DIRECTOR'S REPORT–Thomas H. Young, Director

First Steps Toward a New Open Season!

We continue to receive reports on Open Season activity, but the final numbers have yet to be received.

A particular frustration this year has been the United States Postal Service. (Surprise!)

The Service’s system is simply antiquated and that results in delays in receiving Open Season changes which, in turn, creates a delay in sending ID cards to our new members. Of course, most active employee memberships became effective on January 11 and their copy of the 2809 should serve as proof of coverage. However, there is nothing like having that little card in hand when going to the doctor or filling a prescription.

We are pushing to get the cards out as soon as the 2809s are transmitted to us. Please tell your members that we appreciate their patience.

As we usually do at this time of year, reviews of last year’s experience is now underway in order for us to determine how the 2004 benefit and premium package will look.

In all honesty, this could be one of the most challenging years the Health Benefit Plan has had for a while. But, I really don’t want to get too far ahead as we still will need an actuarial assessment of where we stand and, of course, there is the all important OPM Call Letter.

The Call Letter not only is the official announcement of the submission date for each plan’s proposals, but it often brings with it specific directions as to the addition of new benefits.

Of course, no matter how things look, the Plan’s focus will be to present the best possible health plan for letter carriers and their families.

With this issue, I am pleased to announce that the NALC Health Benefit Plan will be hosting a Seminar to be held at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This is not expected to be a yearly event, so this would be an excellent opportunity for all HBRs, new and experienced, to catch up on the workings of the Plan and learn about the changes for 2004.

THE PHARMACY CORNER

February is Heart Month — Keep your cholesterol in check!

A heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases are in the picture if your blood cholesterol is too high.

To clarify that statement — high blood cholesterol alone is not necessarily a problem — BUT — if you are a smoker, have high blood pressure or diabetes, are overweight and don’t exercise, it can be a major problem.

What is cholesterol??

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that belongs to the lipid family. Without it, our bodies could not manufacturer a number of important hormones and it also forms the outer membrane of some cells. Our liver produces about 70 — 80% of our cholesterol and we get the rest from the foods we eat.

Why all the talk about high cholesterol??

If we eat a lot of foods that are high in cholesterol, we will have too much in our blood. Because it’s a waxy substance, it tends to get stuck to the walls of our blood vessels. This makes the vessels narrower and sometimes harder. When that happens, your heart has to pump harder to push the blood through your body and this increases your risk of heart disease.

What’s the difference between good and bad cholesterol?

Cholesterol, like fat, cannot move around the body in the blood on its own because fat does not mix with water (the main ingredient in blood), so it hitches a ride with some of the proteins in the blood, called lipoproteins.

There are several types of lipoproteins — very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL); low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

VLDLs are made in the liver and carry fats to different parts of the body. They drop off some of their fat load throughout your body and then become LDLs that then move around your body. These LDLs are called "bad" cholesterol and it’s important to keep these levels low.

HDL carries cholesterol back to the liver. It is called "good" cholesterol because it picks up the fat and keeps it from adhering to the walls of your blood vessels.

How do I keep my cholesterol in check?

• Eat less fat — especially saturated animal fat.
• Keep a healthy body weight — the more you weigh the more your body stores fat and cholesterol.
• Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

How can I make sure I have less fat in my diet?

• Use small amounts of margarine and oils instead of butter and animal fats (like bacon drippings).
• Cut fat off meat before cooking.
• Remove the skin from chicken before cooking.
• Grill meat instead of frying.
• Choose lower fat cheeses such as mozzarella and cottage cheese.
• Use low fat milk (2% or skim).
• Avoid deep-fried foods and eat cake, pastries, cookies and chocolate as an occasional treat instead of every day.

Well — what should I eat???

• Try to eat more fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grain products.
• Include at least two servings of low-fat milk a day.
• Eat fish at least two times a week (preferably fish and shellfish with high fat content such as tuna, salmon and sardines).
• Limit your red meat to about 150g per uncooked weight a day (this is a size that would fit in the palm of your hand).

Beside eating right and exercising — what else can I do?

Don’t smoke, control your blood pressure AND TRY TO REMOVE STRESS FROM YOUR LIFE!!!

HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Food of the Month: Beef

Modest portions let you take advantage of the benefits of beef

After years of switching to poultry and fish, Americans are back at the meat counter in droves. The American Heart Association says it’s OK, but it’s best to choose lean cuts and limit portion size.

Beef tops the food list when it comes to protein content. In addition, it has B vitamins, iron, and other minerals. Consider these benefits:

• Beef stamps out anemia, the most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S. Fatigue, caused by anemia, is the primary reason people see a doctor.
• It perks up your zinc reserves, which keeps the immune system working well.
• It provides the full bouquet of B vitamins, including B12 for tissue repair; B6 for immunity; niacin required by the skin, nerves, and digestive system; and thiamin that the body uses to convert blood sugar into energy.

When buying beef and other meats, keep grades in mind. The select grade has the least fat. Choice has more fat than select and is the most common grade in supermarkets. Prime has the most fat and is usually found in restaurants or specialty meat counters. For the leanest cuts in any grade, look for "loin" or "round" in the name, such as sirloin and round steak.

Know what kind of sinus infection you have and what to do about it

But when a cold settles into the sinuses, something else can happen. Fluids in the warm, dark sinus cavities are a perfect place for bacteria to grow. Even if an illness starts out viral, it could become "superinfected" with bacteria and require antibiotic treatment.

Doctors at Harvard Medical School say sinusitis is the term for any inflammation of the membranes that line the nasal sinuses. But sinusitis is often used to mean bacterial sinusitis, rather than inflammation of the sinuses.

Diagnosing whether a sinus infection is viral or bacterial is difficult. In both types, pain and colored mucus are present. In a viral infection, however, pain tends to be generalized. Pain from bacterial sinusitis tends to be in one spot. Otolaryngologist Dr. Jo Shapiro describes it as "like having a toothache in your face."

Duration may be the leading clue for diagnosis. If you’ve been sick for more than a week, or if symptoms get worse after five days, a bacterial infection has piggybacked on a viral one, and antibiotics are needed.

• Drink plenty of water.
• Take hot showers. Inhaling hot water vapor loosens secretions.
• Use a decongestant spray for up to four days.
• Take a decongestant pill or syrup that contains pseudoephedrine. If you have a heart condition or high blood pressure ask your doctor if it’s OK to take it.

Study summary shows benefits of aspirin

Based on the combined evidence of 17 large studies reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, aspirin’s benefits outweigh its disadvantages. In people without previous heart disease, aspirin reduced the risk of heart attack and death from heart disease by 28 percent.

Doctors quoted in the HealthNews say it is worthwhile to take aspirin daily if you are in one of these categories.

Check with your doctor before starting. Aspirin increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and strokes caused by bleeding.

February is Heart Month

To live longer, work that body

Exercise can help to prevent cardiovascular disease. Increasing your level of activity decreases the risk of death.

It also reduces the risk of developing conditions that often lead to heart disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. It can lower blood pressure among people with hypertension. It can prevent obesity through weight loss and weight control. Obesity is now well known as an independent risk factor for the development of heart disease.

Recent studies reported in the New England Journal of Medicine show that physical fitness may be even more important to health than quitting smoking or avoiding diabetes. People with the greatest capacity of exercise live the longest, according to the studies.

FYI

Fall Health Benefit Seminar Planned

We are pleased to announce that plans are now underway for a Health Benefit Plan Seminar, October 19 through 22, 2003 at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Details about the structure of the classes (there will be some new and exciting changes made!), as well as registration information will be included in future issues of the HBR Report.

While this is not expected to be a yearly event, it will prove to be an excellent opportunity for new Health Benefit Representatives, as well as experienced ones, to catch up on the workings of the Plan and to learn of the benefit changes for the 2004 benefit year.

So, mark your calendars now and we are looking forward to seeing you all again
in October!

Publication available

The pamphlet "It’s Time to Decide About Health Insurance," used to inform new hires about the NALC Health Benefit Plan, has been reviewed to reflect the Plan’s changes for the new benefit year.

You can obtain a supply of the pamphlet by calling the Plan’s toll free number
(1-888-636-6252) and request a copy.