The APWU Health Plan offices are closed on Monday, May 25, 2026 to observe Memorial Day. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
On Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We also send our support to those mourning a loved one today. Let’s come together and remember that there is always hope and help. Support is out there. Get started at FindSupport.gov.
APWU Health Plan Members can get support, answers, and expert care on our website.
Need Help During the Closure?
While our offices are closed, you can still access your plan information and resources online 24/7 through our member portals:
THURSDAY, April 2, 2026 (HealthDay News) — You might think shedding tears is a natural way to vent stress and reset the mind after a difficult day.
But new research suggests that a good cry isn’t the universal mood-booster we once thought it was.
An Austrian team took a closer look at what makes people cry, individual differences in crying and how it makes people feel afterward.
The way you feel after crying, it recently reported in the journal Collabra: Psychology depends almost entirely on why you started to cry in the first place.
For the study, 106 adults reported the positive or negative effects immediately after crying as well as 15, 30 and 60 minutes later; what triggered their tears; and how long and intensely they cried.
Unlike previous studies that relied on people’s memories or artificial laboratory settings, this project captured emotions in real-time.
Using a smartphone app, participants recorded 315 crying episodes. On average, each individual had five crying episodes over the four-week study, roughly one every five days.
Participants reported mostly crying in response to media (for example, while watching funny or sad movies); overload (feeling overwhelmed by a task or worrying about the future); and impotence/helplessness (such as the illness or death of a close friend or relative).
“Our goal was to study crying where and when it really happens — in everyday life,” said lead author Stefan Stieger, head of psychological methodology at Karl Landsteiner University in Krems on the Danube in Austria. “Using smartphones, we were able to capture crying episodes in real time and then follow emotional changes over the next hour.”
Researchers found that crying rarely provided immediate relief. In many cases, people reported feeling less positive and more distressed right after their tears stopped.
However, the reason for their crying appeared to affect the outcome.
Individuals who cried because they felt lonely or overwhelmed had the most negative feelings afterward.
On the other hand, those who cried while watching a movie or reading a touching book saw a decrease in their negative feelings.
Researchers said this distinction — between causes related to one’s own psychological needs and those related to something or someone else — could be ground for future study.
The data also highlighted male-female differences.
Women in the study tended to cry more often, with longer, more intense episodes. They were also more likely to cry due to feelings of loneliness, while men were more often moved to tears by a sense of helplessness or media content.
Regardless of gender or cause, the study showed that the effects of crying didn’t last long. While some emotional shifts were measurable for up to 60 minutes, the impact completely vanished by the end of the day.
“The study shows that crying should not be seen as an automatic form of emotional relief,” said senior co-author Hannah Graf, a researcher at the university. “Its emotional effects seem to depend strongly on the context in which it occurs.”
Ultimately, crying is a complex part of people’s emotional lives rather than a simple pressure-release valve, researchers said.
THURSDAY, March 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Even small improvements to your daily habits – a few minutes more sleep, a couple extra minutes of exercise, a daily side serving of veggies – can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, a new study says.
People who slept 11 minutes more, performed an extra 4.5 minutes of exercise, and ate an additional quarter cup of vegetables had a 10% lower risk of major heart health problems, researchers reported March 23 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Those who had the optimum combination of these lifestyle choices were rewarded with an overall 57% lower risk of heart problems, compared to those with the worst habits, researchers found.
“We show that combining small changes in a few areas of our lives can have a surprisingly large positive impact on our cardiovascular health,” lead researcher Nicholas Koemel, a research fellow at the University of Sydney in Australia, said in a news release.
“This is very encouraging news because making a few small, combined changes is likely more achievable and sustainable for most people when compared with attempting major changes in a single behavior,” Koemel said.
For the new study, researchers tracked more than 53,000 adults participating in the UK Biobank, a long-term health research project in the United Kingdom. The participants were followed for an eight-year period.
Results showed that the best lifestyle for heart health involves sleeping for eight to nine hours per night, completing more than 42 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, and eating a modestly healthy diet.
People who followed that pattern had a 57% lower risk of heart problems, researchers found.
The team noted that the sort of exercise that improved heart health can be as simple as taking the stairs, carrying shopping bags or walking briskly.
A better-quality diet involved more veggies, fruit, fish, dairy, whole grains and vegetable oils, and less refined grains, processed meats, red meat and sugary drinks, researchers said.
“I would encourage people not to overlook the importance of making a small change or two to your daily routine, no matter how small they may seem,” Koemel said.
Senior researcher Emmanuel Stamatakis said new tools to help that effort are in the works.
“We plan to build on these findings to develop new digital tools that support people in making positive lifestyle changes and establish sustained healthy habits,” said Stamatakis, a professor of physical activity and population health at the University of Sydney and Monash University.
“This will involve working closely with community members to make sure the tools are easy to use and can address the barriers we all face in making tweaks to our day-to-day routines,” he added in a news release.
THURSDAY, March 12, 2026 (HealthDay News) — People frequently switch between different weight-loss drugs, swapping Ozempic for Zepbound and vice versa within the first year of treatment, a new study reports.
What’s more, those patients who do swap GLP-1 drugs are more likely to stick with the drugs, researchers reported March 10 in JAMA Network Open.
“Switching between GLP-1RA medications should be viewed as a normal part of long-term obesity care,” said senior researcher Sarah Messiah, a professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
“Persistence should not be judged by staying on a single drug indefinitely, but by maintaining engagement in care and working with clinicians to find sustainable, effective treatment strategies over time,” she said in a news release.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which helps control insulin and blood sugar levels, decreases appetite and slows digestion of food.
For the new study, researchers tracked insurance claims from nearly 127,000 overweight or obese adults who started GLP-1 treatment between 2019 and 2024, looking for people taking drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro), or liraglutide (Saxenda/Victoza).
Results showed that treatment often didn’t follow a linear path. Many patients had to change up their GLP-1 meds in response to side effects, access problems, insurance coverage or the introduction of new medications.
Only a quarter of patients remained on any particular GLP-1 drug a year after starting it, and roughly 1 in 5 patients transitioned to a different weight-loss med during that period, researchers said.
People who swapped GLP-1 drugs were more likely to stick with treatment – 36% of switchers versus 21% of those who stuck with their first prescribed drug.
“In today’s clinical environment, successful obesity care often involves adapting treatment over time rather than expecting a single medication to meet every patient’s needs indefinitely,” researcher Dr. Jaime Almandoz, medical director of UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Weight Wellness Program, said in a news release.
Future studies will explore whether certain types of patients are more likely to swap medications, as well as which drugs or timing of treatment influence changes in weight-loss therapy, researchers said.
More information
The National Academy of Medicine has more on GLP-1 drugs.
SOURCES: UT Southwestern Medical Center, news release, March 10, 2026; JAMA Network Open, March 10, 2026
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11, 2026 (HealthDay news) — They say worrying will give you wrinkles, but a new study indicates that might be an understatement.
Women anxious about getting older appear to experience accelerated aging, with their fears promoting quicker decline at the cellular level, researchers found.
In essence, fears about aging cause a person’s body to grow old faster than what their actual birth date reflects, researchers concluded in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
“Our research suggests that subjective experiences may be driving objective measures of aging,” lead researcher Mariana Rodrigues said in a news release. She’s a doctoral student at the NYU School of Global Public Health in New York City.
“Aging-related anxiety is not merely a psychological concern, but may leave a mark on the body with real health consequences,” Rodrigues said.
For the new study, researchers analyzed data from 726 women participating in a study of middle-aged people in the United States.
From their data, the research team calculated their biological aging — their age based on the wear-and-tear their bodies have experienced. The researchers compared this biological age to their calendar age, and then assessed whether anxiety over growing older had contributed to accelerated aging.
“Women in midlife may also be multiple in roles, including caring for their aging parents. As they see older family members grow older and become sick, they may worry about whether the same thing will happen to them,” Rodrigues said.
Results showed that higher levels of anxiety over getting older were indeed significantly associated with accelerated aging. Worrying about declining health had the strongest association with accelerated biological aging, researchers said. On the other hand, anxiety over declining attractiveness and fertility were not associated with accelerated aging, researchers said. That might be because health-related concerns persist over time, while worries about beauty and fertility can fade with age.
The results are a fresh reminder that mental and physical health are tightly connected across a person’s lifespan, researchers said. “Our research identifies aging anxiety as a measurable and modifiable psychological determinant that seems to be shaping aging biology,” senior researcher Adolfo Cuevas, an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at NYU School of Global Public Health, said in a news release.
However, the researchers noted that they couldn’t rule out that other factors might also influence the speed at which a person ages. For example, anxiety might cause a person to cope through unhealthy habits like drinking or smoking, researchers said. In fact, when researchers adjusted their analysis to account for such behaviors, the association between anxiety and rapid aging decreased.
More studies are needed to further explore this potential effect of anxiety, researchers said.
“Aging is a universal experience,” Rodrigues said. “We need to start a discourse about how we as a society — through our norms, structural factors and interpersonal relationships — address the challenges of aging.”
Maven is a free wellness program for APWU Health Plan members and their covered dependents. Maven is a digital women’s and family health platform supporting members throughout maternity, postpartum, and newborn care.
Qualified members can book virtual appointments for unlimited coaching and education across 30+ specialties, including Doulas, OB‑GYNs, pediatricians, mental health specialists, prenatal nutritionists, lactation consultants, and career coaches at no cost, and receive:
• On‑demand video appointments with top‑rated providers • Unlimited 24/7 coaching and messaging with Maven specialists • A dedicated Care Advocate for benefit navigation, provider connections, and in‑person referral support • Tailored educational content on prenatal health, postpartum depression, newborn care, and returning to work
Members can visit mavenclinic.com or call 1‑866‑569‑2064 to learn more or register.
by: I. Edwards WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Ever notice how hard it is to stay sharp after a rough night of sleep?
A recent study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience points to a surprising reason why: The brain may briefly shift into a sleep-like cleaning mode, even while you’re awake.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say short lapses in attention after poor sleep owe to sudden movements of fluid in the brain, a process usually reserved for deep sleep.
That fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), helps wash away waste that builds up during the day.
During sleep, this cleaning system works without interfering with thinking. But when people are short on sleep, the study found, the brain may try to activate that system during waking hours, and attention suffers as a result.
“If you don’t sleep, the CSF waves start to intrude into wakefulness where normally you wouldn’t see them,” senior study author Laura Lewis, an associate professor at MIT, said in a news release. “However, they come with an attentional tradeoff, where attention fails during the moments that you have this wave of fluid flow.”
Researchers studied 26 volunteers, testing each person twice: once after a night of sleep deprivation and once after a full night’s rest.
The next morning, participants completed attention tests while lying inside a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Researchers tracked the movement of CSF in and out of the brain, as well as heart rate, breathing and pupil size.
During the attention tests, participants had to quickly respond to visual or sound signals. When sleep-deprived, they reacted more slowly and sometimes missed the signals altogether.
Each time attention failed, the same pattern appeared: • Cerebrospinal fluid flowed out of the brain. • Heart rate and breathing slowed. • Pupils became smaller. Once attention returned, the fluid flowed back in.
“The results are suggesting that at the moment that attention fails, this fluid is actually being expelled outward away from the brain. And when attention recovers, it’s drawn back in,” Lewis explained.
Lead author Zinong Yang, an MIT postdoctoral associate, said the brain may be trying to recover from lost sleep by briefly switching into a sleep-like state.
“One way to think about those events is because your brain is so in need of sleep, it tries its best to enter into a sleep-like state to restore some cognitive functions,” she said.
Researchers also found that these attention lapses are tied to areas outside the brain.
“What’s interesting is it seems like this isn’t just a phenomenon in the brain, it’s also a body-wide event,” Lewis added. “It suggests that there’s a tight coordination of these systems, where when your attention fails, you might feel it perceptually and psychologically, but it’s also reflecting an event that’s happening throughout the brain and body,” Lewis added.
Researchers did not identify the specific circuit involved, but they suspect a single control system is involved. That’s the noradrenergic system, which uses the chemical norepinephrine and is known to change activity during sleep.
The APWU Health Plan office is closed on Monday, February 16, 2026 to observe the Federal holiday. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 17,2026.
Need Help During the Closure?
While our offices are closed, you can still access your plan information and resources online 24/7 through our member portals:
We believe that health insurance should be about more than just covering visits—it’s about empowering you with the knowledge to stay healthy.
Why Your “Heart Story” Matters
Whether you are navigating your 20s or enjoying your retirement, your cardiovascular health deserves to be a priority. We wear red today to remind our members that:
Preventative screenings save lives: Knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers is the first step in prevention.
Knowledge is power: Understanding the unique symptoms of heart disease in women can lead to faster treatment.
You are not alone: We are here to provide the resources and support you need to lead a heart-healthy life.
Join Us in the Movement
We’re asking all our members and partners to join the movement today:
Wear Red: Show the world that women’s heart health matters.
Learn the Basics: Visit GoRedforWomen.org to find life-saving resources about Heart Disease.
Schedule a Check-up: Use our member portals to find an in-network physician and schedule your annual heart health screening.
As your health insurance partner, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to take charge of your heart health. Many preventative heart screenings are available with no out-of-pocket costs (no copay, co-insurance, or deductible) when you visit an in-network provider.
Together, we have the power to change the statistics and celebrate more birthdays, milestones, and memories.
By: Todd A. Mahr, MD, Executive Medical Director, American College Of Allergy, Asthma And Immunology
THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) — When people hear about anaphylaxis, they often associate the severe allergic reaction with food allergies. And while food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, allergies to insect stings, medications and latex can also trigger the response.
Anaphylaxis is rare. In most cases, people with allergies develop mild to moderate symptoms, such as watery eyes, a runny nose or a rash. But sometimes, exposure to an allergen can cause the life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
A second anaphylactic reaction, known as a biphasic reaction, can occur anywhere from 12 to 24 hours after the initial reaction. Unfortunately, how severe your reaction will be is unpredictable. Even if you have only had mild reactions in the past, you might still be at risk for anaphylaxis. And past anaphylaxis does not necessarily predict that all future reactions will be severe.
