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World Bipolar Day was created by the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD) and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD). March 30th was decided for this day because it is the birthday of Vincent van Gogh. Many believed that he had bipolar disorder, which would explain his manic and depressive episodes. This day is meant to bring awareness to bipolar disorders and eliminate social stigma. The hope is to educate and improve sensitivity towards those with this illness. What is Bipolar Disorder? Mayo Clinic describes bipolar disorder as a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings from emotional highs to emotional lows. This is a long-term illness that should be carefully managed throughout a person’s life. There are a few risk factors of developing bipolar disorder or that could act as a trigger for a first episode: Having a first relative, such as parent or sibling with bipolar disorder. Time of high stress, such as a death in the family or experiencing a traumatic event Drug or alcohol abuse Bipolar disorder can co-occur with other conditions as well. Some of these conditions can include: Anxiety disorders Physical health problems (heart disease, thyroid problems, headaches, or obesity) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Manic Episode A manic episode can cause problems in day-to-day activities, such as: Distractibility Abnormally upbeat, jumpy, or wired Increased activity, energy, or agitation Racing thoughts Depressive Episode A depressive episode will show a difficulty to do normal day-to-day activities. Here are a few of the signs of an episode like this: Depressed mood: feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or tearful Fatigue or loss of energy Restlessness of slowed behavior Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness If you or someone you know has experienced any signs of bipolar disorder, it is important to seek treatment from a doctor or mental health professional to better help manage the condition. Tria Health and Mental Health Many patients decide to take medications to effectively manage their mental health. There are a variety of mental health medications currently on the market, ranging from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to atypical antidepressants. Because there isn’t a test to measure the brain chemicals, it can be a trial-and-error process to identify the best treatment for a patient. If Tria Health is offered through your benefits plan, you have the option of receiving a one-on-one, private consultation with one of Tria Health’s pharmacists over the phone. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. If you’re interested in exploring medication treatments for mental health, Tria’s pharmacist will be able to provide you with recommendations. Questions? Call the Tria Health Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Sources 1. Bipolar disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic 2. World Bipolar Day | ISBD 3. World Bipolar Day - International Bipolar Foundation (ibpf.org)

Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion. Yikes! Sound familiar? These are just a few signs that you are experiencing seasonal allergies. Fear not though. Tria Health wants to help you not let your allergies defeat you this spring. Learn about the different kinds of medications you can take to help with seasonal allergies. Mayo Clinic provides a full list of the allergy medications you can take for the different symptoms you may experience. We have listed a few common medications that are available through pills, liquids, shots, nasal sprays, etc. 1. Antihistamines Antihistamines block the histamines, chemicals that your immune system makes. Pills and liquids – orally these can ease a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, swelling, and other signs of allergies. Less likely to cause drowsiness: - Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Zyrtec Allergy) - Desloratadine (Clarinex) - Fexofenadine (Allegra, Allegra Allergy) Tend to cause drowsiness: - Diphenhydramine - Chlorpheniramine Nasal sprays – The nasal sprays help relieve sneezing, itchy or runny nose, sinus congestion, and postnasal drip. The following sprays are by prescription only: - Azelastine (Astelin, Astepro) - Olopatadine (Patanase) Eye drops – The eye drops can ease itchy, red, swollen eyes. The side effects could include headaches or dry eyes. If they burn or sting, put them in the refrigerator before using them. - Ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor) - Olopatadine (Pataday, Patanol, Pazeo) - Pheniramine and naphazoline (Visine, Opcon-A, others) 2. Decongestants Decongestants are not recommended for people with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, or hyperthyroidism. Pills and liquids – The oral decongestants relieve nasal and sinus congestion. Most of them are a combination of decongestant and an antihistamine: - Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) - Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D 12 Hour) - Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine (Clarinex-D) - Fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D) - Loratadine and pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D) Nasal sprays and drops – The spray and drops help relieve nasal and sinus congestion. Use caution wen taking these more than three consecutive days. This can result in a cycle where the congestion recurs or gets worse. - Oxymetazoline (Afrin) - Tetrahydrozoline (Tyzine) 3. Corticosteroids Corticosteroids help suppress allergy-related inflammation. Nasal sprays – The sprays prevent and relieve stuffiness, sneezing and runny nose. - Budesonide (Rhinocort) - Fluticasone furoate (Flonase Sensimist) - Fluticasone propionate (Flonase Allergy Relief) Inhalers – These are often used daily as a treatment for asthma that is caused by reactions to airborne allergens. The following are prescription only inhalers: - Beclomethasone (Qvar Redihaler) - Budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler) - Fluticasone (Flovent) These are just a few of the many kinds of medications you can use. Ask your doctor or local pharmacist what may work best for you. Let this year be the year that you take back control of your allergies. Tria Health Can Answer Your Medication Questions If Tria Health is offered through your benefits plan, you have the option of receiving a one-on-one, private consultation with one of Tria Health’s pharmacists over the phone. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. If you’re interested in exploring medication treatments for allergies, Tria’s pharmacist will be able to provide you with recommendations. Questions? Call the Tria Health Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Sources https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/in-depth/allergy-medications/art-20047403

The theme for National Nutrition Month is “Celebrate a World of Flavors”. With that in mind, we wanted to provide healthy recipes from other cultures that you can make in celebration of this month. Have you ever tried tandoori chicken with basmati rice? This traditional Indian dish is marinated in a yogurt-based sauce that is full of seasonings that add vitamins and nutrients. The chicken is loaded with protein and the whole dish has very few carbs. This is just one of the many diverse dishes that is both delicious and healthy! Indian – Tandoori Chicken Tandoori Chicken Recipe Middle Eastern – Chicken Shawarma https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/chicken-shawarma Thai – Slow Cooker Panang Curry with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/slow-cooker-panang-curry-with-chicken-and-cauliflower-rice Moroccan – Moroccan Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/moroccan-lentil-stew-with-butternut-squash Italian – Eggplant, Cheese & Tomato Bake https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/eggplant-cheese–tomato-bake If you are looking for more ways to spice up your food this month, check out this site which provides different ways you can personalize your plate to include foods from the following cultures: Asian Indian Cuisine Chinese Cuisine Filipino Cuisine Latin America Middle Eastern Cuisine Yum! Let’s get to cooking! Have Any Questions for Us? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources https://recipes.heart.org/ #food #healthyrecipes

Photo by Murtada Mustafa from Pexels March is National Nutrition Month! It’s a time to celebrate the importance of nutrients and the many ways they make our lives better. This year, National Nutrition Month’s theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors.” This theme is to encourage people to appreciate the diversity in society while still nourishing ourselves. We are all unique and come from different backgrounds that are expressed through the food we eat. Food and Culture – What’s the Connection? The type of food a person eats reflects their culture. Culture is the “way of life” of groups of people. It can be as big as a country’s culture to as small as your immediate family’s culture. Culture is passed down from generation to generation and can be seen in one’s writing, religion, music, clothes, and of course – food! How To Stay Healthy and Diverse? You can have healthy habits and appreciate different cultures at the same time. Here are a few different healthy dishes from around the World that you can try this month1: Breakfast: Vegetable upma, an Asian Indian dish, that can be made with semolina or rice, spiced with ginger and other seasonings. A smoothie with low-fat yogurt or buttermilk and tropical fruits, like papaya or mango. Meals: Spring rolls, a Vietnamese dish that’s served cold with a dipping sauce and includes fresh vegetables and a protein, such as tofu, stuffed inside thin sheets of rice paper. Munggo gisado is a stew native to the Philippines, featuring mung beans, leafy greens, and seafood. Snacks: Raw veggies with hummus or tzatziki, which is a creamy yogurt-based dressing made with cucumbers, garlic, and dill. Baba ganouj, a mixture made of roasted eggplant and tahini, which is a sesame seed paste, served with whole wheat pita bread. Try something new this month that you usually wouldn’t eat. You may be surprised that you like a certain style of food that you never would have explored before! Chronic Conditions and Nutrition If you have a chronic condition, a carefully planned diet can make a huge difference. This applies for food from all cultures. With certain diseases, what you eat may reduce some symptoms. In other cases, diet can improve health. Although your diet might differ depending on your condition and lifestyle, there are three healthy eating plan tips that will work for diabetes, heart health, cancer prevention and weight management: Eat meals and snacks regularly (at planned times). Eat about the same amount of food at each meal or snack. Choose healthful foods to support a healthy weight and heart. We Can Help You Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one, private consultations with a Tria Health Pharmacist. