallucinate. In extreme cases, a person can have seizures or go into a coma. Do you know what to do? Call 911 Immediately! Take them into the shade or a building with air conditioning. Remove unnecessary clothing. Fan them and apply ice packs under their armpits, groin, neck and back. DO NOT give them fluids to drink, especially cold ones. This may cause the person to go into shock. Other ways to prevent heat-related illnesses: Plan activities during morning or evening hours when the sun is not so strong. Dress in light and loose clothing. Eat healthy snacks like fresh vegetables and fruits that are high in water content. So when you re out this summer having fun in the sun, remind yourself to drink more water. It is best to consume at least every hour. Resources: Management of Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion, Heat-Related Illnesses in Teens, simplehealthtips.org/2011/heat-relatedillnesses-in-teens Heat Stress, heatstress/ Dehydration, safety/first_aid/dehydration.html Nourishing your body and mind A re you depressed, overwhelmed or just feeling like you can t cope with life? Mental health is just as important as physical health. Signs of depression or mental illness should never be ignored. If you think you may need help, take action. Please contact your primary care provider. They can get you the help you need. If you are having any thoughts about harming yourself or others, or if you know someone who is, this is an emergency. Immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at TALK (8255) or 911.You can also visit or for more information.

3 Spotting Skin Cancer Did you know one severe sunburn in childhood more than doubles your risk for developing melanoma later in life? Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. There are some important steps you can take to protect yourself. First, wear sunscreen when you plan to be outdoors. Limit being outside during the hottest parts of the day, which is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Next, take time each month to examine your skin. See your doctor right away if you notice any mark or spot that looks suspicious. What to look for: the ABCDEs Asymmetry One half is unlike the other. Border An irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border. Color Is varied from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown, black, white, red or blue. Diameter Is 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) or larger. Evolving A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color. To perform a self-exam you will need: A bright light A full-length mirror A hand mirror Step 1: Examine your body, front and back, in the mirror. Then, look at the right and left sides with your arms raised. Step 2: Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, upper underarms and palms. Step 3: Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes and the soles of your feet. Step 4: Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part your hair for a closer look. Step 5: Use a hand mirror to check your back and buttocks. If you spot a mark or skin lesion with any of the ABCDE signs, tell your doctor. Sources: about-skin-self-exams (Source for statistic: One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person s chances of developing melanoma later in life. ) My next check up is due. Not sure when it is due? Call your Primary Care Provider (PCP) and ask. Not sure who your Primary Care Provider is? To find out, call your health plan at Be prepared for your check-up. Write down questions for your PCP. One question I have for my Primary Care Provider is: Or Something my Primary Care Provider needs to know about me is:

4 Say NO to bad teeth! You use your mouth and teeth for everything from chewing, to talking, to smiling. But drug use can have a terrible effect on your smile. Drugs can have many physical side effects including damage to your mouth and teeth. For example, many drugs can cause dry mouth, which means there is less saliva in the mouth. Saliva protects teeth from bacteria and acidic foods and drinks. If there is less saliva the teeth can be damaged more easily. Here are some examples of drugs and their side effects: Marijuana Can cause dry mouth, and the smoke can cause oral cancer. Cocaine/Crack Rubbing cocaine onto the gums can cause ulcers. Cocaine can make saliva more acidic, which will wear down the outer part of teeth. It can also cause dry mouth and teeth-grinding, which wears down the teeth. Ecstasy Can cause teeth-grinding and jaw-clenching, which can wear down teeth, and dry mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Methamphetamine Causes fast and severe tooth decay known as meth mouth. Methamphetamine is very acidic and attacks the outer part of the teeth. It can also cause dry mouth, tooth-grinding, and jaw-clenching. Drugs can also have emotional side effects. Drugs can make people lose interest in things like family and friends, eating good food and taking care of themselves. A drug user might stop brushing his or her teeth regularly or going to the dentist, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. Drugs are very harmful to your whole body and to your life. To stay happy and healthy you should never try drugs and you should stay away from people who do. Sources: Drugs and Your Oral Health. Australian Dental Association. Drugs-and-your-oral-health.pdf It is important to get your well-care TENNderCare check up every year. Remember, if you are a United Healthcare Community Plan member under age 21, these check ups are free. Be Wise Immunize Vaccines (shots) give you a healthy start in life. Teenagers are busy. There is not time in your schedule for illnesses. Shots are one way to help keep you well. Getting shots on time is important. Even if shots are accidentally missed, it is still very important to get them. So, remember, the key to staying healthy is to get regular checkups and shots. All TENNderCare checkups and immunizations are FREE for United Healthcare Community Plan members. Check with your doctor about what shots you need. Child abuse and neglect occurs when a child is mistreated. This mistreatment results in injury or risk of harm. Abuse can be: Physical Verbal Emotional Sexual If you are suffering from abuse, call You do not have to have proof that abuse has occurred. Each concern will be reviewed on an individual basis.

