Blue & You - Spring 2012

Effects of secondhand
smoke on children
You may think that if you smoke, you’re only harming
yourself. But, if you have children in your home, you’re
harming them as well through secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is smoke from a cigarette, pipe
or cigar and the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker. It is
estimated that secondhand smoke contains more than
250 toxic chemicals that can be cancer-causing.
The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that
children are even more vulnerable to the effects of
secondhand smoke because they are still developing
physically. Research suggests that children exposed to
secondhand smoke are at a higher risk for a
host of illnesses, including:
• Asthma
• Sinusitis
• Rhinitis
• Chronic respiratory problems like bronchitis
and pneumonia
• Ear infections
If you need help quitting smoking, log into your
My Blueprint account and view the Health Resources
section for additional information on smoking
cessation programs and help.
Sources: epa.gov
American Academy of Otolaryngology (entnet.org)
Risk of heart attack goes up
after a loved one dies
We’ve all heard stories, or maybe even experienced
having a loved one die soon after another death in the
family. Recent research in the medical journal
Circulation suggests that the risk for a heart attack
increases dramatically within 24 hours after the death
of a loved one.
Nearly 2,000 patients were interviewed while
hospitalized for acute heart attacks. The researchers
found that the incidence rate of heart attack increased
more than 20-fold within 24 hours of learning of the
death, compared with deaths that occurred anytime
in the prior six months.
If you find your family members in this situation, be
aware of their health risks and keep a close eye on
them. If you see signs of a heart attack, seek
medical attention immediately.
12 Blue & You SPRING 2012
Lose weight
The Healthy Weigh! Education
Program is free for members of
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield, Health Advantage (except
ARBenefits members*), Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Service Benefit
Plan (Federal Employee Program),
Medi-Pak® Advantage (PFFS),
Medi-Pak Advantage PPO, and
eligible members of BlueAdvantage
Administrators of Arkansas.
To enroll, complete the attached
enrollment form and return it in
the self-addressed, postage-paid
envelope included in this magazine.
The program starts when you enroll.
After enrollment, you will begin
to receive information through
the mail, which you can read in the
privacy of your own home and at your
own pace. The program is completely
voluntary, and you may leave the
program at any time. If you have
further questions about the program,
call the Health Education Program’s
toll-free number at 1-800-686-2609.
Simply complete, sign and
return the attached enrollment
form in the self-addressed,
postage-paid envelope to join
The Healthy Weigh!
*Arkansas state and public school
employees and retirees can access the
“AR Benefits Plus” program through the
Employee Benefits Division, 1-877-815-1017.