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. We also have health coaches available that can help you explore different dietary choices. Questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/toolkit 2. https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month #Culture #NationalNutritionMonth #Nutrition

Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels What does a heart attack feel like? What should you do if you or someone you know is having one? It’s important to know the symptoms of a heart attack before you get into that situation. You will want to act fast and get help as soon as possible if it is one. Heart Attack Symptoms 1 Heart attacks can be sharp and intense while others start off slower with mild pain and discomfort. The American Heart Association lists warning signs to keep watch for if a heart attack. Chest Discomfort: This discomfort can last for more than a few minutes or may go away and return. Discomfort in the Upper Body: You may experience discomfort in your neck, back, jaw, both arms, and/or stomach. Shortness of breath Other signs: These could include cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness. Men and women have a few differences in their symptoms. Women are more likely to experience not only the chest pain, but also nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath, and back or jaw pain. How to Respond to a Heart Attack If you or someone you know starts to experience any of the above symptoms, call 911 or go to an emergency room. You should take any type of chest pains serious and seek medical attention as soon as you can. What If It Is Not a Heart Attack? 2 If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then it is unlikely you are experiencing a heart attack but should still seek medical attention. Pain that gets worse with movement Chest pain that is aching, sharp, or stabbing Fever and chills Coughing It is possible that these symptoms are related to acid reflux, heartburn, pleurisy, or joint and muscle pain. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the different types of chest pains and their causes. Momentary Sudden Shock The momentary sudden shock chest pain can feel like a lightning bolt which is sudden, swift, and stabbing. This brief pain is unlikely a heart attack but would more likely result from: An injury such as broken or bruised ribs A pulled muscle in your chest wall Inflammation in your rib cartilage Fibromyalgia: causes muscle and joint pain all over and fatigue Shingles: a viral infection that causes an outbreak of painful rashes and blisters all over the body. Pinpoint Chest Pains Pinpoint chest pains occur when you take deep breaths or cough. They can also become worse with movement. This type of chest pain could be a result of a lung related issue. Some causes of this type of pain are: Pneumonia or another infection Inflammation in the lining of your lungs A blood clot in your lungs An asthma attack Lung issues can be just as concerning as a heart attack, so you should still seek immediate medical attention. Discomfort that Lessens with Exercise When you have a sharp pain in your chest and then it starts to go away when you move, that is most likely caused by heart burn (acid reflux) or some other gastrointestinal issue. Other Causes of Chest Pain You could also be experiencing chest pain because of an anxiety or panic attack. These symptoms mimic a heart attack. However, there are some key differences to look for: Panic/Anxiety AttackHeart AttackStabbing painElephant-on-your-chest squeezing painPain stays in chest areaPain radiates to other parts of body Follows physical strain or exertion Find out more about the differences between a panic attack and heart attack here. Take control of your health and prevent yourself from being at high risk for a heart attack. Check out our blog here on 5 ways to lower your risk of heart disease. How Tria Can Help Tria Health offers Chronic Condition Management through our Pharmacy Advocate Program. Heart Disease is one of the many chronic conditions that Tria Health targets. Clinical Pharmacists provide one-on-one telephonic counseling for members and act as their personal advocate to help them navigate through the health care system. Through reviewing a member’s medications and lifestyle habits, Tria Health’s Pharmacists can make recommendations that will lead to happier and healthier members! Resources Warning Signs of a Heart Attack | American Heart Association Chest pain: Is It A Heart Attack Or Something Else? | Allina Health Chest Pain: Signs It’s Not a Heart Attack – Cleveland Clinic #chestpain #HeartAttack #HeartDisease

