Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Inside This Issue:
Self-Care Corner .................2
This Month’s Health Observance .........................3
Feed Your Body –Feed Your Soul ...................4
Success Over Stress ...........5
Well-Being Tips ...................6
VHA Employee Health Promotion/ Disease and Impairment Prevention For further information about this newsletter, please contact: [email protected]
Healthy ®
LetterLife September 2014 Promot ing Heal th . Enhancing L i fe . Reducing Costs .
NEWS from the VHA Employee Health Promotion/Disease and Impairment Prevention Program Office
Each year, influenza takes a heavy toll on both Veteran patients and staff. Our Veterans and staff expect that VHA facilities are safe and that we do all we can to minimize the chance for anyone to contract influenza. Getting your influenza vaccination is a critical step in keeping yourself, your family, your patients, and co-workers safe and healthy. Vaccination effectively prevents influenza and is a key component in a comprehensive program to protect our Veterans and the health care personnel who serve them.
VHA has a long-standing commitment to providing free influenza vaccination to staff each flu season. Vaccination remains our strongest defense against flu related illness and death. Every VHA staff member who does not have a medical contraindication should voluntarily get a flu shot. Vaccination, hand and respiratory hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment, keeping our facilities clean, and staying home when sick are all parts of a comprehensive program to prevent influenza. Our Veterans deserve the best, and it is our duty to serve them in a safe environment. To learn more about flu, visit www.publichealth.va.gov/flu.
Remember to take care of yourself: Eat regular, balanced meals, get enough sleep, and exercise. Thank you for all that you do. You are important!
1
Now you can sign up to get the HealthyLife® newsletter sent directly to your VA inbox each month. Send an email to: [email protected]
VA WIN Monthly Observance for August: Fruits and Veggies – More Matters
Self-Care Corner
Shingles(and we’re not talking about your roof)
Shingles is a painful viral infection that affects 30% of Americans every year. It is caused by Varicella Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox.
The outbreak occurs mostly in people 50 years of age and older. The virus can lie dormant in the nerve tissue of the body for many years, then becomes activated and causes shingles later in life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shingles is not passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles can spread from a person with active shingles to another person who has never had chicken pox. In such cases, the person exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox, not shingles.
“If you are diagnosed with shingles, you are contagious as long as you have blisters and ulcers. It is important to cover your rash and wash your hands frequently. It also is important to avoid people who have not received the chicken pox vaccine, pregnant women and anyone with a weak immune system,” said Dr. Khalilah Babino, physician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
A shingles outbreak can last several weeks. Before the rash appears, the following symptoms may occur: • Fatigue
• Headache
• Tingling
• Itching
• Burning Pain
After a few days, a blistering rash in clusters appears. The shingles rash is always located along the involved nerve pattern called a dermatome, typically in a band on one side of the body. Most often, the rash is on the chest and/or back, but can occur on other body parts.
“If you develop shingles on your face, especially near your eye, you should seek immediate medical care as this type may result in loss of vision,” Dr. Babino said. The blisters that form will pop in a few days and become open sores, which are contagious. Usually, these ulcers scab over within 7 to 10 days and the rash goes away within 4 weeks.
“Fortunately, there is antiviral medication to help slow the virus and speed recovery. The earlier the medication is started, the more effective it is against the virus. I recommend starting these medications within 72 hours of the onset of rash. Since shingles can be very painful, you might also need prescription pain medication,” Dr. Babino said.
Most people with shingles do not suffer any complications. Still, there is a 10% chance of developing a painful condition called post-herpetic neuralgia after the rash has gone away. The pain can last from a few months to a year.
You can decrease your risk of developing shingles and its complications by getting the shingles vaccine. One dose of shingles vaccine is advised for adults age 60 years and older, but can be given between the ages of 50 and 59.
“People who have had shingles previously can still receive the vaccine. If you are above the age of 50 years old, you should talk to your health care provider about the shingles vaccine,” Dr. Babino said.
2
{Note: Many topics like the one on this page are contained in a medical self-care guide, such as Healthier at Home® and/or addressed by a nurse advice line if you have access to one. They can help you make better decisions about when to seek professional assistance and when you can treat yourself at home using self-care.}
National Monthly Observance
Preparedness Month Floods, tornadoes and hurricanes are common stories in the news. Would you and your family be ready for these weather disasters and other unexpected events, such as a house fire or a terrorist attack?
