(NewsUSA) - Choosing a Medicare plan is a big decision for eligible individuals, including those who are 65 or older or are living with a disability, because the plan you select during the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan annual enrollment period is the plan you'll have for the coming year, with a few exceptions.

Eligible individuals should take time to research plans and compare available benefits during the enrollment period -- which runs from October 15 to December 7 -- as there are key factors to consider based on your health needs, such as pharmacy coverage offered through a Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).

For some people, stopping at a local pharmacy is a convenient option to pick up their prescriptions. However, there may be other ways to get prescriptions if you have a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription-drug coverage or a PDP that includes access to prescription drug home delivery pharmacies in the plan's network. The advantages of home delivery via mail can include the comfort of knowing you'll never run out of your prescriptions, and the convenience of having your medications mail-delivered to your doorstep.

Whether you choose a Medicare Advantage plan that offers prescription drug coverage, such as Humana Medicare Advantage plans, or a PDP, check to see whether the plan includes prescription-drug home delivery pharmacies in the network and consider the following tips to help you get the most from home delivery pharmacies:

• Go Online or Download the Mobile App: By utilizing your pharmacy's app or website to manage your prescriptions, you may be able to submit requests for new prescriptions and medication transfers, establish delivery times for eligible medication orders, track your medications and deliveries, and have a live chat with a pharmacy specialist --all from the convenience of your home.
• Get a 90-Day Supply: Many medications will allow for a 90-day supply, resulting in fewer refills and may result in cost savings for you.
• Sign-up for Auto Refills: Spend less time worrying about running out of your medications: the auto refill option, if a pharmacy offers it, will automatically deliver your next order right to your door! If auto refill is not for you, be sure to set your communication preference for refills and you may be able to receive a reminder notification.
• Compare the Costs: Many plans, such as Humana, have a "switch and save" option for some medications, which provides suggestions for generic options at lower costs.
• Build a Personalized Medication List: Seeing multiple doctors usually means having several medications. Use your plan's app or website to maintain a single, complete list of all your prescriptions to avoid adverse reactions.

For more information about prescription drug home delivery pharmacies, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or go to Medicare.gov. To learn about Humana's Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.Humana.com/Medicare or call 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) to speak with a licensed sales agent from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Additional Information:

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organization and a stand-alone PDP prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

Scott Greenwell, PharmD., is President of Humana Pharmacy Solutions, where he oversees the health plan's pharmacy solutions. He is based in Louisville, KY.

(NewsUSA) -Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

In fact, having AFib makes you up to five times more likely to have a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all.

Most strokes caused by AFib could be prevented with effective treatment, but only about half of AFib patients receive proper therapy.

Approximately 5.2 million people in the United States experience AFib, and that number is expected to more than double in the next ten years, according to the American Heart Association.

Although anyone can develop AFib at any age, the risk is greatest for individuals older than 50 years, those with a family history of AFib, smokers and those with high blood pressure or other forms of heart disease.

Although AFib is less prevalent in Black and Latino individuals compared with white individuals, Black and Latino people living with AFib have a higher risk of AFib-related death when they also have conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure, according to the American Stroke Association.

The best-known symptom of AFib is a fluttering heartbeat, but not all individuals with AFib experience this, and many people with AFib report no symptoms prior to diagnosis.

"Because of this, it's important that people at risk for AFib continuously speak to their doctors about any unusual sensations involving their heartbeat," says Mark Estes, M.D., FACC, FHRS, American Heart Association volunteer medical expert and professor of Medicine and Program Director of the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Other symptoms of AFib include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, faintness, sweating and chest pressure.

Up to 84% of strokes caused by AFib are preventable if patients receive early, effective treatment. That means it is important to talk to your doctor if you are at increased risk for AFib. The American Stroke Association offers a downloadable symptom tracker that can serve as an important tool for conversations with your doctor about how to stay healthy.

To learn ways to manage AFib, the American Stroke Association has created an online portal, MyAFibExperience.org, where individuals with AFib can share their stories and learn from the experiences of others.

(NewsUSA) - Selecting the Medicare plan best suited for your individual health needs is important for all eligible beneficiaries to consider at this time of year as the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7.

However, for Veterans who have the option to select a Medicare Advantage plan that can complement their Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, it's critical to keep some key factors top of mind as you research plan options, including:

• Understand how Medicare Advantage works with VA benefits: A Medicare Advantage plan may complement your existing VA benefits and help reduce gaps in your healthcare coverage. Additionally, enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan may provide access to additional services and benefits, such as urgent care and dental coverage -- which may not be covered by VA health care. For example, Humana Honor Medicare Advantage plans are available to anyone eligible for Medicare, may complement VA benefits and may provide beneficiaries with additional benefits, such as robust dental care and $0 monthly plan premiums. Although Humana Honor plans are designed with veterans in mind, Medicare-eligible veterans can select from any Medicare Advantage plan in their area.
• Understand how Medicare Advantage works with TRICARE and/or CHAMPVA: Benefits with TRICARE for Life are generally "richer" than most other types of coverage available, so veterans with this type of coverage should carefully consider how their coverage would be impacted by enrollment in Medicare Advantage. If you have TRICARE for Life or CHAMPVA, and decide to enroll in a MA plan, the MA plan will become your primary coverage, and you would only be able to see providers that are in-network for that MA plan. TRICARE for Life or CHAMPVA beneficiaries may only want to consider enrolling in a MA or MAPD plan if they can coordinate billing and do not mind being limited to a network of providers.
• Know the process for prescription drug coverage: When you add a Medicare Advantage plan, your VA prescription drug coverage would continue to cover prescriptions written or approved by a VA doctor. However, a Medicare Advantage plan would cover certain Part B medications, such as injectable drugs and infusions, which could be beneficial based on your health needs. If you sign up for a plan with Medicare prescription drug coverage, certain medicines from non-VA doctors would be covered and it would allow you to fill your prescriptions at local network pharmacies instead of through the VA.

As you research health plan options, it's important to turn to credible sources, such as Medicare.gov, which will allow you to easily compare plans and estimate costs based on what a typical enrollee experiences. You can also enroll in online educational events or coordinate one-on-one meetings with licensed sales agents who can answer your questions and review 2022 Medicare Advantage plan options -- from the convenience of your home. Additionally, you can learn about the reputable organizations that stand behind Medicare plans. For example, Humana Medicare Advantage plans -- such as its Honor plan that's designed with veterans in mind -- are recommended by USAA, a company known for its customer satisfaction and commitment to the financial security of current and former members of the U.S. military.

For more information, Medicare eligible individuals can visit www.Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, you can learn about Humana plans by going to www.Humana.com/Medicare or calling 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) to speak with a licensed sales agent from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organization and stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana Medicare plan depends on contract renewal.

(NewsUSA) -If you witness someone having a cardiac arrest, don't be afraid to act, especially since that person may be someone you know in a familiar setting.

According to the American Heart Association, about 70 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home, but often family and friends who witness a cardiac arrest hesitate to perform potentially lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for fear of making the situation worse.

"Rather than waiting for first responders to arrive, performing immediate CPR in the case of cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's odds of survival," says Comilla Sasson, M.D. and vice president of emergency cardiovascular care at the American Heart Association. "If you are willing and able to do CPR, you should do CPR, even during this pandemic. In fact, the simple, hands-only CPR technique recommended by the American Heart Association can save lives and does not require the mouth-to-mouth contact that many people associate with CPR."

World Restart a Heart Day, October 16, is a global initiative from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) to raise awareness of the effectiveness of bystander CPR and educate more people about Hands-Only CPR. ILCOR and resuscitation councils around the world will use the hashtag #WorldRestartAHeart to link and track social media posts related to the value and effectiveness of Hands-Only CPR. If you or someone you love is a survivor, you can share your story on social media using #CPRSavedMyLife #WorldRestartAHeart.

The American Heart Association's Hands-Only CPR Campaign is nationally supported by the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc.

"When someone experiences a cardiac arrest being able to act quickly and provide Hands-Only CPR can improve the chances of survival," says Shantanu Agrawal, MD, Chief Health Officer at Anthem, Inc. "That's why the Anthem Foundation and the American Heart Association are working together to increase access to Hands-Only CPR training in our local communities to teach this simple technique and individuals can overcome concerns so they can be empowered and comfortable to respond in an emergency."

Hands-only CPR includes just two simple steps.

• First, call 911.
• Second, push hard and fast in the center of the chest of the individual having a cardiac arrest. How fast to push? That's easy. Push to the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute. For example, the classic disco hit, "Stayin' Alive," can help you stay on pace, but anything with a similar tempo will do.

Raising awareness about Hands-Only CPR is especially important in Black and Hispanic communities, where individuals are at least twice as likely to have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, according to a recent study.

Visit heart.org for the most up-to-date information on heart health and World Restart a Heart Day.

(NewsUSA) - The past year-and-a-half has brought unprecedented levels of stress to everyone, but parents in particular shouldered an extra load, as children's schedules (and emotions) were turned upside down. In fact, Gallup's 2021 Emotions Report shows that women with young children at home were hit the hardest in terms of pandemic stress and worry.

As the pace of daily life begins to pick up with the back-to-school season, it's more important than ever for busy parents to find a few minutes of 'me' time to decompress every day. Yet, finding the time can be a struggle.

That's exactly why the mental wellness app, Breethe, meets parents (and anyone needing stress relief) where they're at, ensuring that self-care becomes a reality and not just a hopeful wish. Breethe's personalized approach -- which easily integrates self-care into your day instead of just adding another item to the to-do list -- delivers customized, relatable stress relief right to your phone.

"Breethe is personalized for you and your needs. When it comes to wellness and self-care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach," says Breethe co-founder Lynne Goldberg. "The more we can meet someone where they're at in their day and life, the more lives we can change for the better."

Can't sleep? Feeling anxious? The app is designed to figure out why and gets to know its users through a series of quick and easy questions rooted in behavioral science. Then, based on this interaction, it provides personalized recommendations -- including meditation, hypnotherapy sessions, and helpful talks.

Additionally, with the "Customize My Day" tab, Breethe helps users sneak in a few minutes of self-care as they go about their day. Choose from a selection of activities, such as starting the day, doing chores, working out, or falling asleep. By setting the times when you typically do the activities, the app recommends what support would serve you best at that specific time.

Finally, Breethe is all about real help for your life -- it offers relatable tools for (very!) specific everyday situations, such as "Tax Season -- Adulting Is Hard," "My Boss is a Jerk," "My Family Drives Me Nuts," making the app even more accessible, timely and friendly.

This approach differentiates Breethe from other wellness apps because users need not sift through content libraries in search of the right tools. Instead, Breethe provides a personalized experience that delivers the most appropriate content to users on demand, making it the perfect choice for parents (and anyone else) at home and on the go. As the Breethe team explains, "it's like having a best friend and life coach in your pocket."

Visit breethe.com for more information, or follow along at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breetheapp (handle: @breetheapp) and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breetheapp (handle: @breetheapp).

(NewsUSA) - The end of summer and beginning of fall is an exciting time for all. With pumpkin picking, hayrides, and spooky festivities to look forward to, it is crucial that everyone is prepared to tackle the onset of cold and flu season so that those crisp-air activities can be fully enjoyed. Dr. Shirin Peters, a NYC internist at Bethany Medical Clinic, provides tips ahead of cold and flu season on how to best prepare and stay healthy.

"Autumn is a fun time to participate in outdoor activities with family and friends, but sometimes we forget that cold and flu season is beginning, and we are not always prepared," says Dr. Peters. "My tips below are designed to help people of all ages be prepared ahead of cold and flu season and remain healthy."

