TennderCare 3rd Quarter 2015 your health download Swimming Smarts Hanging out at the pool or lake is a great way to beat the heat during the summer. While you re having fun, you may not think much about water safety but you should. For people between the ages of 5 and 24, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. Most water-related accidents can be avoided by knowing how to stay safe and following a few simple guidelines. Buddy up. Always swim with a partner whether you re swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake. You can help each other or go for help in case of an emergency. Swim in safe areas. Swim in places that are supervised by a lifeguard. In the event that something does go wrong, lifeguards are trained in rescue techniques. Watch the sun. Sun reflecting off the water or off sand can intensify the burning rays. Reapply sunscreen frequently and cover up much of the time. Don t forget your hat, UV protection sunglasses, and protective clothing. Drink plenty of fluids. It s easy to get dehydrated in the sun, especially if you re active and sweating. Keep up with fluids to prevent dehydration. Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or nausea can be signs of dehydration and overheating.
Healthy Eating Habits Start Early Eating a healthy amount and mix of food helps your body do all the important jobs it needs to do. And creating healthy eating habits now is key to long-term health as you grow up. A healthy eating plan: Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts Some foods are not good for your health if you eat too much of them. Try to have less of these: Solid fats are fats that are solid at room temperature. Solid fats usually are high in saturated fat and trans fat. Eating too much of them can cause problems like heart disease. Sodium is found in table salt and lots of prepared foods. Eating too much sodium can cause health problems such as high blood pressure. Added sugars mean you re getting extra calories without any extra nutrients. Added sugars are often hiding out in your soda, cookies, candy, and sugary cereals. Cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease. Check the nutrition facts label on foods you eat to see how much cholesterol they have. Try to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol each day. No More Comfort Food? Do you have to give up your favorite comfort food or snacks? No! Healthy eating is all about balance. Make sensible food choices most of the time. And only have high-fat and high-sugar, or salty treats once in a while. Enjoy these less often, so that they truly will be treats.
Protect Your Choppers with a Mouth Guard Protecting your teeth is important at least if you want to keep them! Of course, regular brushing and flossing protects them from disease. But it s just as important to protect them from damage caused by sports, accidents, and teeth grinding. Mouth guards are an effective way to protect your teeth if you play sports that could cause dental damage. The least expensive kind is called a stock mouth guard, and is available at sporting goods stores and department stores but actually does not provide very good protection. Instead, dentists recommend at least a boil-and-bite mouth protector. You boil it for a few minutes, then place it into your mouth. The soft plastic forms a custom fit around your teeth. The best option is a custom-fitted mouth guard, which your dentist builds to fit your mouth. It is the most comfortable option and provides the best protection, but it s the most expensive. If you grind your teeth at night, you can damage the enamel. A special type of mouth guard called a nocturnal bite plate can help prevent this. Using a mouth guard can save you a lot of money and pain! and can help you live a long life with a mouthful of healthy teeth. Whichever kind you use, be sure to follow the instructions for proper fit and care. Need help finding a dentist or scheduling an appointment? Call us at 1-855-418-1622 or TTY 1-800-466-7566.
When Worries Become Too Much It s normal to worry when things get hectic and complicated. Normally, teens feel anxiety because of something like a test or going out on a date. Some teens are more bothered by their worries than others. Their worrying may affect their schoolwork, ability to make friends, and be with their families. When worries become overwhelming, you feel that they re running your life. You may: Spend an excessive amount of time feeling worried or nervous Have difficulty sleeping because of your worries These could be symptoms of an anxiety problem. Getting proper care for anxiety is important. Talk to a trusted adult. Don t be afraid to tell someone who can help, like your parents, teacher, or counselor. Get a checkup. See your primary care provider (PCP) to make sure there are no physical conditions that could be causing symptoms. Work with a mental health professional. Ask your PCP for a referral to someone who treats anxiety problems. Also, you can call the phone number on the back of your member ID card for help finding services. Get regular exercise, good nutrition, and sleep. These provide your body and brain with the right fuel and time to recharge. Teen Mental Health Being a teenager is hard. You re under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with your family, and make big decisions. These are typical teen pressures. Worrying about them is normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem. Mental health problems are real, painful, and sometimes severe. Mental health problems can be treated. Where to Find Help If you or someone you care about is in crisis, please seek help immediately. Talk to your parents or an adult you trust. Call 911. Visit a nearby emergency department or your health care provider s office. Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). For More Information, Try These Helpful Resources For suicide prevention information: If you need help, you can call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Need Help to Quit Smoking? Call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).
