Year: 2024

Celebrating the Heroes of Healthcare: Happy National Nurses Day!

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Every year, on May 6th, we celebrate National Nurses Day – a dedicated day to honor the contributions of nurses to our healthcare system and society as a whole.

More Than Just Caregivers: Essential Healthcare Partners

Nurses are the backbone of the medical field. They work tirelessly across various settings, from bustling emergency rooms to serene hospice care. They are the first line of contact for patients, offering comfort, expertise, and unwavering support throughout their healthcare journey.

Our APWU Health Plan members can call our 24 hour confidential nurse line, 1-866-873-8738 to speak confidentially with a nurse by phone.

Celebrating Their Strength

The past few years have been particularly challenging for nurses, who have bravely faced unprecedented health crises.  They have worked long hours, under immense pressure, putting their own well-being at risk to care for others.  On National Nurses Day, I want to acknowledge their strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

This National Nurses Day, I’d like to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all the nurses here at the APWU Health Plan and in the community who dedicate their lives to caring for others. I want to acknowledge the long hours they work, the emotional challenges they face, and the unwavering commitment they display every single day.

How You Can Celebrate National Nurses Day

·         Here are a few ways you can show your appreciation to the nurses in your life:

  • Send a heartfelt card or note expressing your gratitude.
  • Share your positive experiences with a nurse on social media using #NationalNursesDay.
  • Donate to a scholarship fund supporting future nurses.
  • Simply say “thank you” to a nurse you encounter today.

Nurses are truly the unsung heroes of healthcare. Let’s celebrate their dedication and ensure they feel valued and appreciated every day, not just on National Nurses Day

May 3-9 is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week!

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One in five children and adolescents may have a mental health condition at any given time. It is important to recognize that a child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health.

Mental health, also known as emotional or behavioral health, is a vital part of your child’s medical health and development. It affects how individuals think, feel, and act. All children and teens have periods of anger, frustration, and sadness. However, for some kids, these feelings can reach a tipping point and interfere with everyday life. 

Early intervention is the best way to prevent long-term or severe conditions into adulthood. 

To seek help for your child’s mental health, you can: 

  • Encourage them to get involved with after-school activities, athletics, or community and faith-based organizations. 
  • Voice your concerns with your pediatrician. They can make recommendations for treatment.
  • Ask your insurance company which mental health professionals are within your healthcare network.
  • APWU Health Plan members can find an in-network provider or schedule a virtual visit on our website here https://www.apwuhp.com/our-plans/see-provider-networks/.
  • Mental Health Education and Advocacy Organizations are dedicated to assisting family members with finding help for children. Organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provide education, support, and advocacy for people with mental illness and their families. 

Take a Breath: Managing Stress During National Stress Awareness Month

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April is National Stress Awareness Month, and here at APWU Health Plan, we know that stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health. But you don’t have to let stress win!

This month, we’re focusing on healthy ways to manage stress and improve your overall well-being. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Identify your stressors: What situations or habits cause you the most stress? Once you know your triggers, you can start to develop coping mechanisms.
  • Relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are all excellent ways to calm your mind and body.
  • Get moving: Exercise is a great stress reliever. Take a brisk walk, join a gym, or find an activity you enjoy.
  • Healthy habits: Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and limiting alcohol and caffeine. These lifestyle choices can make a big difference in your stress levels.
  • Connect with others: Social support is essential for managing stress. Talk to friends, family, or a therapist about what’s going on in your life.

APWU Health Plan Can Help

Did you know that your APWU Health Plan offers benefits that can help you manage stress?

  • Mental health coverage: We offer coverage for therapy and other mental health services, which can be a valuable resource for managing stress and anxiety. To get started call the number on the back of your ID card.
  • Wellness programs: The APWU Health Plan offers wellness programs that can help you develop healthy habits and improve your overall well-being.  Our High Option and Consumer Driven Option plans include discount gym memberships. To learn more or enroll, visit One Pass Select. Our Medicare Advantage enrollees can sign up for a free gym members by visiting UHCRenewActive.com.  

By taking steps to manage stress, you can improve your overall health and well-being. Don’t wait until you’re feeling overwhelmed – take charge of your stress today!

APWU Health Plan receives conditional approval to participate in the PSHB Program

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APWU Health Plan is proud to announce that we have been conditionally approved* to participate in the new upcoming 2025 PSHB Program designed specifically for Postal employees and retirees! In addition, we will continue to offer coverage for Federal employees and retirees under the current FEHB Program.

What does this mean for you as an existing or future APWU Health Plan member?

• We are pleased to provide coverage to both Postal and Federal employees and retirees.
• In addition to offering PSHB Postal plans in 2025, we will also continue to provide coverage for Federal families under the FEHB program.
• We continue our commitment to providing our members with innovative, high-quality products and services.

Postal employees and retirees, please visit our website at www.apwuhp.com/postal-service-health-benefits-program/ for more information on the PSHB Program.

*The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced that the APWU Health Plan is conditionally approved to participate in the upcoming PSHB Program and is contingent on benefits and rate negotiations over the summer.

There Are Multiple Child Asthma Triggers in Dirty Air

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Ernie Mundell

THURSDAY, March 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) — There’s a toxic stew of chemicals in polluted air that can all trigger asthma attacks in kids, new research shows.

