A Message from the HAP Wellness Team

Perhaps it is no coincidence that Valentine's Day is in February. After all February is Heart Health Month. This month we will show you different ways to take care of and love your heart.

Introducing the "Step Sisters" of the Tower
If it is 10 am or 3 pm you will find the "Step Sisters" beginning their climb (schedule permitting), up 280 stairs (14 floors) at HAP's Southfield office building where they work. These ladies love their heart so much they decided several months ago to begin a stair stepping program. Not only was it convenient but it gave them a break from their work and reenergized them. Using a lot of encouragement and teamwork, they added one more floor to their routine every week. As each member of the team reaches the top of the 14th floor, they receive a round of applause. Stair climbing is a great cardiovascular workout and it's free!

Tools for a Successful Wellness Program

Establishing Healthy Food Policies and Practices

Create a healthier work environment by establishing healthy food policies and practices at your worksite meetings, vending machines and catered events. By offering healthy choices, you make it easier for your employees to make healthy food choices.

Whether it's creating a list of suggested menu options or creating a complete healthy food policy, many resources are available to help you. The Guidelines for Offering Healthy Foods at Meetings, Seminars and Catered Events offers excellent suggestions for healthy menu options. The California Department of Public Health and Tompkins County, NY have both created excellent tools containing sample policies for healthy foods offered at meetings, in vending machines, and at catered events. The California Department of Public Health tools also include excellent suggestions about how to incorporate ideas about adding physical activity breaks to your meetings. (Most of the information available through these tools are not specific to California or Tompkins County.)

Finally, the American Cancer Society also has an excellent tool, Meeting Well. Meeting Well provides healthy information and suggestions including: general tips for healthy meals and snacks for meetings, vending machines and potlucks; advice on working with a facility chef or caterer; and a Menu Maker an excellent tool for planning day long or multi-day events. To get Meeting Well, contact your local American Cancer Society office at (248) 663-3472, or call ACS toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Eating healthy improves health and increases energy, therefore increasing productivity, and, in the long run, your bottom line.

Health Topic of the Month - Heart Disease

Friday February 6, is the American Heart Association National Wear Red Day so show your support for women's heart health by wearing something red. If you would like more information on how your company can participate in National Wear Red Day, visit goredforwomen.org.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of women. Since women do not always exhibit the classic signs of a heart attack, they are more likely to postpone treatment. It is not uncommon for women to experience shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue or pressure in the lower chest which can easily be confused as "heartburn". If you feel you may be having a heart attack, do not delay. Minutes matter! Do not wait for more than a few minutes -- 5 minutes at most -- to call 9-1-1. For more information on this topic visit americanheart.org or nhlbi.nih.gov.

February is also designated as Wise Health Consumer Month. This is an ideal time for everyone to take a more active role in their health and learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their family.

HAP has a program called Becoming a Wise Health Care Consumer available to all your employees. This on-line tool is a self-paced training course made up of nine educational modules. Each module can be accessed independently and includes a narrated guide, interactive activities and links to helpful resources.
HAP also offers a free 30-60 minute workshop to inform and advise your employees on how they can become wise health care consumers.

HAP Featured Programs

This month we are promoting the following programs:

Blood Pressure Screenings
High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it can occur without presenting any symptoms. A blood pressure screening only takes a few minutes and it is one of the most important "numbers" that you should know.

Workshops - Heart Health and Exercise Workshops
Our exercise physiologists can instruct and give tips on how small changes in activity can result in overall better health. (Minimum of 25 participants)

Managing High Blood Pressure Program
This comprehensive four week (one hour sessions per week) includes presentations from experts in cardiovascular health, pharmacy, nutrition and exercise. Each participant receives blood pressure screenings before and after the program. Knowledge is power. Know your numbers!

Becoming a Wise Health Care Consumer
HAP is offering a speaker to provide an overview of our "Becoming a Wise Health Care Consumer" program and demonstrate the ease of accessing this on-line program available to all your employees. A wise health care consumer is someone who understands their health plan, feels confident asking questions of their health care provider and uses health care services appropriately. A wise health care consumer is empowered to take an interest in their health and play a more active role in controlling the services they receive. (Minimum of 25 participants)

To schedule any of these services, please contact us at livewell@hap.org.

Your heart is about the size of your fist and pumps the equivalent of 5,000 - 6,000 quarts of blood each day.

Everyone in the Middle Ages believed -- as Aristotle had -- that the heart was the seat of intelligence.

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

Pack your own lunch from home in reusable containers.
One disposable lunch creates about four to eight ounces of trash which equates to one hundred pounds of trash in a year. You will not only save money but more importantly have control over the portions and quality of food. What a winner!

Chef Paul's Mushroom Stroganoff
A recipe re-do for beef stroganoff. This mushroom stroganoff tastes delicious but has just 230 calories per serving compared to 789 in traditional beef stroganoff. It's virtually cholesterol free and has three quarters less fat.

Start Planning Now!

March is National Nutrition and Colorectal Cancer month. If you are interested in having a workshop on healthy eating or colorectal health, please contact us at livewell@hap.org.

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

Mark Your Calendars

DATE CHANGE
The Spring Worksite Wellness Forum will now be scheduled in May rather than April. This year the Forum will be held on May 19, 2009 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. Look for a formal invitation in the mail.