Health Tips

February is recognized as American Heart Month to bring awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic group in the United States.

With cardiovascular health there are certain risk factors that are out of our control: age, gender, ethnicity, and family history. However, there are many risk factors we can control:

• High Blood Pressure – The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart must work to pump blood. This causes your heart muscle to thicken and become stiff causing the heart to function abnormally.  Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
• High Blood Cholesterol – If too much bad cholesterol (LDL) is circulating in your blood, it can build up on the artery walls. This buildup can cause blood clots to get trapped leading to a heart attack or stroke.  LDL levels should be below 100 mg/dl or lower.
• Smoking – Nicotine, one of the chemicals in cigarettes and e-cigarettes, causes your heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise. Smoking also promotes buildup of plaque in your arteries making it more likely for clots to form.
• Physical Inactivity – Being active can help control blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and obesity. Adults should aim for a least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity – such as brisk walking.
• Obesity/being overweight – Individuals are more likely to develop heart disease if they have excess body fat, especially if the weight is at the waist. A 3% to 5% reduction in weight may lead to significant reduction in some risk factors.  Using a combination of nutrition and physical activity is the most effective way to lose weight effectively.

Individuals looking for more information about cardiovascular health, please reach out to the HealthWise department at healthwise@crown.com or 419-629-2220 ext. 12302

Take Charge. Live Well!

When it comes to one’s health, individuals typically are reactive instead of proactive which can lead to negative outcomes – undiagnosed medical conditions, increased medical costs, and untreated health risks. The single biggest action one can do is to take ownership of their health by participating in preventive health screenings. This participation will equip you and your medical providers with the knowledge to better understand your health and develop a plan for a better you.

Why participate in preventive screenings?
By participating in preventive care, individuals detect medical conditions early, lower their health risks, and develop a plan to help keep a potential issue under control.

What screenings should I participate in?
There are a wide range of screening guidelines based on gender, age, and health history. Consult with your doctor to develop a strategy tailored to your unique needs.

Did you know many preventive screenings are covered at 100%?
If you are enrolled in a medical insurance plan offered through Crown and are unsure if a preventive screening is covered in full, please reach out to your insurance provider:

Kickstart 2023 by having a discussion with your doctor on what preventive screenings could be beneficial for you!

Take Charge. Live Well!

Crown is pleased to announce that the HealthWise Screening Program is returning this fall. This program is voluntary, confidential, and available at no cost to all regular, full-time Crown employees.

The program includes a wellness screening and online health questionnaire. By participating in the program, you will gain an understanding of your current health status and learn your potential risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Knowing important heart health numbers and understanding how lifestyle choices impact health is vital to maintaining good health.

The wellness screening includes a blood pressure check and a blood draw for a lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and Hemoglobin A1C.

The online health questionnaire is administered by Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness and asks questions about your general health habits.

If you choose to participate in the program, you will be eligible to earn the HealthWise Credit (HWC) of $130 ($5 per pay period) in 2023 by completing both the wellness screening and online health questionnaire by 12/31/2022.

Visit the HealthWise website at healthwise.employee.crown for additional information on the HealthWise Screening Program.

Take Charge. Live Well!

Take Care of You

All during August, National Wellness Month focuses on self-care, managing stress and promoting healthy routines. Create wholesome habits in your lifestyle all month long and see how much better you feel.

Research has shown self-care helps manage stress and promotes happiness. Whether you challenge yourself to begin an exercise program or try a new stretch, make a small change and impact your health in positive ways.

There are numerous ways to make those small changes, too.

• Increase your water intake
• Monitor your sleep and make adjustments for better sleep habits
• Join a yoga, walking, or aerobics class
• Learn to meditate

These small steps can lead to many more healthy habits in your lifestyle.

Take Charge. Live Well

Protect Yourself – Skin Cancer Prevention

July is Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Month. Skin cancer prevention requires a comprehensive approach to protecting yourself against harmful UV radiation.

That’s because UV radiation from the sun isn’t just dangerous, it’s also sneaky. Not only can it cause premature aging skin cancer, it reaches you when you’re trying to avoid it – penetrating clouds and glass, and bouncing off of snow, water, and sand.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10am and 4pm.
• Don’t get sunburned.
• Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds.
• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Keep newborns out of the sun. Use sunscreen on babies over the age of six months.
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
• See a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.

Visit skincancer.org for more information on UV safety and skin cancer prevention.

