Search Results

As Thanksgiving approaches, it can be stressful trying to maintain a healthy diet surrounded by indulgences. While it’s true that sweets can be enjoyed in moderation, there are still plenty of alternatives available so you can treat yourself and stay true to your healthy lifestyle. To help you get through the Thanksgiving season, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Heart-Healthy recipes: Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Healthy Green Bean Casserole Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes Light & Luscious Pumpkin Pie Have any questions for us? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 #recipes #SweetPotatoes #Thanksgiving #hearthealthy #GreenBeanCasserole #PumpkinPie #healthyrecipes #Turkey #HealthyEating

Sandoz Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, USP 100mg/25mg to the consumer level. This product is being recalled due to the trace amount of an impurity, N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) contained in the API Losartan. The FDA will continue to investigate this issue and provide additional information when it becomes available. The agency encourages patients and health care professionals to report any adverse reaction to the FDA’s MedWatch program. Why is it being recalled? N-Nitrosodiethylamine, which is a substance that occurs naturally in certain foods, drinking water, air pollution, and industrial processes, has been classified as a probable human carcinogen as per International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). What products are recalled? The product can be identified as Losartan Potassium Hydrochlorothiazide, 100 mg/25 mg tablets in 1000-count plastic bottles, NDC 0781-5207-10, Lot number JB8912; Exp. Date 06/2020. It is important to note that this recall encompasses less than 1% of the national Losartan drug products. This product was distributed nationwide to distributors. The affected product was not distributed prior to October 8, 2018. Next steps you should take Because Losartan is used in medicines to treat serious medical conditions, patients taking the recalled Losartan should continue taking their medicine until they have a replacement product. To determine whether a specific product has been recalled, patients should look at the drug name and company name on the label of their prescription bottle. If the information is not on the bottle, patients should contact the pharmacy that dispensed the medicine. If a patient is taking one of the recalled medicines, they should follow the recall instructions provided by the specific company. This information will be posted to the FDA’s website. Patients should also contact their health care professional (the pharmacist who dispensed the medication or doctor who prescribed the medication) if their medicine is included in this recall to discuss their treatment, which may include another product not affected by this recall or an alternative treatment option. Need help? Contact your Tria Health pharmacist today for additional assistance with the recall process: 1.888.799.8742 Source: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm625492.htm #SandozInc #LosartanRecall #Recall #FDA #MedicationRecall #FDAwarnings #Losartan

Image Source: Paweł Czerwiński/Unsplash Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 29% of all cancer deaths. Not only does smoking cause cancer, it can damage nearly every organ in the body, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, reproductive organs, mouth, skin, eyes, and bones.1 Tomorrow is The American Cancer Society’s 43rd annual Great American Smokeout® (GASO). GASO is the perfect opportunity for everyone to commit to living tobacco-free. We know that quitting smoking can be difficult and can take more than a day. GASO isn’t necessarily the day for smokers to quit smoking, but rather the day for smokers to start their journey toward a smoke-free life. How to Get Started Quitting isn’t an easy task. It takes planning, commitment, trial and error, and a lot of support. Smokers are strongly advised to use proven cessation methods, such as prescription medications and counseling, or a combination of both, to quit smoking. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to get their advice.1 If you’re interested in creating your quit plan, click here for more info. How to Help Someone that Smokes If you have a friend or family member ready to quit, here are a few recommendations to help you along the way2: Ask the person whether they want you to ask regularly how they’re doing. Ask how they’re feeling – not just whether they’ve stayed quit. Don’t judge, nag, preach, tease, or scold. This may make the smoker feel worse about him or herself. You don’t want your loved one to turn to a cigarette to soothe hurt feelings. If the person relapses, encourage them to try again. Studies show that most people who don’t succeed in quitting are ready to try again in the near future. For more tips, click here. Tria Health and Tobacco Cessation For employers that offer Tria Health’s Tobacco Cessation Program, Tria provides free confidential counseling with a clinical pharmacist. If you ready to quit smoking, Tria Health’s pharmacist will assist you in managing your medications and finding a treatment plan that works for you. Tria Health assists, not only members who smoke cigarettes, but members looking to end their use of all tobacco products (e-cigarettes, smoke-free tobacco, hookah, etc.) While scientists are still learning more about the effects of e-cigarettes or e-hookahs, there is already enough evidence to justify efforts to prevent e-cigarette use. We know that the vapor from e-cigarettes is harmful because it contains harmful ingredients, including nicotine. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and can harm the developing brain.3 In addition, smokeless tobacco products also contains many harmful ingredients.4 Tria Health believes in order to maintain optimal health, it is imperative to end the use of all tobacco products. Have any questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Sources: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/helping-a-smoker-quit.html https://www.cdc.gov/features/ecigarettes-young-people/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/smokeless/health_effects/index.htm #TheGreatAmericanSmokeout #Quitplan #TheAmericanCancerSociety #TriaHealth #TobaccoCessation #hookah #smokefreetobacco #ecigarettes

