Category: Discounts & Perks

At Lerner Health and Wellness, there are multiple services for your health and wellness needs.  Join drop-in or league organized sports, take advantage of space and equipment for personal workouts, massage therapy, private training, or group exercise!

Want to try it before you join? Simply drop in and speak to the Recreation Membership team to get a two-week complimentary pass that provides access to the facility and group exercise classes. Questions? Email the team at HWCMembership@gwu.edu.

An outbreak of severe lung disease among users of electronic cigarettes has recently made headlines across the country.

According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 805 cases have been reported in 46 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The CDC has confirmed 12 deaths, in 10 states. The median age of patients was 23 and 69% were male, according to a report published on September 27, 2019 by the agency.

Our Quit for Life partner has shared the following resources to help educate our GW community about the risks of e-cigarettes and how to have conversations about the dangers with your family, particularly teens.

Know the Risks:

https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/

• This site has a link to a parent tip sheet:
  • https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf
• And a “Take Action” link:
• https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf

Be Informed:

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a smokefree.gov teen vaping site:
  • https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping/how-to-quit-vaping
• org has informative information presented in a youth-friendly way:
  • https://www.thetruth.com/articles/videos/vaping-mind-blown

¹https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/09/18/760635457/the-vaping-illness-outbreak-what-we-know-so-far

Stress is all around us. It can affect us on so many levels – emotional, psychological and physical. In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we’ve provided a few lifestyle choices you can make to prevent or manage stress:

1. Exercise. Physical activity in almost any form, from aerobics to pilates, can help relieve stress. In the long-term, exercise can reduce stress through the prevention of bodily illness. In the short-term, a 30-minute walk, yoga or functional training session can have an immediate stress-busting effect that can last for hours.

2. Focus on nutrition. Research has shown that certain types of food can reduce stress, including:

• Magnesium-rich foods, including leafy greens (such as spinach and Swiss chard), legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains
• Foods high in zinc, such as oysters, cashews, beef, liver and egg yolks
• Fatty fish such as Alaskan salmon
• Probiotic foods such as pickles, sauerkraut and kefir
• Asparagus
• Foods high in B vitamins such as avocado and almonds

3. Reduce or eliminate intake of alcohol and caffeine. These substances can worsen stress. Caffeine elevates the secretion of cortisol, often called the “stress hormone” due to its connection to the stress response. Alcohol, which is sometimes turned to as a means of easing the nerves, can (ironically) lead to higher levels of anxiety in the long-term.

4. Try relaxation techniques. Get a massage, practice breathing techniques or try meditation or yoga.

5. Get social support. Reach out to a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes, sharing your concerns with another person can help relieve stress, as long as the person is not a stressor.

6. Prioritize. Set aside some time each day to organize your to-do list, and try to mentally acknowledge what you have accomplished for the day. Here’s another trick: before leaving the office each day, draft your to-do list for the following day. This is the easiest way to hit the ground running the next morning and eliminate the stress associated with starting a day without a plan. Not a fan of pen and paper? Check out this list of the best to-do list apps of 2018.

And remember, you’re not alone. If you are concerned about your stress, help is available. The Wellbeing Hotline offers GW employees up to five free counseling sessions per year with licensed network professionals to help you manage and address concerns.

People often drink to relax, socialize and celebrate, but how much is too much? Overconsumption of alcohol can escalate the risk of injury, violence, liver disease and certain types of cancer. Each April, Alcohol Awareness Month aims to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism, and educate the community about the dangers of drinking too much.

Alcohol enters your bloodstream the moment you take your first sip, and its immediate effects can appear within 10 minutes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The amount of alcohol present in your blood stream, or your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, increases as you continue to drink. As your BAC rises, you can become impaired by alcohol effects that can include:

• Reduced inhibitions
• Slurred speech
• Motor impairment
• Confusion
• Memory and concentration problems
• Coma
• Breathing problems
• Death

Those who overconsume alcohol over a long period of time may experience its longer-term effects, which can include:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Health problems, including damage to the liver, heart, pancreas and immune system
• Increased risk for certain cancers, including cancers of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast

That’s not to say you can’t still enjoy your regular glass of wine in the evening. In fact, moderate consumption of alcohol has been linked to possible health benefits, such as lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate alcohol consumption as up to one drink per day for women, and up to two drinks per day for men.

If you are concerned about your drinking, help is available. The Wellbeing Hotline offers GW employees up to five free counseling sessions per year with licensed network professionals to help you address substance abuse or other concerns. UnitedHealthcare/Optum also offers a free Substance Use Disorder Hotline (PDF) to GW employees, regardless of whether or not you are covered under a university health plan; the confidential service is available at (855) 780-5955 or liveandworkwell.com/recovery.

Learn more about recognizing the warning signs of substance use disorder (PDF).

Certain risk factors for heart disease are out of our control; these include age and family history. However, many others risk factors – such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity – may be controlled through a few healthy lifestyle choices.

1. Move more

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity – or an equal combination of both – each week. To start, try adding just 30 minutes of brisk walking to your schedule three or four days per week to reduce your risk for high blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol and extra weight. Bump up your routine as you feel comfortable. Tip: Pad your weekly workouts with free group exercise classes and gym discounts.

