Health Tips

There is more to an eye exam than just checking your visual clarity and improving your eyesight. Regular eye exams are also an important part of finding eye diseases early and preserving your vision.

Here are some reasons why you should visit your eye doctor every year, even if you don’t wear glasses or contacts.

Detect early signs of chronic diseases

Your eyes reveal a lot about your overall wellness. An eye exam can detect early signs of serious health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Regular eye exams are critical because what may seem like a vision-related problem might be an indication of a broader health concern.

Some eye diseases are symptom free

Diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration tend to have no early warning signs. Getting an annual eye exam can help detect health conditions before they progress and may help preserve your vision.

Vision may not be as clear

You may think your vision is clear, but many people are often surprised to discover they aren’t seeing as well as they thought they were. An eye exam can reveal if you need glasses or contacts or an update to your current prescription to ensure you are seeing as clearly as possible.

If you are enrolled in Crown’s vision coverage provided by VSP, go to vsp.com and use the Find a Doctor tool to locate a VSP network eye doctor near you.

Skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. Most skin cancer cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Fortunately, skin cancer is also the cancer you can see, making it one of the most preventable forms of cancer.

That’s why the Skin Cancer Foundation launched The Big See^®, a campaign to inspire you to open your eyes, get to know your skin, look in the mirror and keep these 3 words in mind: NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL.

• Keep an eye out for any NEW moles or blemishes that have surfaced.
• Always check if your spots are CHANGING in color, shape, size, or texture.
• Look for spots that are UNUSUAL in outline, or continuously itch, hurt, crust, or bleed for more than 3 weeks.

 Reduce Your Risk

• Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Wear sun-protective clothing, such as a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible.
• Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

Visit thebigsee.org. and learn more about skin cancer and The Big See^®.

Take Charge. Live Well!

These unprecedented times have presented many new challenges at home and at work.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Behavioral Health Systems (BHS) is always available as a source of information and emotional support for you and your dependents when needed.

EAP services can address a variety of topics including:

• Stress, anxiety, and depression
• Budgeting and financial worries
• Childcare or elder care issues
• Substance or alcohol abuse
• Relationship issues
• Quitting tobacco
• Grief and loss

As a reminder, the EAP is available to Crown full- and part-time employees and their eligible Dependents (spouse and dependent children). Each are eligible for 5 in-network EAP visits per calendar year with no out-of-pocket expenses billed to the participant.

Contact your EAP Care Coordinator at 800-245-1150 and connect with a trained professional that will provide the direction you need in any situation.

You may also request an appointment online by visiting the BHS MemberAccess portal at www.behavioralhealthsystems.com. Use CROWN as the Employer ID.

Take Charge. Live Well!

Eat a healthy breakfast. Eating early in the day fuels your body allowing you to have the energy for the day ahead.

Manage portion sizes. Fill half of your plate with vegetables, one quarter of your plate with whole grains, and one quarter of your plate with lean meat.

Eat regularly. Just like your car, your body needs refueling to properly function. Eat at least three meals spaced throughout the day.

Add fresh fruit. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a low-calorie, high-fiber snack of fresh fruit. Fruit is also loaded with vitamins and minerals to support your immune system.

Make the water switch. Substitute soda, juice, sweet tea, and energy drinks for what your body really needs – water.

Skip the drive-thru and delivery. While it is easy and convenient to order food to-go, most fast food is high in fat, sugar, and sodium.

Eat more vegetables. Adding vegetables will help you feel full longer as well as give you a nutritious boost of vitamins and minerals. Fresh and frozen veggies are both equally nutritious.

Don’t forget the beans and peas. Beans and peas are high in fiber and loaded with essential nutrients including magnesium, which helps support immune function.

Chunk the junk food. These foods add extra calories with very little nutrition in return. Enjoy these snacks as treats for special occasions.

March is National Nutrition Month. Visit healthwise.employee.crown for more healthy eating tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Take Charge. Live Well!

Everyone feels overwhelmed at times. But too much stress can be hard on your health, so it is important to find way to offset those negative effects.

Here are a few healthy habits, from healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente_®, that can help you stay cool under pressure, even when you’re pressed for time.

Sweat more, stress less.

Symptoms of stress can create a vicious cycle between your mind and body. Exercise helps to break this cycle by relieving tension and releasing feel-good brain chemicals that fight the effects of stress.

Take a break to breathe.

When stress strikes, try a few minutes of deep breathing. Breathe in for a count of 5, hold for 5, and exhale for 5. Repeat 10 times or until you start feeling more calm, grounded, and focused.

Unplug to recharge.

Your phone needs time to recharge, so does your brain. Disconnecting from digital noise for a little while each day can help you stress less, sleep better, and spend time doing more rewarding activities.

Visit kp.org/stressmanagement to learn additional ways to manage stress, before it manages you.

As we welcome 2021, continue your focus on maintaining physical, emotional, and financial health, as they play an important part in your overall wellbeing.

Earn the $130 HealthWise Credit (HWC)

All full-time Crown employees are eligible to earn an additional $130 ($5/pay) in 2021.

To earn the HWC, chose one of the following options:

• Complete the online and confidential Financial Wellness Tracker Assessment offered through Merrill at ml.com by 3/31/2021.
• Provide documentation of a Preventive Care Service completed between 1/1/2020 – 3/31/2021, such as a flu shot or dental exam, before 3/31/2021.

Participation is voluntary. Visit healthwise.employee.crown to learn more.

Schedule your Preventive Care Exams

Preventive care is an important step in managing your health and controlling health care costs.

Visit healthfinder.gov and see which screening tests and immunizations are needed based on your age and gender.

Remember the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The EAP provides confidential services for a variety of life situations, including the emotional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crown employees and their dependents are each eligible for 5 EAP visits per calendar year. Call BHS at 800-245-1150 to access your benefit. These visits can be used for a variety of services with no out-of-pocket expenses.

Take Charge. Live Well!

Since the beginning of COVID-19, holidays, special events, picnics and celebrations have changed dramatically. However, there are various ways to find peace and moments of joy during this holiday season.

• Celebrate the Season.
  There’s no denying that things will be different this year. There will be some things that we are unable to do right now. Continue to focus on the true meaning of the holiday season.

• Acknowledge Your Feelings
  Identify and respect your own needs and concerns and communicate your feelings with trusted family and friends.

• Practice Gratitude
  While it may seem difficult to find things to appreciate, there is still plenty to be thankful for. Celebrate the technology that allows families to still be “together” this holiday season.

• Find Purpose
  Volunteering your time or doing something to help others is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your perspective. 

• Access Your EAP Benefit
  With the increased stress and anxiety of the holiday, don’t hesitate to connect with your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The EAP offered through BHS is a confidential service available to help Crown employees and their dependents through any of life’s challenges. BHS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 800-245-1150.

Let’s all focus on the doing the right thing this year so we can celebrate special events and the holidays with our families in a more traditional way next year.

Happy Holidays!

Take Charge. Live Well!

The main job of the neck, or cervical spine, is to support the head. This is no small feat given that the head can weigh as much as 11 pounds. That’s why how you hold your head matters.

Neck pain can result from mechanical disorders, pinched nerves, osteoarthritis, and whiplash-related injuries. However, we are more likely to develop neck pain from static activities, such as driving, sitting in front of a computer screen, or scrolling through social media for prolonged periods of time. Neck strain also may occur after sleeping in an awkward position.

Follow these tips to help support your neck and prevent or reduce pain.

• Pay attention to your body to identify strain and stiffness and what may be the cause.
• Practice good posture; keep your back straight, chest up and neck upright. Stretch your back and shoulders and gently move your neck forward and back, and left and right often throughout the day.
• Be careful how you use your phone or tablet device. Cradling your phone while talking or bending the head forward while looking down to read a phone or tablet can contribute to neck strains or text neck.
• Don’t stay in one position for too long. Get up and move around often to avoid getting stuck in unhealthy positions.
• Sleep on your back or side with good support from your pillow and mattress.
• As with any other part of your body, daily exercises and stretches can keep the muscles in your neck strong and maintain cervical mobility.

Take Charge. Live Well!

As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we recognize what stress looks like, take appropriate steps to build resiliency, and know where to turn for help when needed.

Recognize Stress

• Feeling sad or depressed
• Feeling irritation, anger, or in denial
• Feeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious
• Lacking motivation or inability to concentrate
• Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or having trouble sleeping

Build Resiliency

• Communicate with your family and friends. Talk about your feelings and enjoy conversation unrelated to this pandemic.
• Focus on what is in your power to control and accept that there are some things that you cannot change.
• Take care of your physical self. Our mind and body are connected, so taking care of your physical well-being is good for your emotional well-being as well.
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Constant consumption of the news will cause stress and anxiety.
• Be kind and thoughtful about others. We are all in an unusual situation.

Connect with EAP

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Behavioral Health Systems (BHS) provides confidential services for a variety of life situations, including the emotional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crown employees and their dependents are each eligible for 5 EAP visits per calendar year. These visits can be used for a variety of services with no out-of-pocket expenses. Call BHS at 800-245-1150 to access your benefit or to learn more about the EAP.

 Take Charge. Live Well!

As we move into fall allergy season with the coronavirus still active, it is important not to confuse allergies for the disease. If you suffer from allergies every year, ask yourself these questions:

• • Are these my classic allergy symptoms?
  • Do I get these symptoms around the same time every year?
  • Am I taking my allergy medications regularly and appropriately?

Seasonal allergies and COVID-19 do share many symptoms. However, there are some distinct differences between the two:

• Symptoms of COVID-19 commonly presents with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and muscle aches. This combination of symptoms is not typical for seasonal allergies.
• Symptoms of seasonal allergies tend to affect the nose and eyes. When a sensitive person inhales an allergen, the body’s immune system may react with several symptoms including:
  • Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
  • Itching, usually in the nose, mouth, eyes, or throat
  • Puffy, swollen eyelids
  • Sneezing and coughing
  • In certain people, it can trigger asthma symptoms

The image below from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compares some of the symptoms caused by allergies and COVID-19.

As with any disease or illness, symptoms can vary between person to person. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, the best way to protect yourself is to reduce your exposure to pollen. It is important for you to stay up to date with the pollen levels in your area. If you feel your symptoms might be something more than seasonal allergies, contact your healthcare provider.

Take Charge. Live Well!