5 Teens start smoking for many different reasons. Some think it looks cool. Others start because their family members or friends smoke. If you smoke, this is the time to QUIT. Smoking is a hard habit to break. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become used to the nicotine in cigarettes. Then the person feels a need to smoke because their body craves the nicotine just to feel normal. The best thing you can do for good health is to stay away from cigarettes and don t ever begin smoking. There are no physical reasons to start smoking. The body doesn t need tobacco. Focus on the good things your body needs like food, water, sleep, and exercise. In fact, many of the chemicals in cigarettes are actually poisons. Even if you don t smoke, but your friends do, you are at risk of cancer and other diseases due to exposure to second hand smoke. Even second hand smoke contains toxic chemicals that can cause cancer. Alcohol is the most widely used drug by young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years. So, it s important to be honest with yourself about the role alcohol plays in your life. Do you hang out with a heavy drinking or drug using crowd? Have you ever missed school because of your drinking or use of other drugs? Have you ever gotten into trouble for using alcohol or other drugs? These are just some of the signs you may need help. If you think you or a friend may have a drinking problem, take the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence s Self-Test for Teenagers online at If you smoke you may notice consequences like: Pale unhealthy looking skin Bad breath Bad smelling clothes and hair Poor athletic performance Increased risk of illness So, do not let peer pressure affect your choice about smoking. Just say NO. Avoiding smoking all together will help you look better, smell better, perform better and stay in good health. For help with quitting call: QUIT-NOW TTY Resources: cdc.gov/tobacco/youth/ information_sheet/index.htm drug_alcohol/tobacco/smoking. html The Truth about Teen Drinking You can also talk to a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, doctor, school counselor or clergy member. To find help in your area, visit the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Resource Center online at It takes courage to admit you have a problem. But, it is the first step toward recovery. Don t be afraid to speak up and seek help for you or a friend. You just might save a life. 1 in 3 children start drinking by the end of 8 th grade. Of them, half report having been drunk. Sources: YouthGuide/YouthGuidePocket.pdf

6 For more information, visit these helpful resources. To view the teen website visit: To read the teen newsletter online visit: For the teen newsletter Spanish version online visit: For teen resources from the State of Tennessee visit: For accurate information that helps you better understand your sexual health visit: Healthy First Steps program gives pregnant mothers and mothers to-be the information, education, and support they need. For more information visit: For suicide prevention information visit: Have questions about Fitness, Disease, Peer pressure, Nutrition or other teen topics? For games, teen challenges, activity calendar and more visit: Need Help to Quit Smoking call: U-QUIT or This line is open Monday-Friday 9:00a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Help is available in Spanish and English. Need help in another language? You can call UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for language assistance at or the numbers below. Interpretation and translation services are free to TennCare members. translation services are free to TennCare members. (Arabic) Bosanski (Bosnian) (Kurdish-Badinani) (Kurdish- Sorani) Soomaali (Somali) Espanol (Spanish) (Vietnamese) 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 at for more information. 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 number is 711. Hay una línea telefónica en español para los consumidores hispanos de TennCare. Llame a los servicios al cliente para más información. 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 No permitimos el tratamiento injusto en TennCare. Nadie recibe un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, idioma, sexo, edad, discapacidad o religión. Cree que lo han tratado injustamente? Tiene más preguntas? Necesita más ayuda? Usted puede llamar gratis al Centro de Servicio para Asistencia Familiar al En Nashville, llame al need a ride? If you need a ride to your doctor or health department, call UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc.