combination - San Joaquin Health Administators

Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Pendleton, OR
Permit No. 73
San Joaquin Health Administrators
1550 W. Fremont St. #200
Stockton, CA 95203
E
FREURES!
H 8.
C
O
AGE
BR
P
SEE
®
E XC LUS I V E LY F O R S A N J OAQ U I N C O U N T Y E M P LOY EES BY S A N J OAQ U I N H E A LT H A D M I N IS T R ATO RS
FALL 2005
INSIDE
WOMEN’S
HEALTH
Preparing for
a mammogram can
help the test go
smoothly. PAGE 3
EXERCISE AND ASTHMA
BACK TO SCHOOL
Parents can help children
be rested for school by
setting up bedtime routines.
PAGE 4
MEDICATIONS
Find out how you
can save money on
medicine. PAGE 6
JUST ASK
Q
A
When should I start
cleaning my child’s
teeth?
Daily cleaning should
start as soon as the first
tooth appears. Wipe your
infant’s teeth and gums with a
piece of gauze or a damp cloth.
For older babies, use a toothbrush with water. At about 2,
add a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Flossing can
start as soon as two teeth are
touching. Brush and floss your
child’s teeth every day until he
or she can do it without you.
Source: American Dental Association
A winning
COMBINATION
You probably know that Olympic
 Ease into exercise by taking time to warm up before you
champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee and professional football
work out.
player Jerome Bettis are great athletes.
 When you’re done exercising, make sure you cool down
But here’s something that may surprise you—both
by walking and stretching.
have asthma.
 If you have a virus, such as a cold, hold off on exercise.
Still, that didn’t stop them from excelling in their
And be sure to avoid exercise during asthma flare-ups.
sports.
 Remember that cold weather has the
Asthma doesn’t need to keep you on the
to bring on symptoms. You can
USE YOUR potential
sidelines either.
reduce your risk of an asthma attack by
DAILY ASTHMA
Yes, exercise can cause asthma to flare.
wearing a scarf over your nose and mouth.
Symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and
 If you’re allergic to pollen, skip outdoor
MEDICINE IF YOUR
difficulty breathing may occur after about
exercise when pollen counts are high.
DOCTOR HAS
five or 10 minutes of activity.
 Don’t work out with a stuffy nose. Ask
But some fairly simple steps can help
your doctor about medicine that can
PRESCRIBED IT.
you keep your asthma under control:
keep your nasal passages clear, such as
 Talk to your doctor about using a short-acting inhaled
a decongestant.
medicine before you exercise. Using an inhaler about 15
If despite these precautions you have symptoms while
minutes before you’re active often prevents asthma attacks.
exercising, don’t push yourself. Play it safe—
 Always use your daily asthma medicine if your doctor
take an immediate break and use your inhaler.
4931
has prescribed it.
Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
always

HOW TO PRACTICE lightning SAFETY
Sure, lightning is dangerous. But it seems that people
are rarely ever struck by it—so
what’s the big deal?
The facts might surprise
you: Lightning claims more
U.S. lives annually than tornadoes and hurricanes do, the
American Red Cross reports.
Among weather-related hazards,
only flooding kills more people.
So play it safe when thunder rumbles. For instance:
 Seek shelter when a thunderstorm is coming. Get indoors or
in a hard-topped car if there’s no
other shelter. Roll up the windows and avoid touching metal.
 Indoors, don’t use phones or
computers or run water.
If you’re caught outside in a
storm, squat low and place your
hands on your knees with your
head between them. Don’t lie
flat.
And steer clear of water,
metal objects and tall structures, such as a lone tree or a
flagpole. In the woods, it’s best
to take shelter under shorter
trees.
Remember, if you can hear
thunder, you’re at risk.
diabetes
relieving
DRY MOUTH
KEEP YOUR
Some people with diabetes complain of a dry mouth.
Symptoms can include a
sore throat, a burning sensation, problems speaking and
difficulty swallowing.
A person with a dry mouth
doesn’t make enough saliva.
Too little saliva can, if not
treated, damage your teeth.
Your dentist may prescribe a
medicine to make your saliva
glands work better or recommend an artificial saliva
solution to keep your mouth
wet. You may also need a
fluoride rinse to protect your
teeth from decay.
To help moisten your
mouth, the American Dental
Association offers these tips:
 Chew sugarless gum or
suck on sugar-free candy.
 Take frequent sips of water
and suck on ice.
 Avoid alcohol and drinks
with caffeine, such as coffee,
tea and some sodas.
Dry mouth can be caused
by medicines you take for your
diabetes or by a high blood
glucose level. Both of these
problems can be addressed by
your doctor.
mouth
HEALTHY
A person with diabetes has a special
reason to visit the dentist. That’s because diabetes can
leave your mouth wide open to problems ranging from
tooth decay to oral infections.
According to the American Dental Association, some
of the most common oral health problems associated
with diabetes include tooth decay, gum disease, dry
mouth due to lack of saliva, fungal infections, inflammatory skin disease, painful ulcers and taste impairment.
Your dentist can treat many of these conditions. But
you need to practice good oral hygiene as well. Have
your teeth and gums cleaned and checked by your
dentist at least twice a year. However, your dentist may
want to see you more often for checkups and cleaning.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy, the National
Diabetes Information Clearinghouse offers this advice:
 Keep your blood glucose as close to normal as possible.
 Floss your teeth at least once a day to prevent a buildup of plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria. If not
removed, it can cause tooth decay and inflamed gums.
Gum disease can eventually cause your teeth to loosen
and come out.
 Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush after each
meal and snack. Ask the person who cleans your teeth to
show you the best way to brush and floss your teeth and
gums. Ask this person about the best toothbrush and
toothpaste to use.
 If you wear false teeth, keep them clean. Tell your
dentist if they don’t fit well.
 If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit
smoking.
Sometimes your mouth needs to heal after dental
work. Check with your doctor about what to eat and
drink, whether you need to change your diabetes medicines and how often you should check your
blood glucose after a dental procedure.
4397

CALL
ALL
To learn more about diabetes, call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-342-2383.
AVOID
diabetes HEALTH COMPLICATIONS
Diabetes can lead to many
health complications. But you
may be able to head them off
with this advice from the
American Diabetes Association.
Ask your doctor about
taking aspirin. Your doctor may
want you to take an aspirin
every day to protect against
heart attack and stroke. Do not
take aspirin without first discussing it with your doctor.
Inspect your feet daily.
Poor blood circulation, nerve
disease and infections can be
signs of serious problems. If a
sore won’t heal or if your feet
become sensitive or hurt, see a
2
KEEPING well FALL 2005
foot care specialist (podiatrist).
Take care of your mouth.
Poorly controlled diabetes can
cause severe gum disease.
Have your teeth cleaned and
checked by a dentist at least
every six months. Between
visits, brush twice a day and
use dental floss daily.
Have your eyes checked.
Diabetic retinopathy damages
your retina—the part of the eye
that detects light. If not treated,
it can cause blindness. Make
sure to have an eye exam once
a year, or more frequently if you
already have eye disease. See
the doctor immediately if you
notice changes in your vision.
Have a dilated eye exam if you
are pregnant or plan to get
pregnant.
Protect against flu and
pneumonia. In general, you
need a flu shot each year. Fall
is considered the best time.
You’ll need protection against
pneumonia as well—now and
again at age 65 if it has been
more than five years since your
last vaccination.
Work with a diabetes
educator. The more you know
about how food, exercise and
medicines affect your diabetes,
the better off you will be.
breastHEALTH
KNOW YOUR
risk FOR
BREAST
CANCER
UNDERSTANDING DCIS
No woman wants to hear that she has
removes only the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. The NCI says lumpectomy can leave the breast
looking much the same as it did before surgery.
A mastectomy removes the entire breast, but breast
reconstruction can be done at the same time as the surgery or later.
Underarm lymph nodes usually are not removed in
either surgery when done for DCIS. The longterm survival rate for DCIS is about 98 perTHIS IS AN
cent with either type of surgery.
NONINVASIVE
Although breast-conserving surgery is
the standard for DCIS, there are important
CANCER THAT IS
reasons why it may not be right for every
ALMOST ALWAYS
woman. Your doctor can help you choose
CURABLE.
what’s best for you.
breast cancer. But if you have ductal carcinoma in situ,
you can breathe a little easier. Also known as DCIS, this is
an early noninvasive cancer that is almost always curable.
But DCIS is still cancer. And a good first step in treatment is to understand the disease.
A precancerous condition
DCIS
occurs inside the milk ducts. It is called
“noninvasive” because it hasn’t spread to
the breast tissue around the ducts. The
National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports
that DCIS tumors can rarely be felt; they
are usually found by a mammogram.
Although DCIS is confined to the
ducts, there is a chance that it will become
an invasive cancer. For this reason, your treatment probably will include removing the tumor.
Treatment choices
Most women with DCIS can
choose to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy. Lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving surgery because it
early
Early detection is key
DCIS has increased dramatically in the United States, probably because more women
now get screening mammograms. In fact, one out of five
cancers found by mammography is a DCIS tumor, according to the NCI. Finding these tumors early
means better chances for full recovery.
7110

diagnostic mammograms: WHY THEY’RE NEEDED
A mammogram is the best
tool doctors have to find breast
changes early. Most are screening mammograms, which are
used for women who don’t have
obvious breast problems.
But sometimes another
mammogram is needed to get
more detailed views. It’s called
a diagnostic mammogram. One
out of 10 women who have
screening mammograms follows that with a diagnostic
mammogram.
According to the National
Cancer Institute (NCI), your
doctor may order a diagnostic
mammogram if you have:
 An abnormality in a screening
mammogram.
 A lump, thickening or pain in
your breast.
KEEPINGwell
Published by San Joaquin
Health Administrators

 Discharge from a nipple.
 A change in your breast’s
size or shape.
 Breast implants.
Having a diagnostic mammogram takes longer than
having a screening mammogram, since more pictures are
taken. During this procedure,
medical staff can also magnify
small areas of your breast for a
better view.
A diagnostic mammogram
may show that the area in
question is not worrisome at all.
Or your doctor may order further
testing, such as an ultrasound
or a biopsy. But most women
who have diagnostic mammograms, even those who have
biopsies, don’t have cancer,
according to the NCI.
The exact cause of breast
cancer isn’t known. But according to the American Cancer
Society, you are more likely to
get breast cancer if you:
 Are older than 50.
 Have had breast cancer in
the past.
 Have a close relative who has
had breast cancer.
 Started menstruating before
age 12 or went through menopause after age 55.
 Have not had a child, or had
one after age 30.
You can help lower your risk
if you control these factors:
 Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol
increases your risk.
 Excess weight, especially
after menopause.
 Physical inactivity.
Talk to your doctor if you
have any of these risks. Your
doctor can tell you about breast
cancer screenings.
GOOD ADVICE
before A
MAMMOGRAM
Mammograms are x-ray
pictures of your breasts. They
are a fast, safe way to help find
breast cancer early.
Take these steps to help
your mammogram go smoothly.
Before your mammogram:
 Tell your doctor if you or
anyone in your family has had
breast cancer.
 Set up your mammogram for
the week after your period, when
your breasts are less tender.
 Don’t wear deodorant, talcum
powder or lotion under your arms.
 Dress in a shirt with a skirt
or pants so you can undress
from the waist up.
During your mammogram:
 Tell the mammography
technologist if you have had any
breast problems.
 Let the technologist know if
the compression is too tight.
Adjustments can be made.
After your mammogram:
 If you don’t get the results in
two weeks, call your doctor or
the mammography facility.
Sources: National Women’s Health Information
Center; Radiological Society of North America
David H. Hurst Director of Marketing Robin Morrow Senior Health Educator LaTishia Futrell Publications Coordinator Jennifer Medina Production Assistant
KEEPING WELL is published for employees of the county of San Joaquin by SAN JOAQUIN HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS, 1550 W. Fremont St., Suite 200, Stockton, CA 95203, telephone
(209) 942-6324. Information in KEEPING WELL comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health,
please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations.
Copyright © 2005 by Coffey Communications, Inc. KWT17751p
Audio Health Library: Dial 1-800-655-8294, then press No. 2 followed by the four-digit code next to the red phone.
KEEPING well FALL 2005
3
children’sHEALTH
HELP KIDS
MAKE THE
grade
When summer winds down, another
school year begins. That means kids need to wake up
rested and ready to learn.
But many kids may not be getting enough sleep,
according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). For
example, experts recommend that, on average, children
12 and younger get 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night.
But the NSF reports that many first- through fifth-graders
are sleeping an average of 91⁄2 hours a night.
Essential sleep
Too little sleep—especially when it
happens often—may lead to problems.
In children, inadequate sleep can affect school performance. Not getting enough sleep can lead to mood swings
and can make it harder for kids to concentrate and remember.
The NSF also found that too little sleep may add to
behavior problems at school.
A back-to-school routine
You can help your kids
get the sleep they need by following these tips from the
NSF and other experts:
Start early. At least one to two weeks before school
starts, have your child go to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier
than their summer bedtime. This can make it easier for
your child to adjust to the school-year sleep schedule.
Set a regular bedtime and stick to it. Going to bed and
waking at regular times helps to reinforce kids’ internal
biological clocks so they can sleep better.
Follow a relaxing bedtime routine. For example, try
including at least 15 to 30 minutes of quiet activities,
such as reading, before bed.
Keep bedrooms quiet. Televisions and computers
should be kept out of bedrooms, where they can get in
the way of a good night’s rest—especially for older kids.
Also make sure rooms are comfortable and dark; use a
small night-light if your child finds the dark scary.
In addition, it may help if your child avoids:
 Foods and beverages with caffeine six hours before bed.
 Heavy meals or exercise close to bedtime.
 Overloaded schedules, which may add to sleep
problems.
Finally, set a good example when it comes to your
own sleep habits, such as going to bed at a
regular time.
7757

CLICK
For more tips on helping your family get a good night’s rest, visit the National Sleep Foundation at www.sleepfoundation.org.
DOES YOUR CHILD sleepwalk? HOW TO REDUCE CHANCES OF INJURY
If your child sleepwalks, you
should be concerned—but you
don’t need to be alarmed.
About 15 percent of all
children have at least one
sleepwalking episode between
the ages of 5 and 12, according
to the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP).
4
KEEPING well FALL 2005
Sleepwalking is a disorder in
which a child partially wakes up
during the night and wanders
away from his or her bed. It
usually occurs during the second
or third hour of nighttime sleep.
A sleepwalking child usually
has his or her eyes open, walks
awkwardly and is unable to
respond intelligently when
spoken to. The next day, children who sleepwalk generally do
not remember doing so.
The most important thing
you can do if your child sleepwalks is make sure you minimize any chance of injury.
The AAP says you should:
 Clear bedrooms of anything
your child might trip over or fall
on.
 Lock outside doors so your
child cannot leave the house.
 Block stairways with a gate.
 Gently lead your child back to
bed. There is no need to try to
wake your child.
Sleepwalking tends to run
in families. Most children who
sleepwalk do not have emotional problems. Also, most
children will eventually outgrow
the disorder.
If you have concerns about
your child’s sleepwalking, talk
to your child’s doctor.
HOW TO HELP
YOUR CHILD
MAKE
friends
Grown-ups know the rewards of friendship and the
sting of rejection.
And that’s why it can
be so painful if your child
doesn’t get invited to parties,
isn’t picked to be part of a
team or often sits alone at
lunch.
Still, there’s a lot you
can do to help your child
socially, according to the
American Academy of
Pediatrics:
 Don’t hide the problem.
Encourage your child to talk
about difficulties making or
keeping friends. Be a good
listener and be loving.
 Without embarrassing your
child, watch how he or she
interacts with peers. If you
notice room for improvement
in your child’s behavior, give
specific advice.
Also get feedback from
teachers.
 Encourage your child to get
together with a classmate.
Suggest a fairly brief, structured
activity, such as a trip to the
movies.
 Build on strengths. If your
daughter is athletic, sign her
up for a sports team. If your
son likes to read, find a book
club.
 If your efforts don’t get
results, seek help from
your child’s doctor or
counselors.
CLICK
Visit the National Mental Health
Association Web site at www.nmha.org.
SLEEP PROBLEMS: HOW PARENTS CAN HELP CHILDREN
COPE WITH nightmares AND night terrors
You never want to see your
child wake up frightened in the
middle of the night.
But many children
have sleep problems known
as nightmares and night
terrors.
As a parent, you can help
your child by knowing what
to do if he or she becomes
scared or agitated after falling
asleep.
Nightmares
Nightmares
are scary dreams that most
children have from time to
time. They usually occur after
your child has been asleep for
several hours.
If your child is having a
nightmare, he or she will
normally wake up and tell you
what happened.
To help your child
deal with a nightmare, the
American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) suggests
you:
 Go to your child as quickly
as possible.
 Reassure your child that
everything is all right.
 Ask your child to describe
what happened.
Night terrors
While not
as common as nightmares,
night terrors can be more
severe and frightening. They
occur most often in preschoolage children.
Night terrors usually
happen within an hour after
your child has fallen asleep
and can last as long as
45 minutes. During a night
terror, your child usually cannot
be awakened.
A child having night terrors
may cry uncontrollably, thrash
around and appear confused
and glassy-eyed. Your child may
not even recognize you or know
you are there during a night
terror.
To handle night terrors,
follow these recommendations
from the AAP:
 Remain calm. Night terrors
are often more frightening for
the parent than for the child.
 Do not try to awaken your
child.
 Keep your child in bed.
Night terrors usually go
away by the time your child
reaches school age. If they don’t,
talk to your
7744
child’s doctor.

TIME TO WAKE UP: TIRED STUDENTS
CAN GET A BOOST FROM exercise
THE MOST
important
THING YOU CAN
DO IF YOUR CHILD
SLEEPWALKS
IS TO MINIMIZE
ANY CHANCE
OF INJURY.

A big, fluffy couch
and a television remote—
when kids just don’t feel
like doing much, these
things might sound pretty
good.
But would-be couch
potatoes may want to
consider this: Doing too
much of nothing can leave
you even more sluggish,
according to the Children’s
Nutrition Research Center
(CNRC).
There’s a better
choice for tired kids and
teens—exercise.
Physical activity can
help us feel more energetic.
It can also help us sleep
better, feel better and even
beat boredom.
What’s more, kids who
exercise learn a healthy
habit early.
So how can your busy
student fit activity into the
day?
For one thing, experts
suggest spending less time
watching television and
playing video games. From
play to planned exercise,
there are many ways to be
more active.
Consider this advice
from experts, including the
CNRC:
Audio Health Library: Dial 1-800-655-8294, then press No. 2 followed by the four-digit code next to the red phone.
 Go for a walk and bring
your kids along. Kids might
also enjoy walking with
friends.
 Take your kids skating,
or play a game of driveway basketball. Just
make exercise fun;
it’s good for the whole
family.
 Encourage your children
to ride a bike, go skateboarding, take a hike or
work out to an exercise
video.
Experts say small
changes in a child’s
routine can get healthy
rewards.
KEEPING well FALL 2005
5
wellness
WHEN you
MIGHT NEED
TO TAKE
ANTIBIOTICS
PHARMACY
update
By now you should have
received a letter outlining two changes
to your County Managed Care Plan
(CMCP) pharmacy benefits, effective
Aug. 1, 2005.
First change
The first change
affects those of you taking a proton
pump inhibitor—such as Omeprazole,
Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix or
Aciphex—or an allergy medication—
such as Allegra, Clarinex or Zyrtec. To
save money for both you and CMCP,
over-the-counter (OTC) Prilosec,
Claritin and Alavert, and their generic
equivalents, have been added to the
formulary and are now covered under
your plan with no co-payment.
OTC Prilosec, Claritin and Alavert
are available only through retail pharmacies. The mail-order program will
dispense only their generic equivalents.
Those of you who use these medications on a continuous basis may find
that using the generic equivalent
from the mail-order program is more
convenient.
Important clarification
Although
these medications are available over
the counter, in
order to purchase them
without a copayment, you
must get them
from a PCN/
NMHC participating pharmacy
or through the mail-order program
Lipitor, Crestor, Pravachol or Zocor—
with a prescription from your
or the antidepressants Celexa, Paxil,
doctor. Getting a prescription for
Zoloft or Lexapro. For those medicathese OTC medications is important
tions, a pill-cutting program is now
to ensure that you
effective.
receive the appropriate
Pill cutting, which is using
YOU CAN GET
dosage and that it is
halved tablets rather than
SOME OTC
being dispensed to
whole ones, is a well-established
you or your covered
medical practice and is proven
MEDICINES
dependent.
safe with no clinically signifiWITH
If you choose to buy
cant differences. You can
CO-PAYMENT. request a free pill cutter from
the brand-name OTC
medication, be advised
your pharmacy or through the
that if you purchase the medication at
mail-order program.
the main checkout counter of a retail
If you have physical difficulty
store, you will not be reimbursed.
splitting tablets, your pharmacist may
offer to cut the tablets for you. Or
Second change The second
your doctor can submit a prior
change affects those of you taking
authorization to request that you
selected strengths of cholesterolare excluded from the
lowering medications—such as
pill-cutting program.
7868
no

CALL
For a list of prescription strengths included in the pill-cutting program, or for any questions regarding your
pharmacy benefits, please call our Member Services Department at (209) 942-6324 or 1-888-876-PLAN (7526).
Q
What’s the difference
who is ill or things he or she has
touched. Also wash after you
cough, sneeze or blow your
nose. Keep your fingers away
from your nose, mouth and eyes.
Ask your doctor about
getting a flu shot. An annual
vaccination can help protect you.
Help your body fight
viruses. Eat a balanced diet,
exercise, get enough sleep and
manage stress.
between bacteria and
viruses?
A
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Lung
Association; U.S. Food and Drug Administration
HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE most OF YOUR MEDICATION
Safe medicine use starts
before you even begin taking
the prescription. It starts with
asking your doctor or pharmacist about the drug and how to
get the most out of it.
Take these questions with
you to the pharmacy:
6
KEEPING well FALL 2005
1. What is the drug and
what should it do for me?
2. How long before it takes
effect? How will I know it’s
working?
3. When and how do I take
it? For how long?
4. How should I store
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians;
American Medical Association
JUST ASK
prevent COLDS AND FLU
Cold and flu season is
nothing to celebrate. So be
prepared to help keep yourself
and your family from catching
these viruses.
Try to stay away from
sick people. You can get
infected when they cough or
sneeze, or by touching something they have touched.
Wash your hands often.
Use warm, soapy water and
wash for about 15 seconds.
Wash after touching someone
When you’re sick, you
want to feel better. You might
even want to get an antibiotic
to kill whatever “germ” you
have.
But antibiotics aren’t right
for every illness. For example,
they won’t help illnesses
caused by viruses. Antibiotics
work only on illnesses caused
by bacteria.
Your doctor may prescribe
antibiotics for:
 Strep throat.
 Many types of ear infections.
 Some sinus infections.
 Some bladder infections.
 Some lung infections.
Antibiotics will not stop
viral infections that cause:
 Colds and flu.
 Bronchitis or most coughs.
 Most sore throats.
 Most cases of vomiting and
diarrhea.
If your doctor prescribes
antibiotics, take them exactly
as directed. Take the medicine
until it is gone, even if you feel
better. Otherwise, your infection
may come back.
And do not use leftover pills
or pills from someone else to
treat any other illness. They
may not be the right antibiotic
or the correct dose for your
infection.
the medicine?
5. Might it interact with
other medicines or foods?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Are there activities I
should avoid while taking this
drug?
8. Will I need a refill? When?
9. Is it safe to take if I get
pregnant or am breastfeeding?
10. Is there a generic
version of the medicine available? (Generic medicines are
usually less expensive.)
Sources: American Pharmacists Association; National
Council on Patient Information and Education
Both can make us sick,
but they’re not the
same.
Bacteria are single-cell
micro-organisms. Some of them
can cause diseases and infections, such as tuberculosis,
sinus infections and strep
throat.
Bacteria can usually be
treated with antibiotics.
Most bacteria don’t cause
illness. But most viruses do
cause illnesses, including colds,
flu, most sore throats and HIV.
Even tinier than bacteria, they
invade living cells to reproduce
in the body.
Antibiotics do not work
against viruses. Viruses can be
hard to treat, but vaccines may
help protect us from them.
healthMATTERS
WHEN CHILDREN THINK
ABOUT suicide
WHAT TO
KNOW ABOUT
CHILDHOOD
Suicide is the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year-olds,
notes the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
While no parent wants to consider that his or her child may
want to die, suicidal thoughts and feelings need prompt medical
attention. So know the signs to watch for, take them seriously and
get help for your child right away.
Look for:
 Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
 Violent or rebellious behavior, or running away.
 A dramatic personality shift.
 Withdrawal from friends and family.
 Neglecting personal appearance.
 Frequent physical ailments that are related to emotions, such as
headaches, stomachaches or fatigue.
 Statements such as “It’s no use,” “I won’t be a problem for you
much longer” or “I won’t see you again.”
 Talk of being bad or feeling rotten.
 Sudden cheerfulness after a time of depression.
Don’t leave your child alone if he or she is suicidal, but get
help from a doctor or emergency room, or by calling
6773
911.

asthma
H E A R T
D I S E A S E
A personal APPROACH
If you think your child may
have asthma, the earlier you get treatment for him or her, the sooner your
child can live an active and healthy life.
Asthma is the most common chronic
childhood disease. While there is no
cure for asthma, with proper treatment,
your child can keep the condition under
control.
An asthma attack occurs when the
passageways that carry air to the lungs
narrow and the linings become swollen,
irritated and inflamed. This can cause
your child to have trouble breathing.
If your child has any of these signs,
tell your child’s doctor.
Your child may have mild asthma
symptoms once in a while. Or asthma
attacks may occur on a regular basis. Some
asthma attacks last only a few minutes.
Others may last for days.
Managing asthma
Most children
with asthma also have allergies. It’s important to find out what things your child is
allergic to so he or she can avoid them.
Allergies can often be caused by:
 Animal fur or dander (tiny skin flakes
and saliva).
Signs of asthma Recognizing the
 Pollen from leaves or weeds.
signs of asthma is an important step to
 Mold.
helping your child lead an active life at
 Cockroaches.
home, at school and on the playground.
 Cigarette smoke.
Symptoms of asthma may vary from
 Household dust.
child to child. They can include:
Your child’s doctor can prescribe
 A cough that lasts for more than one
medications that can help him or her
week, especially at night or after exercise.
avoid asthma attacks.
 Persistent wheezing—a whistling or
Your child, the doctor and you can
hissing sound as your
form a team to develop
child breathes out.
a plan that lets your
 Shortness of breath.
ASTHMA IS THE MOST child take
4311
 Tightness in the
control.
COMMON
Sources:
American
Academy
of
Allergy,
Asthma
chest.
and Immunology; American Lung Association;
 Fast breathing.
CHILDHOOD DISEASE.
American Medical Association
chronic


Here’s some information a woman can take to heart: You can
take action now to head off heart disease, the leading cause of
death among American women.
The key: being aware of your personal risks and understanding
your options for treatment, reports the American Heart Association.
Know the score. The risk of getting heart disease is not
something you either have or don’t have. Everyone has some risk,
but the amount varies from woman to woman.
To measure your risk, you and your doctor can use a tool called
the Framingham risk assessment calculator. This tool can help
determine if you are at high, intermediate or low risk.
The calculator uses your age, total cholesterol level, HDL
(“good”) cholesterol level, blood pressure and smoking history to
come up with a score. The score tells you your chances of developing or dying from heart disease over a 10-year period.
Lower your risk. No matter what your score, the most important thing you can do to lower your risk is to adopt a healthy
lifestyle. Ways you can do this are to:
 Stop smoking; if you don’t smoke, don’t start.
 Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.
 Eat a heart-healthy diet. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish, poultry and lean meats.
 Maintain a healthy weight.
 Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in a healthy range.
 If you have diabetes, keep it under tight control.
Drug therapy. If your score puts you in the high- or intermediaterisk groups, talk to your doctor about other interventions for preventing
heart disease. These might include medications such as beta-blockers,
statins, ACE inhibitors and aspirin.
CLICK
To calculate your risk for heart disease,
visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at
www.nhlbi.nih.gov and type “Framingham risk calculator”
in the “search” box.
Audio Health Library: Dial 1-800-655-8294, then press No. 2 followed by the four-digit code next to the red phone.
KEEPING well FALL 2005
7
simplyGOOD
ASPARAGUS
WITH pasta
Ingredients
8 ounces fresh or dried angel hair pasta
Olive oil cooking spray
1 small red onion, finely chopped (about
1 cup)
8 asparagus spears, cut in 1⁄2-inch slices
1⁄2 cup frozen baby green peas
1 cup fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
or vegetable broth
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
1⁄2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions until tender but not mushy. Drain and
transfer to a large oven-proof bowl. Spray pasta
generously with cooking spray and toss to
keep pasta from sticking. Place bowl in oven at
a low temperature (100 to 250 degrees) to keep
warm.
2. While pasta is cooking, spray a medium
skillet generously with cooking spray. Heat
pan over medium-high heat. Sauté onion one
minute. Add asparagus and peas. Sauté until
asparagus is bright green, about two minutes.
Add broth and cook until asparagus is tendercrisp, about two more minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook until heated through. Season to
taste with salt and pepper.
3. Divide pasta among four shallow soup
bowls. Top with vegetables and their liquid.
Sprinkle cheese over top. Drizzle olive oil over
top, add basil and parsley for garnish and
serve.
Nutrition facts
Recipe serves 4
Amount per serving
Calories 300
Total fat 8g
Saturated fat 3g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 507mg
Carbohydrate 44g
Protein 13g
Percent of calories from fat 24
1 bowl
Calories from fat 72
% Daily Value*
12%
15%
0%
21%
15%
Source: American Institute for Cancer Research
Photo by Tyson Kopfer, food styling by Shelley Hamilton-Kaylor
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
E-MAIL TO GET YOUR free
HEALTH BROCHURES
New health education materials were recently developed and
are now available for our members.
The materials include:
 The San Joaquin County Childhood
Obesity Resource Guide.
 Taking Control…What is Asthma?
(available in English, Spanish and
Cambodian).
 Taking Control…What is Diabetes?
(available in English, Spanish and
Cambodian).
CLICK
Other materials on various health topics
are also available. If you would like any of these materials,
please e-mail Robin Morrow, senior health educator, at
[email protected] with the brochure topics and languages
you prefer.
CHOOSE
5 A DAY
September is National 5-A-Day Month, and this year’s theme is
“Lead the Way: Choose Fruits, Vegetables and Physical Activity.” The
national theme encourages parents to be healthy role models by
ensuring that fruits, vegetables and physical activity are a daily routine
for themselves and their kids.
The National Cancer Institute sponsors the 5-A-Day campaign along
with many local community groups. The local American Cancer Society
office in Stockton is promoting nutrition awareness and healthy eating
campaigns along with the 5-A-Day campaign. And the office is providing
educational materials for members of San Joaquin Health Administrators and the Health Plan of San Joaquin.
PLEASE CALL THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT (209) 941-2679 OR
VISIT IT ONLINE AT WWW.CANCER.ORG. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE 5-A-DAY FOR BETTER HEALTH PROGRAM, VISIT WWW.5ADAY.GOV.