AlaskaCare Wellness News | April 2018

Alaska Department of Administration sent this bulletin at 04/02/2018 02:16 PM AKDT

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April 2018 | #67

 

Vitamin D:
It's spring and the sun is out! But are you getting enough vitamin D?

LEARN MORE >>

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. The sad news is, Alaska’s prevalence of alcohol dependence and abuse is nearly twice the national average. The good news? We can all do our part to help raise awareness about alcohol abuse and we can take action to help prevent alcohol misuse or abuse, at home, at work, and in the community. Here are just a few ideas:
  • Encourage friends or family members to make small changes, like keeping track of their drinking and setting drinking limits.
  • Designate a nondrinking driver before the celebration begins or plan to take a taxi home.
  • Share tips with parents to help them talk with their kids about the risks of alcohol use.
  • Ask doctors and nurses to talk to their patients about the benefits of drinking less or quitting.

Local and National Resources

AlaskaCare Employee Assistance Program: Alaska211.org

Calls are confidential and free of charge. Alaska 2-1-1 is operated by United Way of Anchorage, open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 2-1-1 or (800) 478-2221, visit the website, or download the app for Apple or Android. 

Recover Alaska

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Diabetes Alert Day Is Here:
Are You At Risk?

First, take the test to find out if you may have prediabetes.

If you DO have prediabetes, you can enroll in a FREE online diabetes prevention program called "TurnAround Health!" Alaskans can take advantage of a FREE 1 year subscription with PROMO Code: Alaska2015. SIGN UP Today!

Prediabetes is real. It's common. And most importantly, it's reversible.

You can stop prediabetes from developing into Type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes.

People can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes unnoticed until serious health problems show up. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for prediabetes, which include:

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active fewer than 3 times a week
  • Ever having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
Smoking Cessation and E-Cigarettes

The promotion of e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking and tobacco use has helped e-cigarettes grow into a 2.5-billion-dollar business—and it’s still on the rise. Popularity is increasing among youth and young adults. Get the facts. Know the risks. Get help. Review your AlaskaCare Employee Health Plans Smoking Cessation benefit now or consult Aetna’s AlaskaCare Concierge for benefit details. It’s time.  

Resources:

AlaskaCare Employee Health Plan booklet [PDF]

Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line | 1-800-QUIT-NOW

CDC: Surgeon General's Reports—Smoking & Tobacco Use
grilled Asian salmon

Recipe of the Month:
Grilled Asian Salmon

GET THE RECIPE >> 

Exercise of the Month:
 Squat

The squat works all the major muscles of the lower body and promotes muscle building and fat burning, mobility and balance.

TRY THE EXERCISE >>
Stethoscope icon

Not sure if that cold is worth the trip? Call the Aetna Nurse line, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Call (800) 556-1555