A Message from the HAP Wellness Team

This month marks the one year anniversary of our redesigned e-letter. Since the e-letter was created with you in mind, we would appreciate your comments on how we've done.

Please take a moment to complete a very short questionnaire.

Tools for a Successful Wellness Program: Partnership for Prevention: Who are they?

Partnership for Prevention® is an excellent resource when looking to build your business case for worksite wellness within your company's senior leaders. Partnership for Prevention is a national organization of businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies advancing policies and practices to prevent disease and improve the health of all Americans. They seek to increase investment in preventing disease and promoting health and to make prevention a national priority.

Partnership for Prevention hosts an array of tools and resources specifically related to worksite wellness. For example, their Leading by Example booklet features many CEOs sharing their business case for worksite health promotion and their pod casts feature presentations from: the CDC about the cost effectiveness of worksite health programs; Dow Chemical Company and John Deere about the benefits of their wellness programs; and the President of the American Medical Association, and Henry Ford Health System's own, Dr. Ron Davis regarding legislation that can help advance healthy workplace goals.

If you find yourself promoting the business case for why worksite wellness is important, you'll want these valuable, free resources at your fingertips.

Health Topic of the Month - Men's Health

June 9-15 is National Men's Health Week but we are devoting the entire month to men's health issues. Men's Health Week was created by Congress in 1994 to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

According to the Men's Health Network, men are not as knowledgeable about their health as they would like to be; are less physically active between ages 35-54 years; are less likely to use sunscreen and therefore are twice as likely to die of skin cancer; and live on average , seven years less than women.

Additionally, when men do seek medical assistance, they are more likely to cancel follow up appointments, more likely to play down the severity of symptoms and less likely to finish prescriptions.

Observers of Men's Health Week are sometimes seen wearing a blue ribbon as symbol of their support for the fight against prostate cancer.

This month, let's encourage our men to take charge of their life. After all, most take better care of their cars than they do their bodies.

For more information on men's health, visit menshealthnetwork.org or take a men's health quiz.

HAP Featured Programs

This month we are pleased to present Richard Paul, an award winning speaker, author and ventriloquist. His program, "Be Healthy, Be 'Ducky'" focuses on looking at the lighter side of life, the benefit of laughter and having a positive attitude to promote a healthy mind. Richard uses his sidekick "Peking Duck" to help get his message of healthy humor to his audience. He was kind enough to contribute the following article.

"Be Healthy, Be 'Ducky!'"

Happy people have one thing in common; they think happy thoughts! Researchers have found that there are healthy benefits to thinking positively or, as I like to call it, "Thinking Ducky Thoughts." The Mayo Clinic states that when we are happier we have a greater resistance to the common cold, we are less stressed and more likely to be free from coronary artery disease. If you want to live a healthier happier life, in addition to daily exercise and good eating habits you must also include good thinking habits.

Contrary to popular belief, every one of us has what it takes to be happy. Your thoughts are words you speak within your mind - your inner communication. It is from these thoughts and images that you can either choose to be happy - or not. If you look hard enough, everything has a silver lining. View the glass as being half full rather than half empty.

If you want to be "ducky" and live a healthier happier life, try doing some personal work. Monitor your thoughts; release your fears, worries and frustrations. Appreciate your life, family and what you have to offer. Gratitude is powerful. Over time, your positive outlook will become second nature and you will find humor in the most trying of times.

Learn more about Richard's program by visiting his Web site at richardpaul.com.

For a Wellness Workshop on using humor to reduce stress in the work environment, contact the HAP worksite wellness team.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Copyright Richard Paul 2008

To celebrate Men's Health Month we are featuring the following programs:

Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings

Offer your employees an opportunity to "know their numbers." High bold pressure is known as the "silent killer" because it many not present any symptoms. Blood pressure readings should be below 120/80 mmHg.

High cholesterol levels increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Total cholesterol levels should be below 200mg/dl and HDL or healthy cholesterol should be above 40mg/dl in men and above 50mg/dl in women.

LDL or "lousy" cholesterol should be below 100mg/dl

Men's health workshops

Invite one of our male professional speakers to talk to the men in your company about the importance of preventive screenings and the current health issues they face. A healthy employee is a more productive and happy employee.

We have a limited number of colorectal kits for distribution.

To schedule any of the above services, or to request more information please contact us at livewell@hap.org.

An estimated 8.7 million adult men age 20 years or older in the U.S. have diabetes. Yet, almost one third of them do not know it.

Men suffer hearing loss at twice the rate of women.

115 males are conceived for every 100 females.

Source: menshealthnetwork.org

Please visit hap.org for our Wellness by the Month fliers to share with your employees.

To schedule a speaker, health fair or wellness workshop on any of our topics, please contact us at livewell@hap.org.

Tell Us What You Think

If you have recently hosted a health fair or program in partnership with us, please take our Health Promotion Satisfaction Survey.

Start Planning Now!

July is International Massage Month. We would love to come and pamper your employees with a free five minute chair massage.

We also recognize July as a sun-safety month. We are offering screenings with a dermascan machine. One simply looks into the dermascan which uses black lighting to evaluate facial skin damage or "areas of concern."

July is also recognized as Dry Eye Awareness Month. HAP is offering on-site vision screenings with an opportunity to complete a questionnaire that may determine if you suffer from dry eyes. Five per cent of the population suffers from dry eye. Are you one?

To schedule a speaker, health fair or wellness workshop on any of our topics, please contact us livewell@hap.org.

Mark Your Calendars

The September Worksite Wellness Forum is scheduled for September 25, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A formal invitation and agenda will be sent in a future mailing.