National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the US Department of Homeland Security wants you to learn what you need to do to be prepared for a variety of disasters. Its website, www.ready.gov, takes you through the following steps to make preparation easier: • Be informed
• Make a plan
• Build a kit
Each of these areas covers what to do when you are at home, as well as other locations. These include workplaces, schools, and college campuses. You will also find out ways to address caring for pets, aiding family members with access and functional needs and safely shutting off utilities.
Pre-financial disaster planning is also important. Disasters leave many people without access to finances or with expensive damages. Learn what documents, such as your house deed and insurance policies to keep in a safety deposit box or other safe place away from your home. Make copies of important documents and keep them
in your emergency kit or an emergency financial first aid kit (EFFAK). Get a complete list of what to put in the EFFAK from www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/ documents/29791.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has many resources and tools to help you be prepared for disasters. Access these from www.cdc.gov/features/ beready.
Some disasters strike without warning, so get started today to be prepared.
3
• Get involved
3
4
Feed Your Body—Feed Your Soul
FEATURED RECIPE: Chilled Roasted Soup
Ingredients 1-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 lbs. plum tomatoes, halved
8 cloves garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2-3 Tbsp. fresh rosemary
1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Reduced-fat sour cream to garnish
4 sprigs parsley to garnish
2 cups low-sodium organic chicken stock (a little more stock may be added, depending on how thick you want the soup)
Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub a little oil on surface of a baking dish. Toss tomatoes and garlic cloves with remaining oil in bowl. Place tomato halves and garlic on baking dish. Roast for about 1 hour. (A little charring is tasty but don’t burn the tomatoes or garlic.)
Remove from oven. Snip off garlic clove ends. Hand squeeze (be careful, they are hot!) or use the blade of a butter knife to squeeze out softened garlic from the skins into a blender or food processor. Add tomatoes to processor, scraping the bits to capture the entire flavor. Add stock, basil, rosemary, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Let cool and place in refrigerator to chill.
Divide among 4 bowls, garnish with a dollop of reduced-fat sour cream and parsley and serve.
Makes 4 servings. Serving size: 1-1/2 cups. Per serving: 126 calories, 6 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 11 g carbohydrate, 5 g protein, 4 g dietary fiber, 53 mg sodium.
Used with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research.For more healthy recipes, go to www.aicr.org.
5
Success Over Stress
Mind OVER Matter The average person has over 40,000 thoughts roaming through his or her mind on any given day, perhaps even more. As impressive as that might sound, there’s a catch.
About 80% of these thoughts are repeats from the previous day, week, month or even year. Here is another catch. Most of these repeated thoughts are perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and opinions about our personal day-to-day situations or interactions with other people, and the majority of these thoughts are stress-related—unresolved issues of either anger or fear.
Scientists who study human thinking processes—particularly, intentions such as prayer and various forms of healing—say that our thoughts and feelings are actually a form of vibrant energy. In other words, the mind is a limitless bank of conscious energy, which uses the brain as its primary organ of choice, says Brian Luke Seaward, PhD, author of Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart.
Let it go Forgiving ourselves for hurting another is easier if we first make amends—thus giving our inner selves a “moral okay,” according to Baylor University psychology researchers.
The research, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, is significant because previous studies show that the inability to self-forgive can be a factor in depression, anxiety, and a weakened immune system, researchers said.
“One of the barriers people face in forgiving themselves appears to be that people feel morally obligated to hang on to those feelings. They feel they deserve to feel bad. Our study found that making amends gives us permission to let go,” said one researcher.
By making amends, individuals may be able to “pay for their wrongs.”
5
With most thoughts being repeats from a previous page in the book of our lives, it appears that, for the most part, the average person’s energy is poorly spent on taking one step forward and two steps back.
Given the possibility that our thoughts and feelings are indeed a form of energy, the question begs to be asked, “How and where do you choose to spend your energy?”
Well-Being Tips
8 commandments for living long and living well�
You won’t live forever, but you can’t live like there’s no tomorrow, because tomorrow is coming. You can prepare for tomorrow today by making smart lifestyle choices or changing poor health habits—it’s never too late to do that, says Dr. Edward Creagan in his book How Not to Be My Patient: A Physician’s Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis. Here are Dr. Ed’s eight commandments:
1.Form stable longterm relationships.