Also, where a child lives — for example, near factories or highways — greatly influences how much they’re exposed to these toxins, reports a team from Washington State University in Spokane. 

“It’s not just one pollutant that can be linked to asthma outcomes. This study examined the variety and combinations of air toxics that may be associated with asthma symptoms,” said study lead author Solmaz Amiri, a researcher at the university’s college of medicine.

Prior studies on the issue have tended to focus on just a few toxic elements of polluted air, but Amiri said her team harnessed the power of AI to look at a broad spectrum of toxins breathed in by kids in various Spokane neighborhoods.

In total, the effects of 109 air pollutants on asthmatic children were analyzed. Samples were taken by the Environmental Protection Agency at neighborhoods surrounding 10 elementary schools in the Spokane area.

Data from those samples was compared to health data from each of the schools on asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and the need to use an inhaler. The data was taken in 2019 and 2020, before pandemic-era lockdowns began.

Three pollutants appeared especially key to triggering asthma symptoms in children:  1,1,1 trichloroethane, 2-nitropropane and 2, 4, 6 trichlorophenol. All three are found in materials people use every day.

For example, 1,1,1 trichloroethane is a solvent now used by industry, but which used to be found in household cleaners and glues, the team said. The second chemical is an additive to paints and other finishes, and the third is an anti-septic and anti-mildew agent that was banned in the 1980s but might still be lingering in the environment.

The findings will be published in the April 15 issue of Science of the Total Environment.

“Some of these air toxics were discontinued in the U.S., but they can still be found in materials that may be in storage or people have in their backyard or garage,” Amiri said in a university news release. “Other air toxics still exist at least in the environment.”

Why kids in one neighborhood might be exposed to certain pollutants while kids living elsewhere were not wasn’t explained by the study. But Amiri believes the presence of nearby factories or highways could be the culprit. In many cases, those pollution sources are concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods, her team noted.

Amiri added that a prior study based in New York City uncovered similar trends.

“Both in Spokane and New York City, regardless of the setting — how large or small the cities are — these air toxics appear to be influencing asthma among children,” she said.

More information

Find out more about asthma triggers at the Allergy & Asthma Network. SOURCE: Washington State University, news release, March 13, 2024

Reduce Stress for a Healthier Heart

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Article Courtesy of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Whether it’s from everyday deadlines or financial struggles stress shows up often in life. And your body reacts to it: your heart rate increases, your blood vessels narrow—and over time, these little blows can add up and do damage to your health, particularly your heart. With chronic stress, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Even other parts of your body – from your lungs to your gut – can take a hit.

But while you can’t always limit the amount of stress in your life, you can work on changing how you respond to it. Just like the automatic “fight or flight” response that kicks in when you’re scared – your muscles tense, heart rate increases, and brain becomes more alert – your body also has a built-in, healthy relaxation response. When that’s triggered, the opposite happens: your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your blood pressure decreases.

Luckily, with practice, you can learn to trigger that response. Try these techniques on your own or find a teacher or class to help you get started. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the hang of it quickly. And if one approach doesn’t work for you, try something new. You can learn to de-stress in lots of other ways.

Meditation. One of the most studied approaches for managing stress, this involves developing your ability to stay focused on the present, instead of worrying about the past or future. Find a quiet location with as few distractions as possible. Get comfortable by either sitting, lying or walking. Focus your attention on a specific word or set of words, an object or your breathing. And let distractions, including thoughts, come and go without judgment.

Progressive muscle relaxation. To feel the effect, first tense your muscles for a few seconds, then relax them. Start by tensing and relaxing your toes, then your calves and on up to your face. Do one muscle group at a time.

Deep breathing. Take in a slow, deep breath, let your stomach or chest expand and then exhale slowly. Repeat a few times.Many people don’t breathe deeply, but it is relaxing and something you can do anytime, anywhere.

Guided imagery. This involves a series of steps that include relaxing and visualizing the details of a calm, peaceful setting, such as a garden.

Combining de-stressors like these with other healthy habits can go a long way toward strengthening your heart. Eat more veggies, fruits and whole grains, and less sodium, sugar and saturated fats, for example. Move your body more – like through dancing and walking meetings. Find exercises you actually love and do them regularly. Get enough good, quality sleep. And develop a strong social support system. Then rethink some of the familiar ways you may be coping with stress, such as drinking alcohol frequently, using drugs and other substances, smoking or overeating. They can actually worsen your stress – and your health.

Learn how to stress less for a healthier heart and more about heart health from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute by visiting www.nhlbi.nih.gov. If you need help finding additional resources to help you cope with stress, talk to a healthcare provider. APWU Health Plan members can locate a provider by visiting your member portal or calling the number on the back of your insurance card. Seek urgent care if you can’t cope at all or have suicidal thoughts. Resources are also available at nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

Stay smoke-free

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Members of the APWU Health Plan can get help giving up tobacco and leading a healthier life. The Quit For Life program includes counseling by phone, group therapy, along with FDA-approved drugs to treat tobacco dependence for those age 18 or older. APWU Health Plan High Option Members can call 1-866-569-2064 or visit quitnow.org get more information or enroll. APWU Health Plan Consumer Driven Members can enroll at myuhc.com.