Photo by Canva February is American Heart Month. The goal of this month is to raise awareness on the importance of having a healthy heart and encouraging healthy habits that will create lasting, lifelong effects. In today’s blog, you will learn about 5 steps you can do to take control of your health and lower your chance of heart disease. Control Your Blood Pressure High blood pressure is the leading cause for heart disease. It is important to manage your blood pressure and go in for yearly check ups with your prescriber. Learn more about how to reduce high blood pressure here. 2. Stay at a Healthy Weight Being overweight or obese can increase risk for heart disease. Consider managing what you eat and exercising on a frequent basis. If you need help knowing how to get started with weight loss and what that may look like, click here. For select groups, Tria Health offers a weight management service called Choose to Lose. If this structured weight loss program is included through your benefits plan, you can receive help from a combination of registered dietitians, health coaches and pharmacists, along with the best-in-class nutrition tracker app ‘LoseIt!’. 3. Eat a Healthy Diet Unhealthy eating such as too much saturated fats and added sugars, etc. increases your risk for heart disease. Eating healthy will not just happen overnight. However, if you make a few small changes every day, you can change the rest of your life. Click here for more information on how to implement a healthy diet into your lifestyle. Eating healthy does not have to be boring and you might be surprised by how much you enjoy the substitutions! 4. Don’t Smoke Smoking increases your blood pressure which results in an increased risk of heart disease. Quitting smoking can seem impossible. However, with the right plan, mindset and support team – you can quit smoking! Click here to start making your plan to quit smoking. 5. Manage Stress Stress is a silent killer. It can raise your blood pressure and be a huge trigger for heart attacks. Instead of coping with stress by overeating and drinking excessively, go to the gym or focus on something calm. Don’t let stress overcome you, take control of it today with this guide. Tria Health Can Help Tria Health is a no cost benefit available through select members’ health plans. Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one, private consultations with a Tria Health Pharmacist. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. Tria Health will assist you in identifying any possible drug interactions or savings opportunities! Your pharmacist will work with you and your doctor(s) to ensure the intended outcomes from your medications are being received. Questions? Contact the Tria Health Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources https://medlineplus.gov/howtopreventheartdisease.html #AmericanHeartMonth #BloodPressure #HeartDisease

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. If you have yet to plan your valentine’s meal– we’ve got you covered! We have laid out a full meal for you and your valentine that is delicious, budget friendly, and healthy. Appetizer Start the night off with a white bean and tomato bruschetta salad. White Bean and Tomato Bruschetta Salad Entrée Of course, the only appropriate thing to eat with a salad, like the above, is pasta! Next on the menu is a slow cooker chicken parmesan with eggplant and angel hair pasta. Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan with Eggplant and Angel Hair Pasta Dessert Finally, end your night with a warm slice of blackberry cobbler and ice cream. Yum! Blackberry Cobbler Happy Valentine’s Day! Have Any Questions for Us? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources Recipes | American Heart Association Recipes #HealthyEating #recipes #valentine039sday

February 4th is National Wear Red Day. This day focuses on increasing awareness for women’s heart health. While most heart disease and stroke deaths are preventable, cardiovascular diseases continue to be the greatest health risk for women. We want to educate women so that they can lower their chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke. Making a commitment to improving your health does not have to be a solo journey— Tria Health is here to guide the way! What Does a Stroke Look Like in Women? Stroke Symptoms in Women1: Numbness or weakness in face, arm, or leg Trouble speaking or understanding speech Vision problems Trouble walking or a lack of coordination Severe headache without a known cause Remember “F.A.S.T.” to know when to call for help: F = Face drooping A = Arm weakness S = Speech difficulty T = Time to call 911 It can be easy to miss the symptoms of a stroke due to their subtle symptoms. However, delaying proper treatment can lead to delays in time-sensitive, lifesaving treatments. What Does a Heart Attack Look Like in Women? Heart Attack Symptoms in Women2: Chest pain, but not always Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen Jaw, neck, or upper back pain Nausea or vomiting Shortness of breath Fainting Indigestion Extreme fatigue If you experience any of these signs or symptoms: Dial 911 immediately, follow the operator’s instructions, and get to a hospital right away. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital. Try to stay as calm as possible and take deep, slow breaths while you wait for the emergency responders. Women who think they’re healthy often misread the symptoms of a heart attack because they don’t think it could happen to them. Educate yourself on these conditions so that you can more clearly identify them if they were to arise in you or someone you know. Women, take control of your heart health this year. Tria Health Helps Control Heart Disease Tria Health offers Chronic Condition Management through our Pharmacy Advocate Program. Heart Disease and stroke are two of the many chronic conditions that Tria Health supports. Clinical pharmacists provide one-on-one telephonic counseling for members and act as their personal advocate to help them navigate through the health care system. Through reviewing a member’s medications and lifestyle habits, Tria Health’s Pharmacists can make recommendations that will help control their chronic conditions and help them feel better! Questions? Call 1.888.799.8742 or visit www.triahealth.com. Wear Red and Support Heart Health! Resources Symptoms of a Stroke in Women and Men | Go Red for Women Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women and Men | Go Red for Women Go Red for Women | The American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative #HeartDisease #Prevention #Stroke

Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels Losing weight can sometimes feel like the easy part in your weight loss journey. The hard part is keeping that weight off and being consistent in your weight loss goals. This article provides 5 steps that the American Heart Association suggests to losing weight AND keeping it off. 1. Set Realistic Goals Take a realistic goal of where you are at now and where you want to be. Create short term goals that are achievable and will motivate you towards your long-term goal. The SMART Goals method is a tool that will help you identify realistic short-term goals. This acronym stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. An example of how to use this method is as follows: Instead of saying “I would like to exercise more” … The SMART Goal might be, “I would like to exercise 3 days/week for 30 minutes on my recumbent bicycle.” 2. Understand How Much and Why You Eat Be mindful of what, when, and how much food you are eating. You can track your eating habits here: https://www.loseit.com/. You can also check out our blog from last week that talks about how you can improve your diet. To be successful in this journey, you will need to know exactly what your triggers are that are causing you to eat more or unnecessarily. This method will help you identify those better. 3. Manage Portion Sizes Try eating smaller portions of your food. A lot of people do not realize that there is a difference between a serving size and a portion size. A portion is what you can control. It is how much food you can eat in one sitting. Serving size is the amount of food listed on an item’s Nutrition Facts label. It may surprise you that the serving size is much smaller than what you may think. These are a few examples of recommended serving sizes: 1 slice of bread 1 small piece of fruit 1 wedge of melon ¾ cup fruit juice 4. Make Smart Choices Make healthy substitutions to the meals you are already making. Here are a few examples of food substitutions will help you continue your weight loss journey and still be able to enjoy the food you eat! Instead of french fries, try baked potato, brown rice or steamed vegetables Instead of hot fudge sundae or ice cream, try nonfat yogurt, sherbet, or fruit ice. Instead of fried chicken, try grilled chicken and a side salad. 5. Be Physically Active The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that a healthy adult aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and at least 2 days of muscle strengthening activities every week. Moderate-intensity aerobic activities include walking fast, doing water aerobics, or pushing a lawn mower. Muscle strengthening activities should work all major muscle groups which consists of legs, arms, hips, back, abdomen, chest, and shoulders. Tria Health Can Help For select groups, Tria Health offers a weight management service called Choose to Lose. If this structured weight loss program is included through your benefits plan, you can receive help from a combination of registered dietitians, health coaches and pharmacists, along the best-in-class nutrition tracker app ‘LoseIt!’ and a Bluetooth scale. Tria Health is a no cost benefit available through select members’ health plans. Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one, private consultations with a Tria Health Pharmacist. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. Tria Health will assist you in identifying any possible drug interactions or savings opportunities! Your pharmacist will work with you and your doctor(s) to ensure the intended outcomes from your medications are being received. Questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources 5 Steps to Lose Weight and Keep It Off | American Heart Association Smart Substitutions to Eat Healthy | American Heart Association Portion Size Versus Serving Size | American Heart Association How much physical activity do adults need? | Physical Activity | CDC #Exercise #NewYearsResolution #weightloss

Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels Sticking to a diet can be challenging, but not impossible. It’s important to take the right steps if you are considering making an impactful change in your diet. This will not be an overnight process and will take a daily commitment to follow these dietary steps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide three steps to improve your eating habits. Step 1: Reflect In this step you will reflect on all your eating habits that are both good and bad. Create a list of your eating and drinking habits. Have a food and beverage diary where you can record everything you eat and drink for a few days. Here is an app that would be helpful to track your habits: https://www.loseit.com/ Once you have identified your unhealthy eating habits, then you will pick out a few habits that you would like to start working on. Identify when and where you are eating when you are not actually hungry. These will be referred to as your triggers. Examples of triggers would be: Swinging through your favorite drive-through every morning Feeling bored or tired Sitting at home watching television Ask yourself these questions: Is there anything I can do to avoid the situation? For things I can’t avoid, can I do something differently that would be healthier? You won’t be able to avoid every situation that triggers your unhealthy eating habits. You will need to evaluate your options. If you want to be successful, you should have a clear vision of what the result will be if you change your eating habits. The long-term benefits of healthy eating include: Living longer Healthier skin, teeth, and eyes Supports muscles Boosts immunity Strengthens bones Lowers risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers Supports healthy pregnancies and breastfeeding Helps the digestive system function Helps achieve and maintain a healthy weight Step 2: Replace The next step is to replace your unhealthy habits with new, healthy ones. A couple examples of new habits you could implement is eating more slowly, eating only when you’re truly hungry or planning meals ahead of time. There are a variety of tools you can use to help you along this journey: MyPlate: Helps you make a healthy eating plan and build knowledge about nutrition. https://www.myplate.gov/resources/tools SuperCook: Finds recipes from cooking websites that match the ingredients that you already have in your pantry. https://www.supercook.com/ American Heart Association: Provides healthy recipes that are easy to make. https://recipes.heart.org/ Step 3: Reinforce Reinforce these new healthy habits a little every day and be patient with yourself. Starting a new habit will take time and it’s important to not get discouraged! Recognize any unhealthy habits that may still be hard to overcome and ask yourself why it’s hard to quit and how to change that behavior. We Can Help You Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one, private consultations with a Tria Health Pharmacist. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. We also have health coaches available that can help you explore different dietary choices. Resources Improving Your Eating Habits | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity | CDC #Diet #HealthyEating #NewYear #Resolutions

Today is January 12th which means it’s National Pharmacist Day! The traditional pharmacist was seen as someone who only dispensed pills. However, pharmacists do much more than dispense pills. They are medication experts that have a wealth of knowledge to assist patients with safe medication use, potential drug interactions as well as preventative services and over the counter medications. Why is Today Important? Here are a few reasons that the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy gave about why pharmacists are a vital part of our community: Pharmacists are easily accessible Pharmacists are accessible to talk to you anytime of the week, without an appointment. They do dispense pills, but they can also provide services such as asthma care, blood pressure monitoring services, cholesterol screening, diabetes disease management, smoking cessation consultation, bone density scans for osteoporosis screening, anticoagulation management clinics and more. Pharmacists work alongside your physician Pharmacists communicate with your physicians to ensure that you are on the proper medications and avoid any harmful effects. They can provide the proper management for chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, etc. Pharmacists take a whole patient into consideration Since pharmacists are medication experts, they can improve medication adherence. They take into consideration many factors that affect a patient’s ability to take a medication. These include diet, lifestyle, transportation, language barriers and much more. We want to say a big THANK YOU to all pharmacists! Don’t forget to say thank you to your pharmacist today. Today we express to them how much we appreciate their dedication to keep us healthy and educated on our medications. 