INSI

DE PAGE 2Embrace Your Health! Stay on top of your health with preventativecare testing.

PAGE 2Coffee Conversations: See dates for sessions onhow to deal with stress.

PAGE 3Question Corner: Common healthcare termsexplained.

PAGE 3Gateway MemberSpotlight: A membershares their positiveexperience.

Late spring and early summer oftenbring fun and sun, but they can alsobring seasonal allergies. For some, thismeans sneezing, coughing, and itchy,watery eyes. For others, it can causemore serious conditions to flare-up,like asthma. To make the most of thewarmer, outdoor-friendly days ahead,it is important to know the symptomsof seasonal allergies, how to treatthem, and how to prevent them.

According to experts, an allergy iswhen your body overreacts tosomething that is harmless to mostpeople. It can trigger a number ofreactions that we call symptoms. Thesesymptoms can include headaches,sneezing, runny nose, itchy, wateryeyes, and coughing.

So, how can we prevent a seasonalallergy reaction? • Know your triggers

(ex: grass, tree, andragweed pollens) andavoid or limit yourinteractions with them.

• Monitor pollen andmold counts on radio,television, newspapers,or online.

• Keep windows and doors shut athome and in your car during allergy season.

• Have a friend or family member doyour gardening, lawn mowing, and weed pulling if you know it stirs up your allergies.

• Stay inside when pollen counts arethe highest. This is usually between5am and 10am.

• Take a shower, washyour hair, and changeyour clothes after being outside.

Despite our best efforts at prevention,sometimes we find ourselves in themiddle of a seasonal allergy flare-up.Here are a few tips to help fight offthe symptoms.• Medications may be helpful

to relieve symptoms.

Cont. on Page 2

Seasonal Allergy ABCs

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

PITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO. 3004

Gateway to Better Health9370 McKnight RoadSuite 300Pittsburgh, PA 15237

We all know that Missouri summersaren’t filled with cool breezes andcomfortable temperatures. Instead, wefrequently have hot, humid weatherthat continues for days and weeks at atime. Here are a few things we can doto beat the heat:

• Drink a lot of water, especiallyduring physical activity. If waterisn’t your favorite, it may behelpful to add flavor with fruits,such as berries, or mint.

• Put on at least SPF 30 sunscreento protect against the sun. Reapplyevery 2 hours if you are outside. Awide-brimmed hat can alsoprotect your head and face.

• Avoid intense activity betweennoon and 3 p.m., the hottest partof the day.

• Wear light colored clothing thatisn’t heavy, choose breathablefabrics like cotton, and wearsunglasses to protect your eyes.

SummerSafety Tips

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?Q: What is the difference between a primary care provider and a specialty care provider?A: A primary care provider gives youroutine care (ex: flu shots, yearly checkup,sickness or injury that is not an emergency,etc.) and decides if you need to see aspecialty care provider. A specialty careprovider gives care for one area or functionof the body, such as cardiology (heartproblems) or orthopedics (bone and jointproblems). Gateway to Better Healthmembers always need a referral from theirprimary care provider to see a specialty careprovider.

Q: What is a referral?A: A referral is when your primary caredoctor sends you to a different doctor(specialty care provider) to help give you a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Q: What is a co-pay?A: A co-pay is a set amount that you pay when you visit the doctor’s office,have a test completed, or pick up a prescription. For Gateway to Better Healthmembers, the co-pay will be $0.50-$3.00.

Did you know there are guidelines on when youshould get preventative health care? Preventativehealth care is care you receive to keep illness,disease, or other health-related problems fromhappening. We’re going to focus on two of these

guidelines: blood pressure andbreast cancer screenings.

• Blood Pressure Screenings: The U.S.Preventative Services Task Force recommendsblood pressure checks for all adults 18 years orolder. You can get this done when you go toyour primary care home for your yearly exam.

• Breast Cancer Screenings: The AmericanCancer Society recommends mammogramsyearly for women between 45 and 54 years old.For women 40 to 44 years old, they can choose

to begin yearly mammograms after speakingwith their doctor. Women 55 years andolder can choose to have mammograms

done every 2 years or can continueon a yearly schedule.