2. Be a picky eater

Go easy on saturated fats, often found in red meat, high-fat dairy products and processed foods – they raise blood cholesterol. Also try to limit your salt intake (over time, you can even lose taste for it), and include more fish and whole grain oats in your weekly menu.

3. Watch the sweet stuff

Beyond just eating healthy, pay close attention to sugar – one of the greatest threats to a healthy ticker. While consuming whole foods that contain natural sugar is okay, problems arise with ingesting too much added sugar – that is, sugar added to products by food manufacturers to enhance flavor or extend shelf life. The biggest culprits in the American diet are soft drinks, flavored cereals and yogurts, fruit drinks, cookies, cakes, candy and most processed foods. Indeed, the prevalence of added sugar in the American diet is alarming: according to the National Cancer Institute, adult men consume an average of 24 teaspoons of added sugar per day! Monitor your intake of added sugar by carefully reading food labels. Check out the American Heart Association’s tips for cutting down on sugar.

4. Reduce stress

Stress can raise its devilish head in the workplace and in the home. Learning techniques to better manage stress can reduce blood pressure and lower your risk for heart disease. Practice relaxation techniques, including slow, deep breathing. Tip: try meditation or yoga (or both) this semester – classes are free and fit conveniently in your lunch block. You can also address your stress or anxiety directly through counseling sessions with highly-trained clinicians (up to five sessions are included for free with your Wellbeing Hotline benefit).

5. Get nutty

The largest study to date on the link between eating nuts and a lower risk of heart disease was published in November 2017 by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The research indicated that individuals who ate nuts – including peanuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews – on a daily basis exhibited a much lower risk of developing cardiovascular or coronary artery disease when compared with those who rarely or never consumed nuts. Do your heart a favor, and treat yourself to a small handful of nuts a day.

6. Quit tobacco

Smoking or chewing tobacco is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Reduce your risk and start improving your overall health by quitting now. Don’t be afraid to seek support if you need it – Quit For Life, the nation’s leading tobacco cessation program, helps GW employees and their dependents overcome physical, psychological and behavioral addictions to tobacco through coaching, a customized quitting plan and a supportive online community (and it’s completely confidential).

Need additional support? Call Health Advocate at (866) 695-8622 for the help and resources you need to stay healthy. The service is free, confidential and available 24/7.

Navigating the healthcare insurance maze is a timely (and often stressful) process, but you don’t have to go it alone. GW employees and their families have access to Health Advocate, the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company. Health Advocate’s team of trained Personal Health Advocates is skilled at working with healthcare providers and insurance plans to resolve complex clinical and administrative issues.

GW employees are automatically enrolled in Health Advocate at no cost, regardless of whether or not they participate in a university medical plan. Health Advocate is available to GW employees and their spouse/domestic partners, eligible dependents, parents and parents-in-law.

Gain free, one-on-one help from an industry expert who knows the ins and outs of the complex healthcare system. Health Advocate services include clinical support, help with administrative issues and answers to benefit questions.

Full-service clinical support:

• Explain diagnoses and treatment options
• Coordinate care for complex medical issues
• Coordinate the transfer of medical records, x-rays and lab results
• Research and locate best-in-class providers for second opinions
• Coordinate benefits between doctors and insurance companies
• Arrange for home care equipment following discharge from the hospital
• Estimate costs for medical procedures

Help with administrative issues:

• Untangle medical bills, uncover errors and negotiate fees
• Resolve insurance claims and billing issues
• Schedule tests and appointments
• Find the right doctors, hospitals and treatment centers
• Locate eldercare services and community resources

Answers to benefit questions:

• Explain benefits coverage
• Resolve errors with providers and health plans
• Resolve eligibility issues and benefit/claim denials

Did You Know? Health Advocate’s clinical team is comprised of nurses, nurse supervisors and medical directors.

Call Health Advocate at (866) 695-8622 or visit healthadvocate.com/gwu. Calls are unlimited and the service is available 24/7.

As you enroll in this year’s health plan, set yourself up for success. With GW medical plan participation, you gain access to Castlight, a new, free benefit for GW employees that will let you experience healthcare in a whole new way. Here are just a few ways Castlight can help you make the most out of your health plan and benefits:

• Personalized cost estimates
• Ratings and reviews of in-network doctors
• Your past bills in one place
• Step-by-step explanations of past medical spending
• Benefits program information
• Contact information for doctors and hospitals
• Timely information about conditions and treatments
• Current balances for your HCFSA and HSA
• Prescription drug option information

Castlight is completely confidential and provided at no cost to employees and their spouses/domestic partners and adult dependents enrolled in a GW medical plan. Sign up now to make the most of your health plan and benefits.

Get Rewarded. Current GW medical plan participants can register for Castlight by October 27, 2017, to be entered in a drawing for a $400 Visa® Gift Card*.

Register for Castlight at mycastlight.com/gw

User privacy and security are of the utmost importance. To protect user information, Castlight invests in industry-leading protocols and processes. Learn more about Castlight user security and privacy and review their privacy statement and security detail for additional information.

 *Winnings are taxable and will be included in payroll.