Future reactions can be milder or more severe than initial or past reactions. Due to this uncertainty, patients at risk for anaphylaxis are urged to carry self-administered epinephrine to be able to treat any future reactions. Patients with allergies to medications typically do not need to carry epinephrine, as these triggers are easier to avoid.
Anaphylaxis symptoms occur suddenly and can progress quickly. The early symptoms may be mild, such as a runny nose, a skin rash or a “strange feeling.” These symptoms can quickly lead to more serious problems, including:
If you have a history of allergies and/or asthma and have previously had a severe reaction, you may be at greater risk for anaphylaxis. An allergist can help you determine if you are susceptible to anaphylaxis.
Allergists are doctors specially trained to review your history of allergic reactions, conduct tests to diagnose your allergic triggers (such as skin-prick tests, blood tests and challenges), review treatment options and teach you the best methods for avoiding your allergens. Talk with an allergist if: • You’re unsure if you’ve had an anaphylactic reaction. • Your symptoms have happened repeatedly or are difficult to control. • More tests are needed to determine the cause of your reactions. • Desensitization or immunotherapy could be helpful if recommended by a doctor. • Daily medication is needed. • You think other medical conditions complicate your treatment. An anaphylactic reaction should be treated immediately with epinephrine (adrenaline). Doses are available by prescription and come in auto-injectors or a nasal spray that should always be kept with you. Two doses of epinephrine may be necessary to control symptoms.
Here are some tips for reducing the risk of anaphylaxis:
Know your trigger(s). If you’ve experienced anaphylaxis, it’s important to know what triggered the reaction. An allergist can review your medical history and, if necessary, conduct tests for diagnosis. The most common triggers are: • Food, including peanuts, tree nuts such as cashews and pistachios, fish, shellfish, cow’s milk, eggs and sesame. • Latex, which is found in disposable gloves, intravenous tubes, syringes, adhesive tapes and catheters. Health care workers, children with spina bifida and abnormalities of the genital and urinary organs, and people who work with natural latex are at higher risk for latex-induced anaphylaxis. Fortunately, latex allergy has decreased greatly over time as less natural latex is used in everyday products. • Medication, including penicillin and other antibiotics, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, as well as medications used for anesthesia. • Insect stings, with bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants the most likely to trigger anaphylaxis. Avoid your trigger(s). Avoidance is the most effective way to prevent anaphylaxis. An allergist can help you develop avoidance measures tailored to your age, activities, occupation, hobbies, home environment and access to medical care. Here are some general techniques to avoid common triggers:
• Food allergies. Review all ingredient labels carefully to uncover potential allergens. When eating out, notify the server of your/your child’s allergies and ask questions about ingredients if there is any concern. If you have a child with a history of anaphylaxis, provide school personnel with a treatment plan that specifies his or her allergies and specific steps to take if the child has an allergic reaction.
• Medications. Make sure all of your doctors are aware of any reactions you’ve had to medications so that they can prescribe safe alternatives and inform you about other medications you may need to avoid. If there are no alternative medications, you may be a candidate for desensitization, a treatment that introduces a small dose of the medication to which you are allergic. As your body becomes more tolerant to it, your dosage can be increased over time. While the treatment is effective, it’s not permanent and must be repeated if the medication is needed again in the future.
• Insect stings. To help prevent stinging insects, avoid walking barefoot in grass, wearing bright colored clothing with flowery patterns, sweet-smelling perfumes, hairsprays and lotion during active insect season in late summer and early fall. An allergist can provide a preventative treatment called venom immunotherapy (or venom allergy shots) for insect sting allergy. The treatment introduces gradually increasing doses of purified insect venom and has been shown to be between 90% and 98% effective in preventing future allergic reactions to insect stings.
Be prepared. Prompt recognition of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis is critical. If you unexpectedly encounter your trigger, immediately follow the emergency plan outlined by your doctor. If you are having a reaction and are not sure whether you should use epinephrine, it is better to go ahead and use epinephrine. Be sure to keep your epinephrine up to date. If an expired epinephrine product is the only one available in an emergency, administer it promptly anyway. Teachers and other caregivers should be informed of children who are at risk for anaphylaxis and know what to do in an allergy emergency. If you administer epinephrine and do not start getting better within minutes, seek emergency care. If it gets worse, administer the second dose of epinephrine.
Tell family and friends. Family and friends should be aware of your condition, your triggers and know how to recognize anaphylactic symptoms. If you carry epinephrine, make sure they know where you keep it and how to use it. Wear medical jewelry. Some people at risk for anaphylaxis wear medical jewelry to let people know they have allergies and need epinephrine in case of a severe reaction. See a specialist.Allergists are specially trained to help you take control of your symptoms, conduct tests and review treatment options so you can live the life you want.