There are currently over 30.3 million adults with diabetes, 23.1 million are diagnosed, and 7.2 million are undiagnosed. Every year over 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed.1 American Diabetes Month’s goal is to bring awareness about diabetes risk factors and encourage people to make healthy changes. How can you help? Encourage friends and family members to take the type 2 diabetes risk assessment Promote healthy diet and lifestyle habits Share information about diabetes on social media to increase awareness Are You at Risk? Take the American Diabetes Association’s free Type 2 Diabetes risk test: http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test/ How to Lower Your Risk Now that you’ve taken the test, here are a few ways you can lower your risk of diabetes: Manage your Blood Glucose Manage your Blood Pressure Lower your Cholesterol Stop Smoking Unfortunately, there are some risk factors you can’t change, like age, race, gender & family history. But being aware of your risk factors can help you take smart steps to improve your health in other ways. Tria Health & Diabetes Management If you currently are diagnosed or have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, Tria Health can assist you in managing your medications and finding a treatment plan that works for you. For employers that offer Tria Health’s Diabetes Management Program, Tria provides free diabetes testing supplies including a blood glucose meter, testing strips, and a mobile app designed to help you manage your diabetes better. Have Any Questions? Call the Tria Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Source: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/ #AmericanDiabetesAssociation #Diabetesmanagement #LowerYourRisk #RiskTest #Diabetes #DiabetesPrevention #AmericanDiabetesMonth

ProAm Golf Tournament helps families of fallen or disabled military heroes with scholarship funds PRESS RELEASE: Earlier this fall, Tria Health, a chronic condition management company, and MedTrakRx, a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and division of EnvisionRxOptions, hosted the seventh annual Folds of Honor ProAm Golf Tournament at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, Kan. This year’s event raised more than $90,000 to fund educational scholarships for children and spouses of our fallen or disabled military heroes. Folds of Honor, established in 2007, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to families of America’s fallen or disabled service members in an effort to provide hope and healing. Of the 1-million-plus dependents adversely affected by military deployments, nearly nine out of 10 do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance. With the support of partners and sponsors from around the country, including MedTrakRx’s parent company, EnvisionRxOptions, and presenting sponsors Rite Aid and WellSky, more than $500,000 has been raised for Folds of Honor over the past seven years. During this year’s ProAm tournament, more than 100 golfers, including 27 premiere golf professionals from across the nation, took to the course to raise scholarship funds for Folds of Honor. Kelli Campbell, mother of four scholarship recipients, also attended the event sharing her story and gratitude. “After losing Shawn, my partner, my best friend, the stronger and more patient half of our team, I had no idea what life was supposed to look like anymore. I was a Marine’s wife without her Marine and a homeschooling mom without her home,” said Campbell. “And that’s when God sent Folds of Honor.” Campbell lost her husband, Major Shawn Campbell, in a Marine Corps helicopter collision in Hawaii on January 14, 2016. She left Hawaii with her four children—Tristan (11 years old), Kenna (eight years old), Kate (six years old) and Donovan (one year old)—and moved to Kansas City to be close to her parents. “A Folds of Honor scholarship is about so much more than paying a bill, it’s not just tuition,” Campbell continued. “For me those scholarships restored my hope for my children’s futures. And the ripple effects of one single scholarship never end. When I realized I could afford to enroll my kids at Whitefield Academy, I had this tiny bit of light shed on our future. I didn’t even know at the time if we were going to stay in Kansas City, but Folds of Honor handed me an anchor. One step at a time, we found a home near the school, we found a church near our home, we found friends, sports, music. We started a new life I believe Shawn is proud of. “Not everyone is called to serve in uniform, but I believe we are all called to serve in some fashion. Your attendance here today honors my husband and families like mine. By supporting Folds of Honor, this is what you’re investing in,” Campbell concluded. “Young people who will grow up to be world-changers. You are telling children like mine that you see them, that you recognize the sacrifice they didn’t sign up for.” Tria Health and MedTrakRx are honored to help raise funds to educate the families of America’s fallen and wounded heroes through the Folds of Honor organization. #EnvisionRxOptions #FoldsOfHonor #MedTrakRx #TriaHealth

Image Source: rawpixel/Unsplash A new study published in early October revealed unapproved and sometimes dangerous drugs in 746 dietary supplements, almost all of them marketed for weight loss, muscle growth or sexual enhancement.1 Supplement Contaminations About 80 percent of supplements were contaminated by one pharmaceutical that should not have been in the product. Twenty percent contained at least two such drugs, and two of the supplements contained six unapproved drugs. Despite these contaminants, fewer than half the products were recalled.2 In the United States, more than 50% of adults consume dietary supplements, fueling a $35 billion industry.3,4 As the dietary supplement industry continues to grow in the United States, it is essential to further address this significant public health issue. What Does This Mean for You? The presence of pharmaceutically active ingredients in dietary supplements makes them unapproved drugs and represents an important public health concern. The study found indications that a large percentage of products continue to be sold and are potentially dangerous even after FDA warnings. This is alarming, especially considering that the FDA is only able to test a portion of products available on the market. Taking a combination of herbal supplements or using supplements together with prescribed medications could lead to harmful, even life-threatening results. Supplement Safety Tips If you’re currently taking prescription medications and thinking about starting an herbal supplement, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist first about possible drug interactions. Stick to brands that have been tested by independent sources Check ConsumerLab.com or U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) Do you have any questions regarding your supplements or medications? Tria Health provides one-on-one confidential counseling with a pharmacist for any of your medication related questions. If Tria Health is currently a part of your healthcare plan, call the Tria Health Help desk today for any of your questions. Tria Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Sources: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2706496 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/diet-weight-loss-and-sex-supplements-are-tainted-with-unapproved-drugs/2018/10/12/b3e93bfc-cd7c-11e8-a360-85875bac0b1f_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.398811a1e823 Bailey RL, Gahche  JJ, Lentino  CV,  et al.  Dietary supplement use in the United States, 2003-2006.  J Nutr. 2011;141(2):261-266. doi:10.3945/jn.110.133025 US Food and Drug Administration. Constituent updates—FDA creates the Office of Dietary Supplement programs and announces new nutrition office leadership. http://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20171114120120/https://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm478303.htm. Published December 21, 2015. Accessed June 2017. #MedicationSafety #supplements #dietarysupplements #SupplementContaminations #FDA

Disposing of medications safely can help protect your family from getting or using medications that are expired or out of date; prevent the illegal use of unused medications and minimize any potential negative impact on the environment. For this reason, the DEA is giving the public an opportunity to dispose of unwanted and/or expired prescription drugs. This is a FREE and anonymous service—take medications back, no questions asked! Where do I go? Visit the DEA’s website to find a collection site: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 Why can’t I throw out my medications at home? Unfortunately, throwing out your medications as home can lead to many harmful impacts on the environment or create safety risks for trash handlers. In addition, 53% of pain relievers for misuse are given by, bought from or took from a friend or relative.1 It’s important to safely dispose of your medications to help minimize the impact of the recent opioid epidemic. How can Tria Health Help? As a member of Tria Health, if you have multiple medications and are afraid you’ll throw away the wrong medication, we can provide additional assistance in selecting the proper medications. Tria provides one-on-one consultations with a clinical pharmacist who assists you with your medication management. Questions? Call the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf #MedicationSafety #MedicationDisposal #NationalDrugTakeBackDay #DEA #TriaHealth #Opioids

Tria Health recently made the paper in regards to our successful partnership with Shawnee County! To view the article click here. Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one confidential counseling with a Tria Pharmacist to discuss how effective your medications are in treating your conditions. Your pharmacist will work with you and your physicians to reduce the risk of medication-related problems. Shawnee County’s participation in Tria Health’s pharmacy advocacy program, which comes at an annual cost of $32,286, is on pace to save the county $254,415 this year, county commissioners learned this past week. Tria Health reviewed the prescriptions taken by those employees and found 84 “drug therapy problems” such as a patient’s receiving unnecessary drug therapy, a patient’s needing additional therapy or dosages being too high or too low. 1 Questions about Tria Health? Call 1.888.799.8742 Source: https://www.cjonline.com/news/20181007/participation-in-pharmacy-advocacy-program-saves-shawnee-county-money #PharmacyAdvocateProgram #ShawneeCounty #TriaHealth