4 Interesting Facts about Pharmacists Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Ginger Ale were all invented by pharmacists. Benjamin Franklin is considered the founding father of pharmacy. Chris Hemsworth worked in a pharmacy before he became famous. Agatha Christie was a pharmacy technician and used her experiences as inspiration for her mystery novels. How Tria Health Pharmacists Can Help You Tria Health was founded on the belief that pharmacists play a vital role in the management of high-risk patients that drive most of the health care spend. Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program provides one-on-one confidential counseling with a Tria Pharmacist. Your pharmacist will review how effective your medications are in treating your conditions. Your Tria Pharmacist will work with you and your physicians to reduce the risk of medication-related problems. Want to Learn More about Tria Health Pharmacists? Call us toll-free at 1.888.799.8742 or visit our website at www.triahealth.com. Sources: 8 Interesting Pharmacy Facts (pharmacytimes.com) NATIONAL PHARMACIST DAY – January 12, 2022 – National Today Top Ten Reasons to Become a Pharmacist | AACP #NationalPharmacistDay #Pharmacist

Photo by Breakingpic from Pexels Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution hoping that this year would be different than the last? Maybe you had a goal to go to the gym every evening after work but have found yourself too tired and indulging in a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream on the couch. It’s a big step to change something about your normal lifestyle. You only become more of the person you are today, so make a change– and let Tria Health help you! Before You Make a Resolution Have you ever asked yourself why we make resolutions? Resolutions originate way back to 4,000 years ago during the Babylonians period. They would hold celebrations for the new year. During these celebrations, they would crown a new king or reaffirm loyalty to the reigning king, then make promises to the gods to pay their debts. The Babylonians believed that if they kept their word, their gods would allow favor on their life for the coming year. Over the years, the term “New Year’s resolution” became a more popular term to communicate how the new year would bring new beginnings and commitments that we want to change. The Babylonians had a clear reason behind their promises (resolutions). Before you make a resolution, take time to discover why you want to make this change and what it means to you and your lifestyle. Where to Start To start off being successful in your resolution, you should set specific goals. A great method to use is the SMART goals method. SMART goals help you to identify the clear results that you are working to achieve. S – Specific: What will be accomplished? What actions will you take? M – Measurable: What data will measure the goal? (How much? How well?) A – Achievable: Is the goal doable? Do you have the necessary skills and resources? R – Relevant: How does the goal align with the broader goals? Why is the result important? T – Time-Bound: What is the time frame for accomplishing the goal? This layout should give you a clear vision of what you hope to achieve, and a plan mapped out of how to get to that result. Find a Community It’s important to not embark on this journey alone. You will want people that will reach out to you and challenge you and encourage you to keep going toward your goal. If you need an incentive to keep yourself committed to your goal, you can go to www.stickK.com. StickK is a website where you can make a financial pledge that you’ll lose if you don’t reach your goal. They offer communities to join with similar goals and several tools to keep you on track towards your goal. What If You Fail? Try, Try Again This is not going to be an easy journey and challenges will arise. You may miss a day, fall back into old habits, or simply just want to give up. Whatever the case may be, try not to be too hard on yourself. Here are a few ways to be kind to yourself and not put yourself down: Instead of “I blew it. What’s the point now?” …say, “That was a bad decision, but a good learning opportunity. What’s my next step?” Instead of, “My legs are SO sore. I can’t possibly work out today” …say, “Let’s give my leg muscles a rest today. What can I do to work my arms?” or: “Of course my muscles are sore. They’re supposed to be. It will get easier.” Instead of, “This is too hard!” …say, “Making it through today is going to really build my confidence.” Tria Health Can Help Tria Health’s Pharmacy Advocate Program offers one-on-one, private consultations with a Tria Health Pharmacist. During your consultation, your pharmacist will review all your current medications, including vitamins and supplements. Tria Health will assist you in identifying any possible drug interactions or savings opportunities! Your pharmacist will work with you and your doctor(s) to ensure the intended outcomes from your medications are being received. Questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 Resources Exploring the history behind New Year’s Resolutions (trafalgar.com) New Year’s Resolutions: When Did They Start? | Merriam-Webster University of California I SMART Goals: A How to Guide #Goals #NewYear #Resolutions