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Wellness Tips

2025 Monthly Tips

  • Stress Awareness Month

    S.T.R.E.S.S… a combination of physical and mental pressure that can be hard to shake off. April is Stress Awareness Month, and experts are noticing that stress is more harmful than many of us realize.

    Chronic stress hurts the body systems. Long-term stress can lead to cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and increased risk of stroke. The endocrine system can become imbalanced by a hormonal shift and cause chronic fatigue, diabetes, obesity, depression and immune disorders. The female reproductive system can be impacted by irregular and painful menstrual cycles and potential infertility. Gastrointestinal system can temporarily cause bloating, nausea, stomach pain, changes in appetite or long-term stress can worsen the short-term problems, weaken intestinal barriers, and release gut bacteria into the body. The male reproductive system can impact partners ability to conceive and more. Musculoskeletal system is impacted by muscle tension, headaches, migraine, back pain and chronic pain in other parts of the body.

    There are ways to cope with stress: deep breathing exercises, physical activity, spending time outside, eating healthy, mindfulness and meditation, and adequate sleep.

     
    Skin Cancer & Early Detection

    Throughout the month of April, there are numerous opportunities for everyone to join in raising awareness, inspiring action, and celebrating the strides we’ve made together. Here’s how you can get involved:

    1. Spread Awareness: Use your voice and platform to raise awareness about the importance of cancer prevention and early detection.
    2. Promote Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that can reduce their risk of developing cancer.
    3. Participate in Screening Programs: Take proactive steps to prioritize your health by participating in cancer screening programs recommended for your age and risk factors.
    4. Support Research and Innovation: Support cancer research initiatives and organizations dedicated to advancing innovative treatments, diagnostic tools, and prevention strategies.
    5. Engage with Community Events: Attend or organize community events, fundraisers, and awareness campaigns dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. From charity walks and educational seminars to health fairs and volunteer opportunities, there are countless ways to make a meaningful impact in your local community.
    6. Advocate for Policy Change: Advocate for policies that prioritize cancer prevention, early detection, and access to affordable healthcare services.
    7. Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Cancer: Education is key to early detection and timely treatment. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of various types of cancer, as early detection can significantly improve outcomes.

    For more information, free preventive guides and more visit: https://spottingcancer.org

    Earth Day at Work: Workplace Sustainability

    April 22nd is recognized as an annual event to raise awareness of protecting the planet and the surrounding environmental issues. There are opportunities to volunteer within your communities that may include: cleaning up the parks, cleaning up the beaches, cleaning up the local sidewalks and more! However, if you are at work and cannot participate physically here are some tips: 

    • Start a recycling or composting program
    • Add office plants
    • Reduce & reuse- remove plastic products from the kitchens, in exchange for sustainable options
    • Implement remote work
    • Implement a paid volunteer day (Bonus if it’s on Earth Day!)
    • Go digital- reduce the use of printing and paper products
    • Run a sustainability challenge- learn about the environmental impact of your choices, develop sustainable habits and incentivize for completion efforts

Mindfulness Resources

Visit Mindful Moments for a library full of 40+ mindfulness and relaxation resources to help you through your busy days.

Track Food and Exercise

Living the healthiest life you can is good for you and for your family. One of the ways to track your progress toward a healthy lifestyle is by writing down the food you eat and the exercise you get every day.

Click Here for a printable Nutrition Log to record your healthy eating habits.

Click Here for a printable Exercise Log and record the physical activities that you incorporate into your day.

Share these logs with others to encourage their healthy lifestyles too.

Smoking Cessation

Living tobacco-free enhances your quality of life and the quality of life for others. If you currently use tobacco, NY44 supports your efforts to break the tobacco habit.

Smoking cessation prescription drugs are part of The Pharmacy Plan under your NY44 Medical Coverage. If you are covered by The Plan, follow these steps to participate in a smoking cessation program.

  1. The enrollee’s provider will need to obtain prior authorization from Capital Rx prior to use, documenting the enrollee’s participation in an approved smoking cessation program. The initial prior authorization will be valid for one month and will be extended based upon documentation of the enrollee’s continued participation and compliance in the smoking cessation program.
  2. The following prescription drugs are available on the drug formulary:
    • $30 Co-pay Tier 3: Nicotrol® Inhaler, Nicotrol® NS and Zyban®.
    • $0 Co-Pay Tier 1: Bupropion SR (generic Zyban)
    • $0 Co-pay Tier 1: Chantix® (as of 7-1-11)
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