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SPRING 2010
health|SENIOR
styles
Making Waves at Any Age
www.gnpweb.com
Bolster Your Defenses
Keep Your Immune System Strong
Don’t let it make you paranoid,
but danger is all around. Your
body must deal with a steady
onslaught of viruses, bacteria,
fungi, parasites, malignant cells,
and other marauders out to do
you harm.
Fortunately, you have one of the
best defense systems in existence,
as long as you keep it in good
shape. Your immune system
stands ready to destroy, devour,
or deactivate the invaders to
protect your health. Its arsenal
consists of white blood cells,
antibodies, certain proteins,
and other substances.
Keep It Fortified
The immune system commonly
weakens as you age, beginning
after young adulthood.
When the body is exposed to
microorganisms, fewer protective
antibodies may form or they may
develop at a slower rate. Later in
life, the immune system becomes
less able to detect malignant
cells, and cancer risk increases
as a result.
But there are steps you can take to
keep your immune system strong:
eat a well-balanced, nutrient-rich
diet; take dietary supplements
if necessary; exercise regularly;
minimize stress; get sufficient
sleep; and avoid substances and
activities that can suppress or
degrade immune function.
These measures are effective
even in older adults, so a decline
in immunity is not inevitable.
➤ continued on page 2
Who, What, Where, When?
Questions to Ask Before Taking Medication
• Why is this being prescribed to me?
• What are the possible side effects?
• Is there a generic form?
• Should I take it with or without food?
• Will this cause any interactions with
other drugs, vitamins, or supplements
I am taking?
• Are there foods I should avoid while
on this medication?
• How many should I take per day?
• How long do I need to be on this
medication?
Keep Your Immune
System Strong
➤ continued from page 1
Eat Well
Insufficient intake of vitamins and
minerals can undermine your body’s
defense system. A diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and
low-fat dairy products should provide
the nutrients needed for healthy
immunity. But some people – especially
older adults – may need a supplement
to ensure they get adequate levels of
vitamins B12 and D.
Exercise, But Not to Extremes
Regular workouts boost the immune
system. Physical activity may help by
flushing microbes out of the lungs
and eliminating cancer-causing cells
by increasing urine and sweat output.
Circulating the body’s defense cells
through your bloodstream more
quickly may also help. The temporarily
increased body temperature from
exercising may inhibit bacterial
growth. And exercise slows the
release of stress-related hormones.
Talk to your primary care physician
about an exercise routine that works
for you.
Get Some R&R
Other activities that ease stress,
besides exercise, may also improve
immune function. Massage,
meditation, maintaining a positive
attitude, and enjoying social time with
family and friends can help you relax.
Lack of sleep impairs immunity, so
try to change your sleep habits if you
sleep less than seven to eight hours a
night or are often tired during the day.
Urinary Incontinence
If you experience urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder
control, you know it’s no laughing matter. Although men can
have this problem, it is twice as common in women. But, it
doesn’t need to control your life. Incontinence can be treated,
so don’t let embarrassment keep you from seeking help.
What Is Incontinence?
Temporary incontinence may be caused by a urinary tract
infection, a medication, or constipation. This kind of condition
improves when you eliminate the problem that caused it.
Chronic incontinence, however, is ongoing. It falls into two
main categories: stress incontinence, the most common,
and urge incontinence. Some women have both.
Stress incontinence comes about as a result of physical
changes from pregnancy and childbirth, weight gain, or
menopause. The pelvic muscles can stretch and weaken, no
longer supporting the bladder. If this happens you can lose
the ability to tighten the muscles that close off the urethra,
which allows urine to leak into the urethra when you laugh,
cough, sneeze, exercise, or perform other actions that cause
pressure on your bladder.
Urge incontinence is the result of damage to the urinary
tract or to the nerves that control urination. With this kind of
bladder control problem, you may urgently feel the need to
urinate suddenly or often. The sensation often comes without
much warning, so you might leak enough urine to soak your
clothes because you can’t get to the bathroom in time. This
kind of incontinence is sometimes called overactive bladder.
Can It Be Treated?
Most bladder control problems can be improved or cured.
Talk openly with your primary care physicians. Describe the
symptoms, severity, and frequency. Your doctor can help you
find the combination of treatments that will help.
2 HealthStyles SENIOR
Quiz: Will Osteoporosis Affect You?
Osteoporosis is a disease that
affects millions of Americans.
According to the National
Osteoporosis Foundation, an
estimated 10 million Americans
currently have the condition and
another 34 million have low bone
mass, which puts them at a higher
risk of developing the disease.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, sometimes
called porous bone, is a disease
characterized by low bone mass
that can lead to weak bones. These
weakened bones can often fracture
from a small fall or even a cough.