2. Maintain ideal body weight.
3. Eat a plant-based diet.
4. Be active.
5. No smoking.
6. Use alcohol in moderation, if at all.
7. Foster a sense of spirituality and a sense of connectedness to nature or your higher power or force.
8. Find meaning and purpose in life.
6
Limit screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests parents limit screen time for children. The guidelines discourage any screen time for children younger than 2 years of age. For older children, the AAP recommends no more than 2 hours daily. Keep media devices out of children’s bedrooms, keep family routines such as mealtime screen-free, and set TV-free days for the whole family.
Sidelines. No matter what the coaches and parents yelling from the sidelines say, for kids, sports is not about winning, it’s about having fun. A study at George Washington University found that fun factors included being a good sport, trying hard, and positive coaching. The results are in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
6
work early or calling in sick
• Taking longer lunch breaks or leaving the jobsite without explanation
• Being less productive
• Missing work deadlines or not meeting quotas
• Being aggressive or paranoid to criticism or helpful suggestions
• Making mistakes in judgment and paying less attention to safety for self and others
• Having accidents at work and off the job
• Complaining about financial, personal and legal problems
7
• Asking to borrow money from coworkers
People who abuse drugs may not realize or admit to the problem and often refuse to seek treatment. Encourage them to contact their Employee Assistance Program, personal doctor or a support group. Be aware, though, of actions drug abusers take to protect themselves when being confronted. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Drug-Free Workplace Advisor warns that they will knowingly or unconsciously use a variety of ways to keep from accepting the need for help. These include: • Giving unlikely explanations for what
has happened
• Claiming the problem is someone else’s fault
her loved ones, yourself, other coworkers and the company, not as being a snitch.
Physical signs include: • Bloodshot eyes
• Smell of alcohol on the breath or using breath spray, mints or mouthwash often
• Lack of interest in personal grooming and hygiene
• Weight loss
• Slurred speech or an unsteady walk
• Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, headaches, shakiness or tremors and/or being “spaced out’
Well-Being TipsBe aware ofDRUG ABUSE SIGNS According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 76% of people with drug or alcohol problems are employed. Chances are you work with someone who abuses or has a problem with drugs or alcohol.
It may not be easy to tell if coworkers are abusing drugs. They may avoid contact with supervisors and other employees. Often, they lie or make excuses about behaviors that could indicate a problem. These behaviors include: • An increase in being late for work, leaving
• Getting you to feel sorry for them and guilty for bringing the problem to light
• Trying to divert the subject to other issues in the workplace or life in general
• Acting very sorry and promising they will change
If necessary, contact the EAP yourself. Express your concern or ask for guidance in dealing with the situation. Think of it as being in the best interest of the drug abuser, his or
8 Copyright 2014, American Institute for Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved.
30445 Northwestern Hwy., Ste . 350 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248.539.1800 • [email protected] • www.HealthyLife.com
Survivors. Nearly 14.5 million people alive in the US have been diagnosed with some type of cancer. By 2024, that figure is projected to reach 18.9 million, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. The growth in cancer survivors is not an indication that cancer rates are rising. In fact, the rates (adjusted for age) have actually declined over the past 10 years, the report notes. But since the US population is both aging and growing, the total number of cancer patients is bound to increase.
Track your meds. Know what medications you are taking and write them down on a handy wallet/purse card included in a brochure about medication use from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at www.ahrq.gov/consumer/safemeds/yourmeds.pdf.
organWhat do you know about
Every year, thousands of Americans die waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant because there just aren’t enough organ donors. What do you know about donating organs? The Organ Transplantation experts at New York–Presbyterian Hospital give some facts: • Very few medical conditions disqualify
you from donating organs and tissues. It may turn out that while certain organs are not suitable for transplant, other organs and tissues are fine.
• It is possible to donate to someone who is not a relative and to someone from another racial or ethnic group. But transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background.
donation? • There are no costs directly related to
donation. • Although it is important to join a
donor registry and indicate that you are an organ donor on your driver’s license, it is equally important to make your family, friends, and doctors aware of your wishes.
• The organ transplant waiting list is blind to wealth and celebrity status. People receive organs based on the severity of the illness, time spent on the waiting list, and blood type.
• For more information, go to the United Network of Organ Sharing (www.unos.org).
