BENEFIT BYTES
Third Quarter, 2012
Healthy Hints & Consumer Cues
Duneland School Corporation
RE Sutton & Associates, LLC – 11555 N. Meridian Street, Suite 220, Carmel, IN 46032
Adults Need Immunizations, Too
August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a perfect time to promote immunizations and
remind family, friends, and coworkers to get caught up on their shots. Immunizations (or
vaccinations) aren’t just for babies and young kids. We all need shots to help protect us from serious
diseases and illness. Everyone over age 6 months needs a seasonal flu shot every year. Here are
some other shots people need at different ages:
Young children:
Children under age 6 get a series of shots to protect against measles, polio,
chicken pox, and hepatitis.
Preteens:
All 11- and 12-year-olds need shots to help protect against tetanus, diphtheria,
whooping cough, and meningitis. Doctors recommend girls also get the HPV vaccine
to protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer
Your need for immunizations doesn't end when you reach adulthood. Protect yourself and your loved
ones from vaccine-preventable diseases. Be the example!!
Immunizations are NOT just for kids! Regardless of your age, we ALL need immunizations to keep us
healthy. With time, immunity from childhood vaccines can fade and you may be at risk for new and
different diseases. With adulthood comes responsibility, including the need to protect ourselves and
our loved ones.
KEEPING YOUR COOL IN HOT WEATHER
Learn more about heat-related illness and how to stay
cool and well in hot weather.
Getting too hot can make you sick. You can become ill
from the heat if your body can't compensate for it and
properly cool you off. Heat exposure can even kill you: it
caused 8,015 deaths in the United States from 1979 to
2003.
These are the main things affecting your body's ability to
cool itself during extremely hot weather:
 High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat
won't evaporate as quickly, which keeps your body
from releasing heat as fast as it may need to.
 Personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration,
heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation,
sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can
play a role in whether a person can cool off enough
in very hot weather.
FIT FOODS for SUMMER
Summer is in full swing and
whether we’re at the beach or
by the pool, the best foods to
cool us off are often the least
healthy. Here are few healthy
options that will keep you
feeling cool, even when it’s
hot.

Frozen grapes or cherries –
When the temperature
soars, there’s nothing
better than a frozen treat
to cool you down. Instead
of ice cream, have a bag
of frozen grapes or cherries
in the freezer to satisfy your
sweet tooth and keep you
cool.
Here are some facts about which people are at greatest
risk for heat-related illness and what protective actions to
take to prevent illness or death:
 People who are at highest risk are the elderly, the
very young, and people with mental illness and
chronic diseases
 But even young and healthy people can get sick
from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical
activities during hot weather.
 Air-conditioning is the number one protective
factor against heat-related illness and death. If a
home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their
risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public
facilities that are air-conditioned.

Raspberries – Ripe all
summer long, raspberries
are perfect sprinkled over
cereal, blended in
smoothies or tossed in a
summer salad.

Mangos – If you’re craving
something creamy, try
making a mango
smoothie. This tropical treat
is high in fiber and will
thicken up any blended
beverage.
You can take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses,
injuries, and deaths during hot weather:
 Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location
 Drink plenty of fluids.
 Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and
sunscreen.
 Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
 Pace yourself.
 Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
 Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone
do the same for you.
 Do not leave children in cars.
 Check the local news for health and safety updates.
Source: CDC.gov

Watermelon – This thirstquencher is a great
substitute for soda, or the
perfect afternoon snack
after a day in the sun.
Since it’s mostly water, it
contains very few calories.

Unsweetened, iced green
tea – Stay cool by the pool
while sipping this long-time
favorite. It can lower your
cholesterol while boosting
your metabolism.
Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older
Depression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging. However older
adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. If you are concerned about a loved one,
offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated. Depression is
not just having "the blues" or the emotions we feel when grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a true
medical condition that is treatable, like diabetes or hypertension.
How Do I Know If It's Depression?
Someone who is depressed has feelings of sadness or anxiety that last for weeks at a time. He or she
may also experience–
 Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
 Irritability, restlessness
 Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable
 Fatigue and decreased energy
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
 Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
 Overeating or appetite loss
 Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
 Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not get better,
even with treatment
How is Depression Different for Older Adults?
Older adults are at increased risk. We know that about 80% of older adults have at least one chronic
health condition, and 50% have two or more. Depression is more common in people

