Provide incentives for employees to get active and eat right

Incentives can both support and motivate participation among employees. Consider both formal or company incentives and informal or program rewards and prizes from local resources to reinforce participation in workplace wellness programs. Either way, it is important to provide incentives that are attractive and meaningful to your employees.

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If you have a child, you’ve probably heard those familiar words, “Can we keep him?” Dog’s aren’t just a man’s best friend anymore; they’ve become the whole family’s friend. If you’re like any typical family, the children will probably spend the most time with your new dog. This is why it’s very important you teach your child how to take care of him. Here are a few dog rules to teach them:

1. Make sure you remember to feed the dog and give him fresh water each day. Explain that dogs, especially puppies, need nutrition each day for energy and proper growth. If you have an outside dog, it’s especially important that his water dish is changed everyday. Standing water is a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also dirt can get flung into their dish. It is equally important for small children to be supervised when dealing with this type of responsibility. Sometimes smaller children can be too eager to help. Explain to your children why we don’t feed dog’s certain foods such as sweets. Dog food is made to meet their dog’s nutritional needs and sweets can make their dog sick.

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Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness. Blue Cross Blue Shield is making flu shots available to eligible members with preventive care benefits. (The flu shot is subject to any applicable copayment, deductible or coinsurance.)

H1N1 Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment

Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1
influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will
likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is
a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness.
Flu symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms may also
include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. It is hard
to tell if someone who is sick has the 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.
Prevention will play a very key role this year. Prevention includes protecting yourself
and NOT spreading the disease to others. Here’s what you should do:

Prevent:
• A cough or sneeze may be the first symptom of illness. Therefore, every
time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw
used tissues in the trash.
• If you develop flu symptoms, make arrangements to go home as soon as
possible.
• Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have fever (100
degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very
warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). Checking for absence of a
fever should be determined without the use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Hand washing protects yourself and others, so wash your hands often,
especially after you cough or sneeze, or:
o Before and after preparing food or eating.
o After using the restroom.
o Before and after touching your nose, eyes or mouth.
o After you’ve been in contact with commonly touched surfaces such as
doorknobs and handrails.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
o Use alcohol-based hand cleaners if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to prevent spreading germs.

Vaccinate:
• Get the vaccine for seasonal flu – usually available in October – to prevent or
decrease the severity of the flu.

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As March rolls in like a lion and out like a lamb, we are all sure to find ourselves spending more time enjoying the April showers bringing May flowers.  Keep in mind these helpful sun protection and safety tips!  The following recommendations are brought to us by the Center for Diease Control and Prevention (CDC)http://www.cdc.gov/Cancer/skin/basic_info/howto

“Summer is a great time to have fun outdoors. It’s also a time to take precautions to avoid sunburns, which can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Most forms of skin cancer can be cured. However, the best way to avoid skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun.

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There is a new look to oranges at your local produce department!  Cutie is a delectable, hybrid child of a sweet orange crossed with a Chinese Mandarin.  They are the perfect child-friendly size, seedless and easy to peel!  No poking and picking before popping it in your mouth.  Moms and Dads are always searching for a nutritional, wholesome and healthy snack!  Cuties might just be your child’s new favorite on-the-go snack.

Good nutritional habits begin early and by example.  Reward yourself and your child by leading that example and exposing them to healthy choices.  These choices could pay off for your entire family’s health and wallet.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina rewards good health as well through their Blue Points reward program and their 15% healthy discount.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Adults (19-64 years)

Adults ages 19 to 64 should visit their doctor for a routine check-up every one to three years.

Routine screening and testing

Height and weight (body mass index-screening for healthy weight)
Blood pressure
Vision
Chlamydia for women (up to age 24)
Cholesterol every 5 years, if normal
Colon cancer (1) starting at age 50
Mammogram every year for women ages 40 and over
Pap smear every year for women (testing less often may be recommended by your physician)
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Tips for R and R on the Waterway!

Nothing could be more pleasing than having a nice and a peaceful journey in the cool waters down the intracoastal waterway on a boat.  Many homeowners all over the world like to spend their weekends relaxing on their boats with family and friends. Boating is one of the most favorite  pastimes for many Americans. “Getaway” could be defined as: “we’re outta here”,  or perhaps “we gotta find ourselves all over again”.  When life gets hectic, you need time away to “Relax” which is defined as: “a slower pace”, “a starry night”, “looking out over the water”, sit back and enjoy the tranquility of being on the water.   This can be very relaxing, especially since health scientists feel that simply looking at the water can help lower your blood pressure and relieve stress. This can make for a healthier life and a happier person. (more…)

According to a recent article from The New Times, napping may improve your memory.  In a world where everyone seems to be sleep deprived, we certainly can benefit from a little extra sleep once in a while.  Not only do we feel better, but maybe we can improve our memory as well!

 “Take a nap.  Interrupting sleep seriously disrupts memory-making, compelling new research suggests.  But on the flip side, taking a nap may boost a sophisticated kind of memory that helps us see the big picture and get creative.  Over time, a chronic lack of sleep can erode the body in ways that leave us more vulnerable to heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses.  But perhaps more common than insomnia is fragmented sleep- the easy awakening that comes with aging, or worse, the sleep apnea that afflicts millions, whop quit breathing for 30 seconds or so over and over throughout the night.  Indeed, (more…)

You get out what you put in

For the sedentary people in your workforce, exercising a full hour each day might seem like too big a hill to climb. But new approaches show that people can adjust their exercise time, if they’re willing to adjust their expectations accordingly.

Thirty minutes a day? Much better than the “zero minutes” many people put in.

Sixty minutes? Now you’re managing your weight, probably losing some and reducing your risk of dying by another 10 to 15 percent.

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Save up to 25% on weight management programs

Reaching and keeping your weight management goals requires an approach built around both diet and exercise. That’s why Get Fit Blue offers eligible BCBSNC members discounts on nutrition and fitness products, programs and services, and information to keep you informed on the latest fitness and nutrition news.

With Get Fit Blue, members can save money on fitness and nutrition tools. Get discounts on:

Up to 25% off at participating North Carolina hospital weight management programs
Up to 20% off LA Weight Loss weight management programs in North Carolina
Scales, heart rate monitors, body fat analyzers, blood pressure monitors and electronic pulse massagers
Nutrition counseling
Cooking instruction
Personal training
Gym memberships
Health-related magazines
Nutrition and fitness information
Quarterly nutrition and fitness articles written by nutritionists and personal trainers
Calorie counters
Body/mass index calculators

For more information on North Carolina health insurance, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional authorized agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health, call all our office for details.

Get Fit Blue is a program sponsered by BCBSNC.  The content of this post is reprinted from Blue Cross & Blue Sheild of North Carolina.

Did you know that you can save 40% on dietary supplements?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina knows dietary supplements are an important part of your daily life. That’s why they offer BCBSNC members Vita Blue, our dietary supplement discount program.

Vita Blue gives you savings on a broad selection of vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements. They’ve teamed up with MotherNature.com a company known for quality, all-natural health and beauty products, to provide supplements for men, women, seniors, children and pets. With Vita Blue, you’ll find the right supplements for everyone in your family.

You’ll be able to choose from over 100 different supplements at about 40 percent off the average drug store, retail and mail-order prices. When you order select products, you’ll also receive 50 percent off the second bottle of the same supplement. So, the more you order, the more you save! Plus, you pay no standard shipping costs on orders of $49 or more.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Vita Blue is a program sponsered by BCBSNC.  The content of the post was reprinted from Blue Cross & Blue Sheild of North Carolina.

Preventive Health Care