Prepare for Your Checkup You re used to answering questions during your yearly TENNderCare exam not asking your own. But you probably have a lot of questions when it comes to your health. This checkup is great time to talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about whatever is on your mind. Don t feel embarrassed to ask your PCP anything. Chances are your PCP has seen or heard it before. Your PCP can help answer questions you may have about: Changes in your body Body image Weight concerns Emotions and feelings Peer pressure to use drugs or alcohol School problems Other health issues Play an active role to get the most out of your checkup. Jot down a list of questions you have before your appointment. You don t have to ask all of the questions. But you can use them as a guide. These questions can help you start conversations about common health problems and concerns. The more questions you ask, the more you ll discover about your body. When you know what s going on with your body, you can take charge of your own health. Jot down a list of questions you have before your appointment. TENNderCare exams are FREE preventive benefits. Call today to schedule the next checkup. Do you need help finding a PCP? Call the customer service number on your ID card. Are You Dealing with Abuse? Abuse of children can take many forms. All forms of abuse are serious. It may be emotional, sexual, verbal, or physical. There is nothing that you can do or say to deserve being abused. The abuse is never your fault. Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy relationship. To report suspected child abuse, call 1-877-237-0004. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You do not have to have proof that abuse has occurred. Each concern will be reviewed on a personal basis.
Check Up on Your Health! You should get a TENNderCare checkup every year. Getting a checkup is called preventive health care. We want you to stay well! So even when you feel good, you still need to get your checkup. Part of taking care of yourself is getting your screening on time. So call your doctor today and make your appointment! Remember, if you are a UHCCP member younger than age 21, TENNderCare checkups are free. Primary Care Tracker My next checkup is due. Not sure when it is due? Call your primary care provider (PCP) and ask. Not sure who your PCP is? To find out, call your health plan at 1-800-690-1606. Be prepared for your checkup. Write down questions for your PCP. One question I have for my PCP is: OR Something my PCP needs to know about me is: 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 Tennessee Health Connection for free at 1-855-259-0701. TennCare no permite el trato injusto. Nadie recibe un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, religión, idioma, sexo, edad o discapacidad. Cree que lo han tratado injustamente? Tiene más preguntas o necesita más ayuda? Si piensa que lo han tratado injustamente, llame gratis a Tennessee Health Connection al 1-855-259-0701. Habla español y necesita ayuda con esta carta? Llámenos gratis al 1-800-690-1606. If you have a hearing or speech problem you can call us on a TTY/TDD machine. Our TTY/TDD number is 711. Si tiene problemas de audición o del habla, puede llamarnos a través de una máquina de TTY/TDD. El número de TTY/TDD es 711. Need help in another language? You can call UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for assistance in any language at 1-800-690-1606 or the numbers below. Interpretation and translation services are free to TennCare members. Foreign Language Lines Call if you need help and need to speak with someone in one of these languages: (Arabic) 1-800-758-1638 (Bosnian) 1-800-758-1638 (Kurdish-Badinani) 1-800-758-1638 (Kurdish-Sorani) 1-800-758-1638 (Somali) 1-800-758-1638 Espanol (Spanish) 1-800-758-1638 (Vietnamese) 1-800-758-1638 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 1-800-690-1606 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 1-800-758-1638. Necesita ayuda con esta información? La necesita porque tiene una discapacidad o un problema de aprendizaje, de salud mental o una enfermedad? O acaso necesita ayuda en otro idioma? Si es así, usted tiene derecho a obtener ayuda, y nosotros podemos brindársela. Llame a 1-800-690-1606 para más información. Tiene usted una enfermedad mental y necesita ayuda con esta información? En la línea telefónica de TennCare Advocacy pueden ayudarle. Llámelos gratis al 1-800-758-1638. To report fraud or abuse to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) you can call toll-free 1-800-433-3982. To report provider fraud or patient abuse to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), call toll-free 1-800-433-5454. Para reportar fraude o abuso a la Oficina del Inspector General (Office of Inspector General, OIG) nos puede llamar gratis al 1-800-433-3982. Para reportar fraude o maltrato de un paciente por parte de un proveedor a la Unidad de Control de Fraude Médico de la Oficina de Investigación de Tennessee (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, TBI MFCU), llame gratis al 1-800-433-5454. need a ride? If you need a ride to your doctor or health department, call 1-800-690-1606. UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc.