Whether surfing the Internet or keeping up with family and friends via email and social media, spending hours hunched over a computer keyboard can lead to back pain, neck pain, and repetitive-stress injuries of your fingers, hands, and wrists. To help avoid or reduce discomfort, consider practicing a few simple and potentially pain-avoidance techniques. After all, as “LifeTimes” moves online, you’ll be reading it more often on your computer and spending a lot more hours there. So this is the perfect time to develop ideal keyboarding habits.

Watch your posture, hand and wrist positioning Poor posture may lead to aches and pains. To help reduce them, try these ideas: Sit with your back, head, and neck perpendicular to the floor. Don’t lean or hunch over the keyboard, keep thighs and forearms parallel to the floor, and avoid resting your elbows on the desk or chair armrests. Be sure to keep your shoulders down, not hunched or pulled up toward your head. These tips may help reduce pain in your hands and wrists: ■ Keep wrists flat and in a straight line with forearms. ■ Learn how to type using the touch method rather than hunting-and-pecking. This puts less stress on fingers. ■ Keep fingers and thumbs slightly curved, not straight and extended, while typing. ■ Rest your hands frequently. ■ Do hand stretches before starting work and during short breaks. ■ Don’t rest the heels of your hands on the keyboard.

The mouse and proper equipment Adjust portable equipment, such as a laptop computer, when using it for an extended period. Consider using a full-size keyboard and mouse with your laptop and raise the monitor to the correct height by placing it on a stand. Gripping and clicking a mouse improperly may lead to discomfort. When you use one, keep it within easy reach of the keyboard, hold it gently, and don’t grasp or tap forcefully. Avoid extending or flexing your wrist back while using the mouse. It’s important to take regular breaks

throughout the day. Briefly rest your eyes every 30 minutes. Spend 10 to 30 seconds looking across the room or out a window. Take a 10-minute break every two hours. Get up and move around to relieve stress and reduce muscle tension. Gently shake your hands and wrists. Periodically stand up and stretch.

Workspace tips Making a few simple changes in your workspace can help, too. Some things to try: ■ Adjust your computer. Set it so you look slightly downward at the screen. ■ Improve lighting. Use a desk lamp that allows you to adjust the light angle. ■ Reduce glare. If possible, reposition your computer terminal so it’s perpendicular to a window or use an inexpensive, glare-reducing screen that attaches to the terminal. ■ Add a footrest. Raising feet and legs makes sitting more comfortable and can help relieve pressure on backs and legs. ■ Get positioned properly. Adjust chair height so your feet rest flat on the floor. Be sure the front edge of the seat doesn’t create excessive pressure behind your knees. Sit in a slightly reclined position and keep the angle between your torso and thighs at 90 degrees or more. ■ Get support. A chair with a seat and back contoured to your body can reduce muscle strain by maintaining the proper S-shaped curve in your spine. If you do develop discomfort in your wrists, neck, or back, consider following up with your doctor, especially if you notice tingling or numbness, burning or radiating pain that does not go away, change in touch or temperature sensation, weakness, or other symptoms. ■

Spending more time online? Try these tips for keyboard comfort

Take our sunscreen quiz, page 4.

Skip grapefruit? Sometimes, page 7.

Jane Addams’ work goes on, page 3.

Summer 2012 • Vol. 3 No. 3

LifeTimesYo u r G u i d e t o H e a l t h , We l l n e s s & F i t n e s s

®

Find us online at bcbsnm.com/medicare/lifetimes.html

bcbsnm.com/medicare/lifetimes.html2

For many of us, nothing beats a day at the beach. If your leisure plans include enjoying some sun, sand, and water, these tips will help you have a safe outing:

■ Pack plenty of liquids to drink, but skip those with alcohol or caffeine. Fluids can help prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion, which can cause cramps and lead to potentially life-threatening heat stroke.

■ Put foods that can spoil in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Keep the cooler in the shade. Toss any food that sits out for more than two hours. Discard it after one hour when it’s more than 90 degrees outside. This can help prevent diarrhea and other food poisoning symptoms.

■ Use sunscreen. Reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming or sweating. Choose a sunscreen labeled SPF 15 or higher.

■ Swimmers should stay in view of the lifeguard and stay in water less than chest deep. Never go swimming alone. Obey warning signs related to high tides, strong currents, and waves. Keep an eye out for people enjoying watersports such as jet skis or sailing close to where you are swimming.

■ Keep small children within an arm’s length of you in the water. Approved life vests — not “floaties” — may be an option for kids or inexperienced adult swimmers.

■ Stay calm if you get caught in a rip tide, which can carry you into deeper water. Swim in line with the shore, not against the current, until you are free from the rush of water. Wave at the lifeguard if you need help.

■ Don’t touch marine animals, live or dead, and avoid protected wildlife areas such as sea turtle and seabird nesting locations. Heed posted warnings about jellyfish, stingrays, or other dangerous sea life. When wading in the water, watch where you walk and shuffle your feet. Some sunscreen products, labeled as such, include ingredients that may help protect against jellyfish stings. ■

Taking a trip to the beach? Add safety to fun

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico constantly review customer communications to strike the best balance among print, online, and social media messages. We do this to ensure Medicare policyholders always get the proper and most helpful media mix, while also reducing costs and helping the environment. For these reasons and to achieve more hard copy “LifeTimes” consistency across our four Health Care Service Corporation states, our award-winning newsletter becomes an eight-page quarterly

with this issue. It all adds up to savings in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, without sacrificing your access to the latest “LifeTimes” news, features, and wellness content any time you want it. That’s because an interactive version of “LifeTimes” was recently launched at bcbsil.com/lifetimes for Illinois members; the online version also will be available soon in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. So however you choose to experience “LifeTimes,” we look forward to remaining your trusted Medicare information source for years to come. ■

‘LifeTimes’ gets greener, becomes 8-page quarterly

LifeTimes®

“LifeTimes” is published quarterly by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, 5701 Balloon Fiesta Parkway NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113. Views expressed by our writers do not necessarily reflect views of “LifeTimes” or Health Care Service Corporation. Copyright ©2012. All rights reserved.

Executive Editor . . . . . . . . . . Thomas E. LaueEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn Van MatreMedical Editor . . . . . . Stephanie VomvourasLegal Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jazmin CheefusMedicare Consultant . . . . . . . . Haley JohnsonPharmacy Adviser. . . . . . . Richard J. Reynolds Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Rose Turek

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When reading LifeTimes...“LifeTimes” articles are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any disease or condition, nor do they substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician about any health concerns. Inclusion in “LifeTimes” does not constitute endorsement of any product, business or service featured or mentioned in “LifeTimes” articles.

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Summer 2012 LifeTimes 3

When it comes to meals, do you plan ahead? Doing so may take a little extra time and effort, but it can be well worth it. Advance planning can make it easier to put nutritious food on the table. This, in turn, can help you maintain a healthy weight and even help you better your health. Planning a few days or even a week’s worth of meals saves time by cutting down on daily trips to the grocery store or drive-through. It also can give you more control over portions and ingredients and help cut down on food waste. Following general guidelines and meal-planning shortcuts can help you provide tasty, healthy fare, whether you are cooking for one or feeding a family.

Think balance and variety Balance and variety are the keys to a healthy eating plan. According to

the American Heart Association, these recommendations may help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity—three factors that can raise your risk for heart attack and stroke. ■ Choose a variety of nutritious foods from

all food groups. ■ Eat lean meat, poultry without skin, and fish. ■ Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables,

whole grain breads and cereals, and fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy products.

■ Limit foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

■ Cut back on foods high in salt, added sugar, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Time-saving shortcuts If you are cooking for family members or others as well as yourself, start by asking

for menu ideas. People are more likely to help with meal preparation and eat what you prepare if they have input. Gather recipes from cookbooks or online recipe sites. One good online source for healthy recipes is www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov. Make a list of ingredients you’ll need to prepare the meals you select. Determine what you have on hand and what you need to buy. Keep a supply of healthy staple ingredients in your refrigerator and pantry. You can pull together quick meals from things you normally have on hand such as pasta, tomato sauce, rice, and canned tuna. Plan simpler meals for weekdays when time is short. Leave more involved recipes for weekends when you have more time. Remember, you can still enjoy “less-healthy” foods every once in a while if you balance them with healthier meals. ■

Jane Addams’ legacy lives on at Chicago’s Hull-House Susan S. Stevens

Jane Addams set the standard for social work, establishing Hull-House in Chicago in 1889 as a settlement house where impoverished immigrants could acquire skills needed to better themselves in America. In succeeding years, Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, her partner in the project, would oversee a host of volunteers who worked to feed the hungry, promote cultural activities, campaign for social justice and more. Hull House Association, the social services agency Addams founded, shut down in January due to lack of funding. But Addams’ legacy lives on at Hull-House Museum (www.hullhousemuseum.org), which remains open to visitors and continues as a teaching center at 800 S. Halsted St. The museum is housed in the Victorian home once occupied by Addams, who in 1931 became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Next door is the Arts and Crafts dining hall, where resident volunteers — mostly college-educated women — once dined. You can tour the buildings to learn about the history of the settlement house and its current social engagement. In summer, you can visit the Hull-House Urban Farm, less

than a block away. The farm is a learning center for organic gardening in Chicago, says chief farmer Ryan Beck. Heirloom vegetables and fruits are its specialties. “Each heirloom contains a rich past and story of the people that passed them from generation to generation, and carried them from their homeland to the U.S.,” Beck says. Varieties of tomatoes found here have colorful names, including Orange Hog Heart, Green Zebra, and Black Russian.

Crops and culture “Just as a quality organic garden hosts a range of heirloom crops for soil health and

biodiversity, so does a healthy nation need the diversity and input of all its citizens for a truly democratic society,” Beck adds. “We use this intersection of food and culture to promote healthier lives and continue the legacy of Jane Addams and Hull-House.” In addition, Hull-House Farm grows vegetables for a project Addams would have cherished. Called “Re-thinking Soup,” Tuesday lunches feature a discussion along with homemade soup. One lunch featured lentil soup with mushrooms; the discussion was on the Federal Farm Bill. The dining hall is also

used for conferences—just as it was when Addams served meals to both VIPs such as Eleanor Roosevelt and neighborhood residents. Other activities include a canning project, outdoor exhibition, and school programs. Manuals are available on making soups, canning, and preserving produce. Self-guided tours are offered Tuesdays through Fridays and on Sundays; guided tours are offered Wednesdays and Sundays. The museum is closed Saturdays and major holidays. Farm tours are offered seasonally Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Volunteers are welcome at the farm and museum. Call 312-413-5353 for more information. ■

Planning meals in advance can reap nutrition dividends

bcbsnm.com/medicare/lifetimes.html4

Time to add garlic to your menu? Seriously! Love it or hate it, garlic is one potent little vegetable. It’s cherished by many chefs and home cooks for the flavor it can add to everything from spaghetti sauce to soups to breads. But this versatile bulb does more than just charm the taste buds. Some research has suggested garlic can benefit the cardiovascular system and may help prevent cancer. Garlic is a member of the allium family, along with onions, leeks, scallions, and chives. It’s rich in health-promoting antioxidants, but its real claim to fame is its hefty dose of sulfur-containing compounds. One of them, allicin, is responsible for the pungent odor that wafts from chopped or crushed garlic. It may contribute to some of garlic’s purported health benefits.

Conflicting research results Some medical studies have found garlic lowers blood pressure modestly and in vitro studies (in the test tube) show that it inhibits blood clots by keeping platelets from clumping. To date, the results of clinical trials on whether garlic also lowers blood cholesterol are conflicting. Even so, some research suggests garlic may help prevent the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in arteries. Both the National Cancer

Institute and the American Institute for Cancer Research report that there is some preliminary evidence that garlic may help protect against stomach and colorectal cancers. There is also a possible link between garlic and decreased risk for cancers of the breast, esophagus, and pancreas. However, there is a need for more controlled research in humans to fully assess the potential health benefits of this herb and to figure out the most beneficial dose. There are also theoretical risks associated with garlic intake. It has potential to interact with certain medications and supplements and lead to undesired and potentially dangerous side effects. For example, because it has a blood thinning effect, it should be used with

caution in conjunction with other medications that have the effect and by people who are at an increased bleeding risk.

Easy to add Raw or cooked, fresh garlic is easy to add to your diet. Supplements of garlic powder, garlic oil, or garlic extract are available, too. However, always check with your doctor before adding supplements to your diet. Here are a few simple ways to get more of garlic’s goodness: ■ Add minced fresh garlic to homemade or bottled salad dressing. ■ Spread roasted, mashed garlic on crackers. Top with slices of red bell pepper. ■ Puree a clove or two with canned garbanzo beans, olive oil, and lemon juice to taste in a blender. Use as a sandwich spread or dip. ■ Add pureed roasted garlic to mashed potatoes. The most common side effects of garlic

are bad breath and upset stomach. But remember: Garlic can slow blood

clotting. So it should be avoided before surgery and by people taking blood thinners. People with certain conditions or who are on certain

medications should also avoid garlic. ■

How much do you know about sunscreen?Test your knowledge of this summer necessity by selecting the best answer for these questions.

1. Who needs to use sunscreen?

a. People with blond or red hair

b. People with fair skin c. Anyone more than 6

months old d. Teenagers

2. What should you look for when buying sunscreen?

a. Broad spectrum protection

b. SPF of at least 15 c. Water resistant

protection if you’ll be swimming or sweating

d. All the above

3. When should you apply sunscreen?

a. The night before b. 30 minutes before

you go outside c. After swimming

or exercising d. B and C

4. How should sunscreen be applied?

a. Quickly b. Thickly c. Lightly d. Thinly

5. If you are prone to adolescent or adult acne, which sunscreen is the best choice?

a. One that is expensive b. One that is oil-based c. One that is water-

based d. A and B

6. What can unprotected exposure to the sun help cause?

a. Skin cancer b. Premature skin

wrinkles and sagging c. Weakened immune

system d. All the above

7. Which of these medications may increase your risk for sunburn?

a. Certain antibiotics b. Ibuprofen c. Certain diuretics d. All the above

8. Which of the following is not true regarding tanning beds?

a. They’re safer than the sun b. They can expose users to

more radiation than the sun

c. They can cause skin cancer

d. They can cause skin aging

9. What is the difference between an SPF 30 and an SPF 15 sunscreen?

a. SPF 30 protects twice as long

b. SPF 30 protects half as long

c. SPF 30 protects against about 4 percent more UVB rays

d. SPF 30 protects 30 times as long

answers on p6

Summer 2012 LifeTimes 5

When heartburn keeps coming back It may start as a burning feeling in the center of your chest. Then, you may get a sour taste in your mouth. Soon, you’re wishing you hadn’t eaten that greasy hamburger. Almost everyone gets heartburn from time to time. But when it’s a frequent problem, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As many as 19 million Americans suffer from GERD. Some people may be bothered by it daily. GERD is caused by stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, and irritating the esophagus. A muscle between the stomach and the esophagus—the lower esophageal sphincter

(LES)—plays a major role. When working properly, the LES opens to allow food into the stomach, then closes to prevent stomach acid from washing back up. However, in some people, the LES stays relaxed or is weakened, so doesn’t close properly. When this happens, stomach acid is able to flow back up, causing heartburn. Some people have a hiatal hernia which can also lead to heartburn. Normally the stomach lies completely below the diaphragm, a muscle which separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach projects into the chest. Factors that contribute to heartburn either directly or by relaxing the LES include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, foods

and drinks high in acid such as citrus and tomato products, caffeine, and a high-fat diet, especially fried foods. Certain behaviors such as eating very large meals, wearing clothing that is tight at the waist, or bending over or lying down too soon after eating can also contribute. See a doctor if you have heartburn symptom concerns or over-the-counter remedies don’t relieve chronic problems. GERD can damage the lining of the esophagus, which may lead to esophagitis (an inflammation of the esophagus). Chronic inflammation may lead to more serious problems such as scarring, ulcers or a precancerous condition of the esophagus called Barretts esophagus. ■

Want more joy in your life? Try these ideas The secret to happiness, like the secret to success, has long been studied and debated. What makes one person happy could well stress out someone else (take skydiving, for example). Still, psychologists and other researchers find that some activities and mind-sets appear more than likely to increase joy and contentment. Here are some to try:

■ Help others. Doing things for other people obviously helps them, but research shows it can also increase your happiness. Big projects involving a lot of time or money are great. Yet small gestures done sincerely can also do the trick. Call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken with in awhile, smile at a stranger, hold the elevator or subway door, let someone merge in front of you on highways, and commit other random acts of kindness.

■ Share a laugh. Not only is laughter the best medicine, it brings people together,

increases joy, and

counteracts conflict

and stress. To add

laughter to your day, spend

time with happy and funny people,

watch funny movies or TV shows, or read

the comics in the newspaper or online.

Other ideas: Choose a funny screensaver for your computer or ask friends and family about

the funniest thing that happened to them today.

■ Take time to play. Playfulness helps anyone of any age be more resilient, happy, flexible, and creative. It can teach us to better manage and transform stress and negative emotions, too. It’s easy to be playful with pets and children. But looking for ways to play with adults at work and home makes your relationships healthier.

■ Strengthen social ties. Close relationships with family, friends, and coworkers are a key factor in happiness. To strengthen relationships, stay in regular contact with friends and family. Listen closely when they talk – turn off your cell phone and iPod! Tell others how much you appreciate, respect, count on, and love them.

■ Do something you enjoy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hobby you’ve been doing for years or something you’ve never tried but have always wanted to attempt. Carve out some time from the hours you spend watching TV or surfing online and then do it.

■ Become more resilient. Your ability to bounce back from adversity, relationship problems, trauma, serious health problems, or work and financial setbacks is called resilience. To build resilience, accept that change is a part of life. Take daily steps toward goals that are important to you, nurture a positive view of yourself, and avoid reacting to crises as being insurmountable.

■ Be grateful. Noticing and being grateful for positive things in your life can boost moods and help dispel negative thinking. To increase your gratitude, keep a journal and note large and small events that bring joy or make you smile. Write a letter of gratitude to someone who’s been kind to you or a positive influence in your life. Deliver it in person if you can.

■ Seek support. Self-help and support groups, books, online resources, and mental health professionals can offer ideas about how to find more joy. Consider turning to them if you’re struggling. ■

bcbsnm.com/medicare/lifetimes.html6

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Be a sleuth!

Thanks to everyone who played our May-June Mystery Game. The ice cream cone was “hidden” in a playground

photo on Page 4. Frances Guziec of Huntley, Ill., submitted the winning entry, selected in a random drawing. Congratulations! Here’s how to play: As you read this issue, look for the slice of watermelon (shown in magnifying glass). When you spot the watermelon, write the page number on a postcard or in a letter along with your name and address. Mail to:

“LifeTimes” Mystery Game Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois 300 E. Randolph St., 36th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-5099 Or email us at LifeTimesDepartment@bcbsil.com with your name, postal mailing address and the page number. No purchase necessary. One winner will be drawn from all correct entries received by Aug. 1. Winner will receive a Timex pedometer. Chance of winning depends on number of correct entries. Entrants must be 18 or older, legal U.S. residents and current Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma or New Mexico members. Winner’s name will appear in the Fall 2012 “LifeTimes.” Contest is not open to employees of Health Care Service Corporation. ■

Win a pedometer!

1 Religious 2 New York canal 3 27th President 4 Final demands 5 Tire meas. 6 High ranking

Muslim woman 7 Shadow 8 Slant 9 Hart Trophy winner,

1970-72 10 Christmas transport 11 Painter’s medium 12 Washington locale,

with “the”

13 Highland tongue 18 Canceled 19 Group 24 On 25 Hit 26 Enticed 27 Take away slowly 28 Whipping winds 29 Japanese instrument 30 Examples 31 Alicia Keys hit 32 Freud contemporary 34 Heather 35 Aesop character 38 Breath of weariness 39 Catalog card abbr. 40 Wall hanging

45 Rag 46 “___ on Down the

Road” 47 Bartlett 49 Delayed, a report

for example 50 Airs 51 Plunder 52 Home to Columbus 53 Take transport 54 Means of access 56 Kills 57 ____ulus package 58 To be, to Tiberius 60 Internet 61 First three letters of

a European river

1 Upset 6 Lymphatic gland

swelling 10 Unspecified amount 14 Tough tests 15 Independent ruler 16 Queen song 17 Working out at the

gym 20 Mystery Nepalese 21 Reserved by us 22 Fine thread 23 Liquid hot rock 25 Slough

26 Smooth, musical 29 Pueblo dancer 33 Inspiration for

poets and musicians 34 Vientiane is its

capital 36 New England catch 37 Working out in the

water 41 “___ to Billie Joe” 42 Taken by 43 1,000 kilograms 44 Rainy day fund 47 Sentence analyzer 48 Word to a doctor 49 Refine, as ore

51 Files 54 Mother of the

Titans 55 Valentine’s day gift 59 High excitement

boats 62 White House

worker 63 Harrow’s rival 64 Radios with an

earlier sound system 65 Suffix with theater 66 Name that goes

with uncle 67 Reply to “Who’s

there?”

solution on p7

Across

Down

1. C— ANYONE MORE THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. Children younger than 6 months should not be exposed to the sun.

2. D—ALL THE ABOVE.

3. D—B AND C.

4. B—THICKLY. Adults should use 1 oz., or a handful of sunscreen, to cover the entire body.

5. C—ONE THAT IS WATER BASED. Cost is not an indication of effectiveness.

6. D—ALL THE ABOVE. It can also cause painful sunburns.

7. D—ALL THE ABOVE. If you’re taking medication with a photo sensitivity label, avoid the sun, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen rigorously.

8. A—THEY’RE SAFER THAN THE SUN. They can also cause eye damage, including cataracts and eye cancer.

9. C—IT PROTECTS AGAINST ABOUT 4 PERCENT MORE UVB RAYS. To be effective, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out 93 percent of UVB rays. SPF 30 sunscreens protect against 97 percent of UVB rays. ■

Sunscreen Answers from p4

Summer 2012 LifeTimes 7

Health BRIEFS

Lynn Van Matre, LifeTimes Editor

Hang up on unsolicited offers of ‘free’ diabetic supplies! The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a warning about an ongoing fraud targeting people with diabetes. According to an HHS news release, the scam works like this: You get an unsolicited phone call from someone who claims to work for Medicare, a government agency, or a diabetes association. The caller offers to send you “free” diabetic supplies —but first they need your Medicare ID number and other sensitive personal and/or financial information. “The call is a scam,” HHS says. Once the caller has obtained your personal information, the supplies may be fraudulently billed to Medicare or you may receive items you did not order. You also could be a target for future scams. If you receive such a call, simply hang up. HHS also recommends you check your next Medicare Summary Notice to make sure you were not charged for supplies you did not order or receive. If you receive items you did not order, refuse delivery or mark them “Return to Sender.” To report suspicious calls, unsolicited deliveries, or other possibly fraudulent activity, contact the Office of Inspector General (OIG) hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visit www.OIG.HHS.gov/fraud/hotline. ■

Should you take grapefruit off your menu?

Grapefruit—cut in half and served fresh, or consumed as juice—can be a good source

of vitamin C. However, the fruit can interact negatively with some over-the-counter remedies and

some prescription medications, including some statin drugs used to lower cholesterol and some drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure. As with most drugs that interact unfavorably with it, grapefruit increases absorption of the drug into the bloodstream and can create the potential for toxic buildup, according to a news release posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For years, the FDA has required some prescription medications to carry warning labels about consuming grapefruit while taking these drugs. Now, based on ongoing research, the agency is expanding its warnings about potential drug interactions with grapefruit juice and other fruits. Shiew Mei Huang, an acting director at the FDA, says in the news release that some studies done more recently have found the juice also can reduce—rather than increase— absorption of certain drugs. For example, Huang says, grapefruit juice reduces the absorption of fexofenadine (brand name Allegra), used to help allay symptoms of seasonal allergies. This can lessen its effectiveness. The drug also can be less effective when interacting with orange or apple juice, so its label now says, “Do not take with fruit juices.”

The FDA suggests consumers ask a pharmacist, doctor, or other health care professional if it is safe to consume grapefruit or other fruits with their medications. Also, carefully read the Medication Guide or patient information sheet provided with prescription medications and check for fruit warnings. When taking an over-the-counter drug, check the Drug Facts label. For more information, visit www.fda.gov/ForConsumers and search for “Avoiding Drug Interactions.” ■

CMS simplifies Medicare claims statement The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has redesigned the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to make it more consumer-friendly. The notice, which includes details about beneficiaries’ claims for Medicare services and other benefits, will continue to be issued on a quarterly basis. Beneficiaries who receive paper statements in the mail will begin getting the redesigned MSN early in 2013. However, the new version of the statement is already available online. It can be accessed through www.mymedicare.gov, a secure site. The redesign is part of a new CMS initiative, “Your Medicare Information: Clearer, Simpler, At Your Fingertips.” It makes information on benefits, providers, and claims easier to understand and also makes it easier for a beneficiary to appeal a denied service. Changes also include larger type fonts for enhanced readability, more easily understood descriptions of medical procedures, and more information about how to spot fraudulent billing entries. CMS says the MSN’s “new look” is a result of 18 months of research and incorporating feedback from beneficiaries and caregivers. ■ HETUPBUBOSOME

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from p6

lets you interact with other Blue Cross and Blue Shield members

Do you have questions about various health topics, weight loss, how to make nutritious new recipes, or other health and wellness interests? If so, My Blue Community® may be just the place for you. My Blue Community is a health and wellness social network created just for Blue Cross and Blue Shield members. Log in and take a look around, join a discussion, start a new one or ask the experts a question. It’s yours to use and enjoy! At My Blue Community, you’ll find conversations on more than 40 health and wellness topics. Among them:

Who are the My Blue Community experts? My Blue Community includes several experts who respond to community members’ questions. Members can also view detailed information about experts’ backgrounds and credentials. Just look for this “Expert” symbol.

Four great reasons to join the discussion1. The 40 health and wellness discussion topics

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Ask the ChefAsk the PharmacistAsk the TrainerAsk the NutritionistAllergies & AsthmaHeart & VascularSupport GroupsPatient Empowerment

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Get started in three easy steps*1. Log in to Blue Access

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*BAM is not available for members who have only Blue MedicareRx (PDP)SM coverage. ■

How Does BCBSNM Keep Your Information Private? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) is committed to protecting our members’ health information. You may have received facts on our Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) on an Explanation of Benefits or ID card mailer. You may access BCBSNM’s full NOPP three ways:

1) Go to our website to view the notice at bcbsnm.com/important_info/hipaa.html.

2) Call the toll-free number on the back of your ID card and ask for a copy.

3) Email nopp@bcbsnm.com and ask for a copy. ■

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