A Health Newsletter Serving the North Coast Schools Medical Insurance Group
Vol. 26, No. 9 | September 2018
In this Issue: Director’s Note | Dealing with Stress After Summer | Flu Shot Season | Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille
Director’s Note
Stacy Lane, JPA Director
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! As our new year gets underway, I have a few reminders for you:
Flu Shots – Flu shots are now available from your local pharmacy. Please see page three for more information on how to obtain your shot. Remember shots are provided through your CVS/Caremark plan. If you are on the Pine plan, your shot will be covered through your Blue Shield pharmacy plan.
Teladoc – With the start to school being very busy, you may find you or your family have limited time to see the doctor. Feel free to try Teladoc! You can sign up for Teladoc online or by calling them. Please make sure you have your doctor’s phone, fax and address handy, as well as that of your preferred pharmacy. If you have medications, please have a list of those available as well. More information on Teladoc can be found on the Medical tab of our website.
CVS/Caremark Mail Order – If you are currently receiving a maintenance medication at a retail pharmacy, you may have recently received a letter outlining how you can save money by signing up for mail order. Please note this is not a requirement, merely an option for you. You may opt out of the mail order program by calling the number on your letter. If you have a new maintenance medication and fail to call and opt out, your retail refills may be rejected until you call. Please make sure you read the letter in its entirety and call CVS or our office if you have any questions.
Livongo – If you have signed up to participate in our free Livongo program through CVS/Caremark, I would love to hear your feedback on your experience. Please feel free to give me a call or drop me an email at slane@hcoe.org. Remember, Livongo provides you with unlimited, free testing strips and lancets, as well as a great online portal for reviewing your glucose trends, downloading readings to give to your doctor, and more.
Dealing with Stress After Summer
If you were enjoying summer vacation, you’re probably now in the process of getting back into the swing of things. The beginning of fall usually brings with it the launching of various activities and routines. Here are some healthy ways to deal with stress in your life:
Listen to some good music
Music is scientifically proven to help calm you down. It actually affects your brain waves, causes your breathing and heart rate to slow and activates your body’s “relaxation response.”
Pay attention to your posture
That’s right—the way you sit, stand and carry yourself throughout the day can have a profound impact on you mentally. Sitting up straight can reinforce confidence, whereas bad posture can lead to feelings of helplessness and stress.
Get a plant
Research has shown that having a potted plant or two in your office can reduce fatigue and stress, along with headaches and other physical ailments.
Stop, drop, yoga
Just stop what you’re doing for five minutes and get into a relaxing yoga pose. Yoga has proven to not only relieve stress but also calm symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Snag a smooch
Spontaneous kissing relieves stress by releasing endorphins that counteract your body’s feelings of stress and anxiety.
Hang out with someone funny
Or just watch a clip from your favorite YouTube comedian. Laughter calms your stress response and aids in muscle relaxation. It also increases your intake of oxygen, stimulates your heart and helps release endorphins. Laughter is also believed to have long-term effects like improving your immune system and your mood over time.
Get up and go
Even if you don’t have time for a long workout, just a few minutes of exercise can greatly improve your mood and reduce stress. If you’re headed to lunch, consider a brisk 5-minute walk to the deli instead of the 2-minute drive. Instead of getting right to the business of cooking dinner or sitting the kids down for homework, take them on a quick bike ride around the neighborhood first. Find little ways to incorporate movement into your day, no matter how hectic it may seem. Nothing says stress like becoming one with your desk chair.
Interact with someone you like
Socializing has been shown to decrease anxiety and boost confidence. Also, since it causes you to focus your energy outward, it stops you from concentrating on your own stress.
Sleep it off
The amount of sleep you get is directly related to your stress level—and vice versa. If you don’t sleep enough, you feel more stressed; if you feel stressed, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. It’s a vicious cycle that leads to tons of sleep deficit issues, including slowed reaction times, poor judgment, loss of short-term memory—just to name a few. Get yourself into a good bedtime routine including relaxing activities like light reading. If you need a sleep aid, try something natural like melatonin. And most importantly, turn off those screens! Not only are they distracting and stress inducing, but the artificial light is not conducive for healthy sleep.
It’s Flu Shot Season
It’s that time of year again when the influenza (flu) vaccine is made available. The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) stated that the 2017-2018 flu season was a higher-than-usual severity year. In gearing up for the 2018-2019 flu season, the CDC recommends that anyone over 6 months old should receive the vaccination. If you have a serious medical condition, please make sure you check with your doctor before receiving the vaccination. The flu is a seasonal vaccination and the CDC recommends you obtain your shot before the end of October. Having a flu shot greatly reduces your chance of catching the flu, as well as saves you money by reducing lost time off of work, and avoids potentially costly doctor or hospital visits.
The flu shot is covered under your pharmacy program. Please make sure you have the pharmacy technician run your vaccine claim through their system before they administer the shot. That way if there is a problem, you can work out the issue before becoming liable for the cost of the shot. If your pharmacy technician needs assistance, they can call the number on the back of your CVS/Caremark or Blue Shield card.
If you would like to learn more about the flu shot, how it is developed and other interesting facts, please visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.
Recipe of the Month: Grilled Ratatouille
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini, cut into quarters lengthwise
- 2 yellow squash, cut into quarters lengthwise
- 2 Japanese eggplant, halved lengthwise
- 2 red bell peppers, stemmed,
seeded and quartered - 2 yellow bell peppers, stemmed,
seeded and quartered - 2 red onions, quartered
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh
oregano leaves - 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Place all cut vegetables and the tomatoes in a large shallow baking dish, add the 1/2 cup of olive oil, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place the vegetables on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time. Remove the tomatoes, cover grill, and cook the remaining vegetables for 2 minutes, or until almost cooked through.
- Transfer vegetables to a cutting board and coarsely chop (leave tomatoes whole). Place the chopped vegetables and tomatoes in a large bowl, add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic, oregano and parsley and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve at room temperature.
Servings: 4-6 Prep Time: 25 mins Total Time: 33 mins
Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com