AlaskaCare Wellness News | July 2018

Vitamin D

Health benefits of Sun Exposure:
Vitamin D and Beyond.

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Discover innovative health and wellness opportunities, senior programs, community celebrations, outdoor education, park maintenance, and more! Redefine how you think about your local Parks and Recreation and uncover a lifetime of discovery! Parks and Rec is more than a goofy sitcom on T.V.

Check out your local Parks and Recreation today!

• Burns calories.
• Can contribute towards maintaining a healthy weight. 
• Helps to boost your metabolism.
• Helps to reduce body fat.
• Boosts your energy levels.
• Strengthens the immune system. 
• Improves your circulation. 
• Lowers your blood pressure.
• Helps to prevent and control diabetes. 
• Promotes positive mental health, including higher levels of self-esteem.
• Helps you to manage stress and release tension.
• Helps to improve the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well. 
• May motivate your children to walk more by seeing you provide a good example and offers an activity to share with family members and friends. 
• Can be done almost anywhere.
• Is more environmentally friendly than driving.
• Is free. 

If you are walking for general health benefits, try to walk most days of the week, a minimum of 30 minutes a day at a "talking" pace. 

Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs, characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. This includes episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term breathing problems and poor airflow. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of COPD, with risk factors such as air pollution and genetics playing a smaller role. Most cases of COPD can be prevented by reducing exposure to risk factors. 

Both asthma and COPD are serious chronic conditions, and both can be controlled. With proper care, people who have asthma can stay active, sleep through the night, and avoid having their lives disrupted buy asthma attacks. Learn how to control and reduce acute episodes by having an Asthma Action Plan. 

If you need assistance with understanding and managing chronic lung conditions, contact Aetna's In Touch Care Disease Management Team, at the number listed on your Aetna ID card, or email memberonlyinquires@aetna.com. Make sure to include your full name and date of birth in your secure email.

For more resources on lung health, check out the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's "Learn More Breathe Better" Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. 

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

How to protect your skin

Apply sunscreen—Sunscreen is composed of several ingredients that help prevent UV rays from damaging the skin. By absorbing, reflecting or scattering the sun's rays, sunscreen can help protect you for hours (depending on the SPF). Use extra caution when near reflective surfaces or high altitudes.

Wear proper clothing—Long sleeve shirts and pants are ideal but are not always feasible when the heat index begins to rise, and the sun is beaming with full force. Thin linens and cotton are the usual choices for comfortable clothing during the hot month of July. Wearing a sun hat that protects your face, ears and neck is also a terrific way to stay safe.

Go for the shade—Avoid prolonged sun exposure when you can. Spend time underneath a tree or umbrella when available to help reduce the harm from UV rays. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the continental United States are the most hazardous for UV exposure, so be sure to take extra precaution if you are out during this time. 

Wear sunglasses—Effective sunglasses with wraparound shapes can protect the eyes from all angles and can block glare as well as 99 to 100% of UV rays. 

Did you know—each month Aetna presents webinars on topics such as communication, stress, self-improvement and more?

You can also view the webinars anytime online from the webinar library. Log in to Aetna to register for July's webinars. 

Username: AlaskaCare
Password: AlaskaCare

Recipe of the Month
Beef Kabobs with Avocado Tzatziki Sauce

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Exercise of the Month
The Namaste

This exercise activates the arm muscles and stretches your wrists.

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

                           Call (800) 556-1555