Older adults are often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Healthcare providers may mistake an
older adult's symptoms of depression as just a natural reaction to illness or the life changes that
may occur as we age, and therefore not see the depression as something to be treated.
Older adults themselves often share this belief and do not seek help because they don't
understand that they could feel better with appropriate treatment.
How Many Older Adults Are Depressed?
The good news is that the majority of older adults are not depressed. Some estimates of major
depression in older people living in the community range from less than 1% to about 5% but rise to
13.5% in those who require home healthcare and to 11.5% in older hospital patients.
cdc.gov
Buying Organic The Dirty Dozen
Want to go organic but not sure if it’s worth the extra cost? For some types of produce, it almost
certainly is. According to data from the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), some types of
produce are more susceptible to pesticides than others. The USDA found that some fruits and
veggies without a tough, protective skin often contained residue from pesticides.
The “Dirty Dozen” are the 12 types of produce most likely to contain pesticides. To avoid
chemicals, consider going organic when purchasing these fruits and vegetables:
1 Apples
5 Spinach
9 Potatoes
2 Celery
6 Nectarines
10 Blueberries
3 Strawberries
7 Grapes
11 Lettuce
4 Peaches
8 Sweet Bell Peppers
12 Kale/Collard Greens
FOOD SAFETY TIPS FOR GRILLING
It’s grilling season! When planning your next outdoor menu (see kebobs recipe below!), one item
you’ll definitely want to leave off the plate is foodborne illness—here’s how:
 Wash everything – Before and after cooking, wash all indoor and outdoor surfaces that will
come into contact with food. Be especially careful to wash everything that comes into
contact with raw meat or poultry and wash your hands often to prevent contamination.
 Marinate safely – If you plan on marinating raw meat, do so in a covered container in a
refrigerator, not on the counter. This decreases the risk of bacteria.
 Keep everything covered – Cover all food with tin foil while outside. This keeps insects or
bacteria from landing on and contaminating your food.
 Keep hot foods hot – Grilled food that is finished cooking can be kept hot until serving by
moving it to the side of the grill rack. This keeps the food from overcooking and prevents
bacteria from forming.
Cilantro-lime Shrimp Kebabs
Celebrate the weather by firing up your grill and cooking up these simple, delicious
cilantro-lime shrimp kebabs.
16 large shrimp, uncooked, deveined
2 cloves of garlic, crushed & peeled
juice of 3 large limes, or about ¼ cup of juice
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, cleaned and chopped
10 medium cherry tomatoes, rinsed and dried
10 white mushrooms, wiped clean and stems removed
In a glass measuring cup, add the lime juice, garlic, pepper, olive oil, and cilantro and stir. Place the shrimp in a
medium bowl and pour the cilantro lime marinade over the shrimp. Let marinate for only 10 to 15 minutes in the
refrigerator. Alternate cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and shrimp on four skewers. Grill the skewers over a
medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until the shrimp are just cooked through.
Yield: 2 servings. Each serving provides 160 calories, 6g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 17g carbohydrates, 95mg
sodium and 4g fiber.
The Eyes Have It….Heed the Warning: What Eye-Related Symptoms Can Tell Us
It seems that when we think of eye-related symptoms, such as blurred vision, we assume that the problem
has something to do with our eyes and our vision. And that is often the case. However, there are times
when a person experiences an eye-related symptom, and it's actually a sign of a problem not related to
the eyes at all. An optometrist is sometimes the first person to notice a medical issue, and will then refer
the patient to his or her physician for follow up.
There are several eye-related symptoms that can be a sign of another condition or disease, and here are
a few to be aware of:
 Bulging eyes - Graves disease, hyperthyroidism
 Chronic eyelid droop in both eyes, or double vision - myasthenia gravis (autoimmune disease where
nerves are unable to communicate with the muscles)
 Haze, blurred vision, dimness of vision - stroke (risk of stroke), multiple sclerosis
 Headache at the temples or pain with chewing - Giant cell arteritis (an inflammatory condition that
affects the large arteries in the body)
 Inability to close one eye - Bell's Palsy (paralysis of a facial nerve, resulting in the inability to control
facial muscles on the affected side)
 Sudden eyelid drop - possible brain aneurysm
 Yellow eyes - liver disease, gallstones, or pancreatic cancer
These eye-related symptoms are always an emergency:
 Pupils that are suddenly of unequal size
 Rapid vision changes such as:
blurred vision
swarms of floaters flashing lights
 Severe pain within the eyeball that is not due to trauma
 Sudden drooping of one or both eyelids
Keep in mind that even if you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may not have the
associated illness. Still, you should see a doctor and get yourself checked out.
Source: VSP