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Important Information to Improve Your Health A newsletter to help you make informed choices Volume 10, Issue 3 In this Issue: Page 1 : Sun Safety June 2012 Page 2 : B12 Deficiency; Benefit Reminders Sun Safety It is so important to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The most common skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell, can be cured when found and treated during early stages. Melanoma is more dangerous and most skin cancer deaths are due to melanoma, although survival rates for melanoma are high when caught early. Skin Cancer Warning Signs: ● ANY skin changes, especially changes in the size or color of a mole, a new growth or mole, moles that spread beyond their borders. ● Sores that do not heal or areas that are scaly, oozing, bleeding, painful, or itchy. ● ABCD Rule….Be sure to see your doctor for: A - dark spots or moles that are Asymmetrical. B - dark spots or moles that have irregular Borders. C - dark spots or moles that contain more than one Color. D - dark spots or moles that are larger in Diameter than a pencil eraser. Skin Cancer Detection: ● Check your own skin once a month. Perform self exam in a room with plenty of light and a full length mirror. ● Check all areas of your body and note the appearance of freckles, moles, and other skin markings. ● Show new or unusual findings to your doctor. Ask your doctor to examine your skin during regular check-ups. Skin Cancer Prevention: ● Avoid the sun between 10 am and 2 pm. Enjoy the shade! ● Wear a hat with a wide brim and wear other protective clothing. Wear sunglasses that provide UV protection. ● Wear sunscreen even when it is cloudy. Use a product with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher. Look for broad-spectrum products that protect against UV-A and UV-B rays. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours or after swimming, sweating, or using towels. ● Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps. Protecting yourself in the sun is the key to preventing skin cancer! BENEFITS FOR EDUCATED CONSUMERS: A NEWSLETTER TO HELP YOU MAKE INFORMED CHOICES Celebrating Our 10th Year of Service to Florida Private Education Employees June 2012 Important Information to Improve Your Health B12 Deficiency As we age, our ability to absorb B12 from food declines, and often so does our consumption of foods rich in this vitamin. A B12 deficiency can creep up without warning and cause a host of confusing symptoms that are likely to be misdiagnosed or ascribed to aging. B12 is an essential vitamin with roles throughout the body. It is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy nervous system, the production of DNA and formation of red blood cells. A severe B12 deficiency results in anemia, which can be picked up by an ordinary blood test. But the less dramatic symptoms of a B12 deficiency may include muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, unsteady gait, incontinence, low blood pressure, depression and other mood disorders, and cognitive problems like poor memory. If the amount of B12 in storage is low to begin with, a deficiency can develop within a year, even more quickly in infants. Recommended Daily Dietary Amounts of B12 Age 14 and older Pregnant Women Nursing Women 2.4 micrograms 2.6 micrograms 2.8 micrograms Barring circumstances that impair B12 absorption, the above levels are easily obtained from a well-balanced diet containing animal protein. Good food sources include liver and other red meats, turkey, fish, and shellfish. Lesser amounts of the vitamin are present in dairy products, eggs and chicken. Benefit Reminders Use Quest Diagnostics® ® Quest Diagnostics is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida/Florida Blue’s exclusive In-Network Lab Provider and should be used for all In-Network diagnostic/laboratory services. For more information on Quest Diagnostics® (i.e., find a location, make an appointment) go to www.questdiagnostics.com or call 1-866-697-8378 (866 MyQuest). Use Your Health Insurance Benefits ICUBA encourages you to use the medical insurance coverage provided to you. ICUBA is eager and willing to pay for your wellness checkups! Utilizing the many FREE benefits available to you can avoid expenses which may be associated with illness and disease treatment. In addition to free Annual Physicals and Gynecological Exams, there are many other preventive services/screenings available to you THAT ARE ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE through your ICUBA Cares™ InNetwork Benefits, such as: Lab Tests ~ Pap Tests ~ Mammograms ~ Urinalysis ~ Immunizations ~ Electrocardiograms ~ Echocardiograms ~ Colonoscopies ~ Sigmoidoscopies ~ Colorectal Screenings ~ Prostate Cancer Screenings ~ Bone Mineral Density Tests ~ Allergy Injections BENEFITS FOR EDUCATED CONSUMERS: A NEWSLETTER TO HELP YOU MAKE INFORMED CHOICES Celebrating Our 10th Year of Service to Florida Private Education Employees June 2012