Upper Peninsula Health Plan
Upper Peninsula Health Plan

UPPER PENINSULA HEALTH PLAN

December 2001

A Publication for Members of UPHP-Medicaid

In This Issue....

Never too Late!                                                                         Are you Pregnant?
Immunization Timing Tips                                                     Your New Handbook
Member Health Tips                                                         Do You Have Diabetes?

Unnecessary Antibiotics Can Be Harmful

Do You Have Questions For Your Child’s Doctor

Never Too Late to Quit!

You might think  that it’s too late to quit smoking, but here is some good news from the American Cancer Society.

  • Within 20 minutes: Your blood pressure, body temperature, and pulse rate will drop to normal.
  • Within 8 hours: Your smokers breath disappears. The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops and the oxygen level rises to normal.
  • Within 24 hours: Your chances of a heart attack decrease
  • Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Your ability to taste and smell improve.
  • Within 3 days: Your breathing is easier.
  • Within 2-3 months: Your circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Your lung capacity increases up to 30%.
  • Within 1-9 months: Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Little hairs that sweep debris from your lungs grow back. Your energy increases.
  • Within 1 year: Excess risk of heart disease is half that of a person who smokes
  • Within 2 years: Your heart attack risk drops to near normal
  • Within 5 years: Lung cancer death rate for the former one-pack-a-day smoker decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced. Risk of mouth and throat cancer is half that of a smoker
  • Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke. The pre-cancerous cells are replaced.
  • Within 15 years: Risk of heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked.

Think About It!!!!

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Immunization Timing Tips

If your child gets shots too early, the school system will require repeat doses of the vaccines. Even one day too early can make a difference.

Remember these tips when you are scheduling your child’s visits for shots:

For DTaP shots:
-there need to be at least six months between the 3rd and 4th doses.
-the 4th dose should be given after the 1st birthday.

Your child needs to be at least one year old for the last dose of Hib.
Your child needs to be at least one year old for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and chicken pox (VZV)

For Hepatitis B shots there need to be:
-at least 4 weeks between the 1st and 3rd doses.
-at least 8 weeks between the 2nd and 3rd doses
-at least 16 weeks between the 1st and 3rd doses
-and the 3rd Hepatitis B shot should be given only after your child has turned 6 months old.

Check out the Health Tips Link for Information on:

  • Immunizations
  • Well Child Checkups
  • Diabetes Care
  • Breast and Cervical Cancer
  • Chlamydia Infection

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Are You Pregnant?

The best thing you can do for you and your baby is to get prenatal care. Call your doctor as soon as you think you think you may be pregnant (2-4 weeks after a missed period). If you are trying to get pregnant, call your doctor for advice. Prenatal vitamins are important for the health of your baby. When you are pregnant, everything you do can have an effect on your baby. It is important to see your doctor regularly. It is also very important to not drink alcohol, smoke, or take any drugs not prescribed by your doctor. Eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of water. If you need help buying good foods to eat call your local WIC program. Remember that the most important part of your pregnancy is the care you get before your baby is born. Call UPHP Clinical Services at 1-800-835-2556 to let us know that you are pregnant! We can help you with other programs. Congratulations!

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Look For Your New Handbook

New Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) Member Handbooks were mailed to all UPHP Medicaid Members in mid summer. If you have not received a handbook with July 2001 typed on the front cover, call UPHP to get one. As a member of UPHP, you are responsible for knowing the information found in the handbook. Call UPHP Customer Service at 1-800-835-2556 if you have any questions.

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Do You Have Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, regular checkups with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) are a must. If you are overdue for a checkup, schedule one today! You also need to see an eye doctor every year. Routine eye exams are the only way to catch problems early. If you haven’t seen an eye doctor within a year, please schedule a visit now! Prevention is the best medicine!
For answers to your questions about diabetes, contact your PCP or visit your local public library and check out the video “The Diabetes Home Video Guide.” You can learn more about diabetes from the comfort of your own home! The U.P. Diabetes Outreach Network (UPDON) provided these videos to libraries across the Upper Peninsula. For more information about this video, contact your local library or UPDON at 1-800-369-9522.

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