Image Source: Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash While medications can help treat and manage migraines, there are plenty of other healthy habits that can sometimes help prevent migraines. Lifestyle choices that promote good health can also reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines.1 Here are a few ways you can change up your routine to help prevent migraines: Create Good Sleep Habits Oftentimes, migraines can be triggered back lack of sleep. It’s important to not only build a good routine, but have proper sleep hygiene including: Minimize Distractions: Stay off your phone and don’t watch TV in bed. It’s important to save your bedroom solely for sleep. Reduce Stimulants: Avoid caffeine and other stimulants that can interfere with sleep a few hours before bed. Exercise & Eat Healthy During physical activity, your body releases certain chemicals that block pain signals to your brain. These chemicals also help alleviate anxiety and depression, which can make migraines worse.1 Your diet can also impact your migraines, it’s important to keep track of what you eat and try to identify and potential triggers. Keep a Migraine Diary Triggers can vary for any person who suffers from migraines. It’s important to keep track when your migraines start and what you were doing before, to help identify any possible triggers. According to the mayo clinic, until recently, avoiding migraine triggers was considered the best advice. But new research suggests this may actually increase sensitivity to potential triggers. A more useful approach may be to learn to cope with these headache triggers by using behavioral management techniques, such as identifying and challenging negative thoughts, relaxation training and stress reduction. Have any Questions for us? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/in-depth/migraines/art-20047242 #Exercise #SleepHabits #MigraineDiary #SleepHygiene #Migraines #TriaHealthandMigraines

Image Source: Getty Images Happy National Pharmacists Month! The goal of this month is to recognize pharmacists for the significant role they play in effective medication management, patient education and overall medication safety. Learn more about how pharmacists can help you every day. Safe and Effective Medication Use Pharmacists help ensure that medications control conditions the right way. They help minimize any side effects and safeguard against any possible interactions with other medications that lead to more expensive health care costs such as emergency room visits, hospitalization, etc. Preventative Services Did you know that more than 300,000 immunization-trained pharmacists administer vaccines, and nearly one in four adults receive their influenza vaccinations at their community pharmacy?1 Pharmacists can provide guidance on all vaccine-preventable diseases and which immunizations are best for you. OTCs and Supplements Pharmacists are experts in prescription medications, supplements and over the counter medications. They can tell you about potential interactions with foods, other drugs, or dietary supplements. And they can help you pick the perfect product. With over 100,000 over-the-counter products on the market, your pharmacist is always there to lend a helping hand!1 Condition Management Did you know that pharmacists are experts and more than just medications?  They are trained and educated in how to manage conditions as a whole. Tria Health has pharmacists who are certified diabetic educators on staff.  This allows them to treat the person rather than the medication.  They focus on non-pharmacy and pharmacy strategies to accomplish control of a disease. Tria Health’s Pharmacists Tria Health was founded on the belief that pharmacists play a vital role in the management of high-risk patients that drive the majority of health care spend. If Tria Health is currently a part of your healthcare plan, call the Tria Health Help desk today for any of your medication-related questions. Tria Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Source: http://67.222.18.91/~aphm/pharmacists-can-help/ #ConditionManagement #TriaHelpDesk #NationalPharmacistsMonth #supplements #Pharmacist #EffectiveMedicationUse #OTC #PreventativeServices #SafeMedications

Image Source: Cayla1/Unsplash As Halloween approaches, it can be stressful as a diabetic, to be surrounded by so many sweets and treats. While it’s true that you won’t be able to snack on a whole bowl of candy, there are still many recipes that can be enjoyed in moderation. To help you get through this spooky season, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite diabetic-friendly recipes: Sugar Free Sugar Cookies Ghost Kiss Cookies Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin Cheesecake Mummies Strawberry Ghosts Have any questions for us? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 #Halloween #recipes #SugarFreeSugarCookies #StrawberryGhosts #DiabeticFriendlyRecipes #RoastedPumpkinSeeds #Diabetes #HalloweenTreats #GhostKissCookies #DiabeticRecipes #healthyrecipes #PumpkinCheesecakeMummies

© World Heart World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29th, with the goal of informing people around the globe that cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s leading cause of death claiming 17.5 million lives each year.1 World Heart Day also helps highlights the actions individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. What is Cardiovascular Disease? Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) can refer to a number of conditions including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia or heart valve problems.2 According to the Global Atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and stroke, over 17.5 million deaths each year are caused by CVD. Ischemic heart disease (eg heart attacks) is responsible for 7.3 million of the total CVD deaths and cerebrovascular disease (eg stroke) is responsible for 6.2 million of the total CVD deaths. This makes it the number one cause of death in the world today.1 Are you at Risk? It’s important to visit your physician and receive regular checkups. At your next appointment, ask for a few simple checks: Blood Glucose Levels Blood Pressure Levels Check your Numbers (Cholesterol, weight and body mass index (BMI) Understand the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack How Can You Participate in World Heart Day? Make a promise! “You could promise to cook and eat more healthily, to do more exercise and encourage your children to be more active, to say no to smoking and help your loved ones to stop. A simple promise… for MY HEART, for YOUR HEART, for ALL OUR HEARTS.”3 Source: https://www.world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease https://www.world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-day/about/ #Stroke #WorldHeartDay #CVD #risks #HeartValveProblems #HeartFailure #CardiovascularDisease #HeartAttack #HeartDisease #HeartDiseasePrevention