Fortunately there are ways to
predict if you are more prone
to the disease, and actions
to take to prevent it. Take this
true/false quiz to learn more.
Questions
1. Osteoporosis affects men and
women across all races and
ethnicities equally. True or False
2. An individual with a small, thin
body frame has a higher risk for
osteoporosis. True or False
3. Taking calcium supplements
is the best way to prevent
osteoporosis. True or False
4. Avoiding physical activity helps
to preserve the bone strength
you already have. True or False
5. Checking family history is
the best way to diagnose
osteoporosis. True or False
6. An individual with osteoporosis
may not have any symptoms of
the disease. True or False
Answers
1. False. Caucasian women who
have gone through menopause
have the highest risk for
osteoporosis. Women of
other ages and races, as well
as men and children, can also
be affected.
2. T
rue. Thin or small-framed men
and women have less bone
mass – and less protection from
osteoporosis as they age.
3. F
alse. Obtaining the calcium
you need is best accomplished
by eating foods rich in calcium
as well as vitamin D. These
include fruits, milk, vegetables,
and cheese. Ask your doctor if
you should also take a calcium
supplement for bone health.
4. F
alse. Incorporating weightbearing exercise is a way to
help prevent osteoporosis while
strengthening your bones.
5. F
alse. In addition to asking
about your family history of
osteoporosis, a physician will
conduct a physical examination
and take a complete medical
history. A bone density test
may be done to measure bone
density of the hip, wrist, or spine.
6. True. Those affected by
osteoporosis may not develop
any noticeable symptoms. It’s
important to talk to your doctor
about osteoporosis. You can
ask about a bone density test
and discuss your risk factors
for the disease.
Looking Forward
By making a few small changes to
your daily routine, you may help
prevent osteoporosis. Eat a diet
rich in calcium and vitamin D, avoid
smoking and excessive alcohol,
and add regular weight-bearing
and strengthening exercise to
your workouts. To learn more
about preventing and treating
osteoporosis, contact your primary
care physician.
Sign Up for the GNP HealthStyles Electronic Newsletter
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the e-newsletter offers timely health-related articles,
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(866) 934-5137
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health|SENIOR
styles
Making Waves at Any Age
GNP Contracts with these Health Plans:
Senior Plans
Blue Shield 65+....................................(800) 776-4466
OneCare by CalOptima........................(800) 960-9070
SCAN Health Plan (closed)..................(800) 559-3500
Secure Horizons by United Healthcare...(800) 228-2144
Greater Newport Physicians Medical Group Inc.
P.O. Box 6270
Newport Beach, CA 92658
www.gnpweb.com
Commercial Plans
Aetna.................................................................. (800) 756-7039
Blue Cross........................................................... (800) 288-6921
Blue Shield......................................................... (800) 424-6521
Cigna.................................................................. (800) 832-3211
Health Net.......................................................... (800) 522-0088
PacifiCare/United Healthcare.......................... (800) 624-8822
Member Contact Information:
Local GNP Member Services........................... (949) 574-4575
Toll-Free GNP Member Services..................... (800) 553-6537
Department of Managed Health Care........... (888) 466-2219
Office of the Patient Advocate........................ (866) 466-8900
This publication does not constitute professional medical advice.
Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor
any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance
on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical
professional. Images may be from one or more of these sources:
©Thinkstock, ©iStock, ©Fotolia. ©2010 Priority Publications, Inc.
priorityresults.com
Greater Newport Physicians
Welcomes 4 New Primary
Care Physicians!
Greater Newport Physicians is pleased to announce the
addition of four new physicians to our network. These
primary care physicians are eager to serve the needs of our
members, and they are all currently accepting new patients.
Refer a Friend to GNP!
If you know someone who is turning
65 this year, Greater Newport Physicians
accepts the Medicare Advantage Senior
plans listed above. To speak with a sales
representative who can answer questions
and enroll new members in plans accepted
by GNP, call Nautilus Health Insurance
Services at (888) 876-2688.
Rakhi Barkowski, MD
(Internal Medicine)
Newport Beach
Chrystene Nguyen, MD
(Family Practice)
Costa Mesa
Rejan McCaskill, MD
(Internal Medicine)
Newport Beach
Thao Nguyen, MD
(Family Practice)
Costa Mesa
For more information about our new
physicians, visit Find a Doctor on
our website or call Greater Newport
Physicians at (866) 582-2439.