COLONOSCOPY BENEFIT:

IBEW Local 43 & Electrical Contractors Welfare Plan adopted the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation for Preventive Care/Colon Cancer Screening to allow screening for colorectal cancer in adults 45 to 49 years. This is in addition to the current benefit to screen for colorectal coverage in adults age 50 and older. Medicare screening guidelines apply.

HOW TO MANAGE THE WINTERTIME BLUES:

Some people feel the slump at the same time every year, but certain factors can bring on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for the first time. Moving to a new region or a home that receives less light, an especially harsh winter, working the night shift, and physical or emotional stress all predispose you to seasonal mood changes.

According to Sue Pavlovich of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), the following tips could help. “Everyone’s affected differently by SAD, so what works for one person won’t for another,” she says. “But there’s usually something that will help, so don’t give up if the first remedy you try doesn’t work. Just keep trying.”

Keep Active: Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk in the middle of the day could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues.

Get Outside: Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on brighter days. Inside your home, choose pale colors that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.

Keep Warm: Being cold makes you more depressed. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes, and aim to keep your home between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees).

Eat Healthily: A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

See the Light: Some people find light therapy effective for seasonal depression. One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to two hours a day. (Light boxes give out very bright light at least 10 times stronger than ordinary home and office lighting). “Some people find that using a dawn simulator (a bedside light, connected to an alarm clock, that mimics a sunrise and wakes you up gradually) as well as a light box can enhance the beneficial effect,” says Pavlovich.

Take Up a New Hobby: Keeping your mind active with a new interest seems to ward off symptoms of SAD, says Pavlovich. “It could be anything, such as playing bridge, singing, knitting, joining a gym, keeping a journal, or writing a blog. The important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate on,” she adds.

See Your Friends and Family: It’s been shown that socializing is good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while.

COLONOSCOPY BENEFIT:

HOW TO MANAGE THE WINTERTIME BLUES:

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