Both mammograms and blood pressurescreenings are covered by Gateway toBetter Health. Talk to you doctor todayabout these important health care prevention toolsand what recommendations are best for you.

We are the product of ourexperiences. Positive experiencesimprove our mood and make us feelhopeful. Bad experiences that aretraumatic or stressful can bring usdown for days, or even years.

There are many in our communityliving with the burden of traumaticexperiences or toxic stress. Thisburden can weigh on ourphysical health and onour mental andspiritual wellbeing.

As individuals and asa community, weshould recognize theentire individual by notseparating the body fromthe mind. We cannot bephysically well unless we are alsomentally and spiritually well.

Healthcare has historically separatedthe body and mind. Patients aretreated by being asked “What’s wrongwith you?” Many providers are now

looking beyond the physicalsymptoms to learn what's occurring in people’s lives that may be causingphysical distress.

We're learning that instead oftreating just the asthma attack, forexample, we need to also address the stress that may have caused thisepisode. There is a community-wide

effort to grow the supportsystems so that we can truly

be well.

Alive and Well STL isworking to build thisdialogue. To be a healthycommunity, we need to

understand each other andaddress the toxic stress that is

making us unhealthy. Alive andWell STL allows us to ask, “Whathappened to you? How did you getto where you are?” Alive and WellSTL wants to help everyonerecognize who they are and how theycan impact someone else. To learnmore, visit www.aliveandwellstl.com.

1. Connect with others2. Stay positive3. Get physically active4. Help others5. Get enough sleep6. Create satisfaction7. Eat well8. Care for your spirit9. Deal with hard times10. Get professional help if you need it

Tips by Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri

Gateway Member Spotlight

FEAT

URE Coffee Conversations

Gateway to Beּמer Health has partnered with Alive & WellSTL to offer “Coffee Conversations.” “Coffee Conversations”are health and wellness sessions designed to help peopledeal with the stress in their everyday lives. Come join us atone of the free sessions listed below:

• “Reaching Resilience”—June 15, 2016, 10:00am-noon,Affinia Healthcare @ 1717 Biddle, St. Louis, MO 63106

• “Living the Life You Dreamed”—September 28, 2016,10:00am-noon, BJK People’s Health Center @ 5701Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112

• “Strategies to Increase Your Happiness and Well-Being” —December 5, 2016, 1:30pm-3:30pm, FamilyCare Health Center @ 401 Holly Hills Avenue, St. Louis,MO 63111

To register for any of these sessions, please call theGateway to Beּמer Health Call Center at 1.888.513.1417.

Did You Know?

Cont. from Page 1

These medications include nasalsprays for mild symptoms, as wellas antihistamine tablets for moresevere symptoms.

• Speak to your doctor about seeingan allergy specialist to receiveallergy shots. These injectionsexpose you to your trigger in smallamounts until you learn to tolerateit on a day to day basis.

Alive & Well STL: A HealthPriority for our Region

Question Corner

We cannot be

physically well

unless we are

also mentally and

spiritually well.

?Live Your Life Well

Each newsletter edition, we are reachingout to a Gateway member to talk abouthow Gateway has impacted their healthcare. Here is one member’s story:

Tell us about yourself?I’m a female hairstylist that is seen by Dr. Heidi Miller at Family Care HealthCenter. I’ve been a Gateway memberfor more than a year.

How has Gateway helped you getneeded health care services?I had a lump on my breast and neededmore extensive tests than usual. If Ihadn’t had Gateway, I wouldn’t havebeen able to get the tests because Icouldn’t afford them. I didn’t have towait long either; the tests were doneright away.

What would you like to tell others about Gateway?Having the program available to peoplewhen they actually need help meansmore than I can express. People that usegovernment programs to get healthcareare often not treated with respect. If youare a member of the Gateway program,people seem to treat you better. I’m soglad I applied for Gateway!

Member OrientationsIf you are a new Gateway to Beּמer Health member, or if youwould like more information about how to use your Gateway toBeּמer Health coverage, please come to one of our scheduled

member orientation sessions. To learn more, or to register forany of these sessions, please call the Gateway to Beּמer HealthCall Center at 1.888.513.1417.

The Funny Bone

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