Take Charge. Live Well

Play it Safe

National Safety Month is celebrated in June. Play it safe, and beware of Summer Hazards such as:

• Outdoor Grilling – A grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Grills can be very hot, causing burn injuries. Check gas tank hose for leaks by applying a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. Have the grill serviced by a professional before using again.
• Water-Related Injuries – It’s important to know how to be safe while you’re in the water, when at the lake, pool, or beach.
• Lightening – No place outside is safe when a thunderstorm is in the area. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to pose an immediate threat.
• Ticks and Chiggers – Ticks live in tall grasses and weeds, wooded areas, and leaf litter. Ticks can’t jump or fly, so they just wait for an animal to brush up against whatever they’re perched on. Also known as red bugs and harvest mites, chiggers are so small that they’re hard to see with the naked eye. Chiggers are found in moist, grassy areas like lawns, fields, and forests. Chigger bites produce itchy, red bumps on the skin.
• Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac – When your skin touches poison ivy, oak, or sumac, you develop an itchy rash. The rash is an allergic reaction to urushiol, a plant oil. To avoid an itchy rash, scrub exposed skin with Dawn Dishwashing Soap.
• Flip-Flop Injuries – Flip-flops should only be worn for short-term use, like at the beach, around swimming pools, or in showers and locker rooms at the fitness center.
• Lawn Mower Injuries – To avoid lawn mower injuries be sure to maintain your lawn mower, operate your lawn mower properly, use caution when operating your lawn mower, and consider the terrain.
• Food-Borne Illnesses – Food poisoning is common, costly, and preventable. You can get food poisoning after swallowing food that has been contaminated with a variety of germs or toxic substances. To avoid food poisoning clean, separate, cook, and chill foods as recommended.

Visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on health & safety.

Take Charge. Live Well

Eye on Healthy Vision

Healthy Vision Month is celebrated every year in May to stress the
importance of the health of our eyes. This month was established by the
National Eye Institute in 2003 and aims to spread awareness and educate
people on the risks of ignoring the health of their eyes. To protect your eyes,
do the following:

1. Wear sunglasses. Protect you eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses – even on cloudy days! Be sure to look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
2. Wear protective eyewear. Safety glasses and goggles are designed to protect your eyes during certain activities, like playing sports, doing construction work, or doing home repairs. You can buy them from most eye care providers and some sporting goods stores.
3. Give your eyes a rest. Looking at a computer for a long time can tire out your eyes. Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20  minutes to look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
4. If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Always wash your hands before you put your contact lenses and replace them regularly.

Visit the National Eye Institute for more information on how to keep your eyes
healthy, or VSP for information about your vision benefit and additional
resources.

Take Charge. Live Well

Coping with Stress

April is Stress Awareness Month, brought to us by the American Counseling Association (ACA). To celebrate, try these creative ways to reduce stress.

1. Paint, craft, and be artistic. Being creative can produce Serotonin which can help to reduce stress.
2. Chew gum. Chewing gum may reduce cortisol levels and alleviate stress.
3. Get your hug on. Hugs may help to reduce blood pressure, and stress in adults.
4. Breathe deeply. The act of focusing on a simple process like breathing may help to reduce stress and anxiety.
5. Get your heart rate up – in a good way! Exercise can cause an endorphin release that can dramatically reduce stress.
6. Laughter help you reduce stress and increase your energy levels.
7. Get a massage. Massage can help you to reduce stress.
8. Play some tunes. Music can help you to relax and reduce stress.
9. Write, keep a journal. Journaling has meditative qualities.
10. Join your pet in some good animal-bonding time.

Visit National Wellness Institute to learn more ways to reduce stress or visit  Behavioral Health Systems and enter the Employer ID: crown for a full list of stress resources.

Take Charge. Live Well

You may eat out a lot – many Americans do. People are looking for fast, easy, and good tasting foods to fit a busy lifestyle. Here are tips to help you eat healthy when ordering out.

1. Review and compare nutrition information if it’s available. Menu terms that may indicate an item that is healthier include: baked, braised, broiled, grilled, poached, roasted and steamed.
2. Think about your food choices for the entire day. If you’re planning a special restaurant meal in the evening, have a light breakfast and lunch.
3. Hold the bread or chips until our meal is served. Hunger may drive you to fill up on these foods before your meal arrives.
4. Begin with soup or salad as a way to include more vegetables at mealtime. Follow up with a light main course.
5. Ask for sauces, dressings and toppings to be served “on the side”. Then you control how much you eat.
6. Split our order. Share an extra-large sandwich or main course with a friend or take home for another meal.
7. Boost the nutrition in all types of sandwiches by adding tomato, lettuce, peppers or other vegetables.

March is National Nutrition Month. Visit eatright.org for more helpful tips on Healthy Eating on the Run from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Take Charge. Live Well!