1. MAY AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION For the month of May, we will focus on prevention. The following pages contain verbiage, tips, a printable poster and other articles and resources that you can reference and share with your co-workers and employees.

2. WHAT AND WHY: It is time for a reality check. We live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, yet the average life expectancy in the U.S. is far below many other nations that spend less on health care each year. Seven out of 10 of us will die from a chronic disease, namely, heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, respiratory diseases and oral conditions. What is even more startling than that is that most of this is preventable. Four modifiable health risk behaviors - lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption - are responsible for much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic disease. [INSERT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MONTH’S ACTIVITY, WHERE TO SIGN UP AND HOW TO START.]

3. IDEAS FOR ACTIVITIES: Arrange health risk assessments for your team members Have team members schedule (and attend) their annual physical examination Identify one biometric number that is out of range or too high or low for your liking and write out a plan to change it

4. ARTICLES: What is metabolic syndrome: http://www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/metabolic- syndrome-what-is-ithttp://www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/metabolic- syndrome-what-is-it OTHER RESOURCES: What to expect during your annual physical: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/annual- physical-examinationshttp://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/annual- physical-examinations Adult health maintenance guidelines: http://www.wellmark.com/HealthAndWellness/WellnessResources/docs/AdultPreventiveHealt hGuidelines.pdf http://www.wellmark.com/HealthAndWellness/WellnessResources/docs/AdultPreventiveHealt hGuidelines.pdf Back to School, Back to the Doctor: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages- stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/Back-to-School-Back-to-the-Doctor.aspxhttp://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages- stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/Back-to-School-Back-to-the-Doctor.aspx

5. THE MORE YOU KNOW! 25 TIPS, TIDBITS OF TRIVIA AND TWEETS ABOUT STRESS. SHARE ONE VIA EMAIL EACH DAY OR POST THEM NEXT TO THE WATER COOLER. 1.Have a Health Maintenance Exam every 5 years if you are 18-39 years old, every 2-3 years if you are 40-49, and every 1-2 years if you are 50-65. 2.If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89, have it checked yearly. If it is lower than 120/80, once every two years is fine. 3.The American Cancer Society recommends a mammogram each year for women after age 40. 4.Colonoscopy / colon cancer testing recommended for men and women at the age of 50. 5.Healthful meal and snack options can help you avoid high blood pressure and its complications. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. 6.The right preventive care at every stage of life helps all Americans stay healthy, avoid or delay the onset of disease, keep diseases they already have from becoming worse or debilitating, lead productive lives, and reduce costs. 7.Receiving routine vaccinations in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations can help prevent diseases such as measles, chicken pox, or meningitis, as well as flu and certain kinds of pneumonia.

6. MORE TIPS: 8.Diseases are becoming rare due to vaccinations. Some diseases (like polio and diphtheria) are becoming very rare in the U.S, but immunization can keep those diseases from spreading again. 9.Health problems are a major drain on the economy, resulting in 69 million workers reporting missed days due to illness each year. 10.Your insurance may cover costs for certain visits and preventive screenings to detect disease in early stages, when it is most treatable. 11.Counseling, screening, wellness visits, prenatal care, etc., can improve health and reduce costs by preventing illness. 12.Men are advised to begin regular cholesterol checks at age 35 and continue to have one every five years. 13.Women should begin regular cholesterol checkups at age 45.

7. MORE TIPS: 14.The American Heart Association recommends adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol and other risk factors checked every 4 to 6 years. 15.Desirable cholesterol levels are less than 200 mg/dL, borderline high is 200-239 mg/dL, and high levels would be 240 mg/dL and above. 16.Going to the doctor each year to get a basic rundown of your vital statistics is a good way to stay on top of your numbers. If things change, your doctor will know in a timely manner, which increases the chance that treatment will be successful. 17.Women should begin receiving pap smears within 3 years of starting sexual activity or by age 21, and screening every 3 years thereafter. 18.Men should start getting a colonoscopy at age 50, but may need to be screened earlier if they have a family history of colorectal cancer. 19.Tetanus shot should begin at 18 years-old and should be renewed every 10 years.

8. MORE TIPS: 20.Follow a healthy lifestyle, including keeping your weight in normal range (BMI under 25), being physically active (at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise), minimizing alcohol intake (one drink a day or less), and not smoking. 21.Experts recommend a one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening for men ages 65 to 75 who have smoked at any point in their lives. 22. A flu shot is recommended yearly for everyone, 6 months of age and older. 23.Two different pneumonia vaccines are recommended if you're 65 or older. The vaccine is also recommended if you have diabetes, liver disease, asthma, any other type of lung disease, or problems with your immune system. 24.A shingles vaccine is recommended if you're 60 or older.

9. APPENDIX: We can’t take all of the credit. In compiling this information, we referenced the following organizations and websites: www.cdc.gov www.wellmark.com www.webmd.com www.nj.com www.healthline.com www.heart.org www.nlm.nih.gov healthyliving.azcentral.com www.healthywomen.org www.fredhutch.org