* Get vaccinated. Mask wearing and social distancing contributed to a less-severe-than-normal cold and flu season during 2020-2021, and with COVID-19 restrictions expected to continue to decrease, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends all persons aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine as they are safe and proven to be effective in preventing sickness, and reducing the risk of having flu-like symptoms. The pandemic is ongoing and flu-like symptoms require COVID testing and potential quarantine at home, which is what many seek to avoid.

* Keep your body moving. It is estimated that people who exercise 30 - 45 minutes a day experience 40% - 50% fewer sick days. Whether it be taking a daily walk during your lunch break, jogging in the morning, or attending a workout class with a friend, keeping your body moving will help you avoid getting sick. If you're new to daily exercise, try starting small by incorporating 2-3 workouts/activities a week and gradually increasing over time.

* Stock your medicine cabinet. Take advantage of the time that you are feeling well to prepare your medicine cabinet for when you're not. Throw out any expired medications and replace with fresh decongestants and antihistamines. And be sure to remember to pick up fever and pain relief products as well as a cold shortener so you can get back on your feet quicker. Zicam RapidMelts® and Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Spray® are great products, as they shorten colds versus just temporarily relieving symptoms.

* Stock your pantry. It's important to stock your medicine cabinet in preparation for cold and flu season, but it's also just as important to stock your pantry. Having comfort foods and energizing drinks on hand for when you're not feeling well is crucial in your recovery process. Try stocking up on frozen vegetables, which will provide your body with nutrients when you're feeling sick, ice pops, which will soothe a sore throat, and chicken soup, which will help eliminate chills.

* Create a cleaning routine. It has been proven that cold and flu viruses can survive for days on uncleaned surfaces such as metal, plastic, and wood. So cleaning household surfaces and objects is one of the best precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from contracting illness. Create a twice- weekly cleaning routine in which you heavily soak countertops, doorknobs, and TV remotes with antibacterial, bleach and hydrogen peroxide products.

About Shirin Peters, M.D.

Shirin Peters, M.D. attended college at New York Medical College and completed her residency at the Former St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, NY. The following year, she worked at a private practice in North Carolina and learned more about the business of medicine. She returned to New York City and founded Bethany Medical Clinic of New York in 2011. She feels that New Yorkers face unique health challenges and set out to build a model of care that could reduce illness and improve health for New Yorkers and all city-dwellers. She uses her diverse past work experiences, and her understanding.

(NewsUSA) - People suffer from oral pain for a variety of reasons -- a cavity that needs to be filled, sensitive gums, canker sores, dry socket or, most commonly, a nagging toothache.

Oral pain can strike at any time, but getting a dentist appointment may take days, or even weeks. As a result, many sufferers turn to over-the-counter products for relief and are often unsatisfied. Consequently, they may turn to potentially harmful prescription pain relievers instead.

However, there is a safe and effective option for the relief of mouth pain.

Dr. Craig Schmidtke, creator of ORCA Oral Care Products, has 27 years of experience as a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Schmidtke saw the need for a natural oral care product to effectively manage mouth pain and first developed a liquid solution as a treatment for pain relief in his patients with dry sockets following tooth extraction.

The pain relief results his patients reported were so dramatic that he formulated a more user-friendly delivery method. By using a putty consistency and expanding its use to gum pain and general toothaches, he has made it available to anyone as Orca Pain Relief Putty.

"The ingenious formulation and delivery method of ORCA Pain Relief Putty has revolutionized the ability to control oral pain with a natural, non-opioid alternative that is simple to use," Dr. Schmidtke says on the ORCA website.

The benefits of ORCA Pain Relief Putty include:

- Naturally-derived ingredients. ORCA Pain Relief Putty is a non-prescription option for oral pain relief, and contains non-toxic ingredients, including essential oils, aloe vera, and plant extracts.

- Ease of use. ORCA Pain Relief Putty is packaged in a quality glass jar with an included spatula for ease of manipulation. Simply scoop out a pea-sized amount of putty, form it into a ball, and apply it directly to the painful area of teeth or gums.

- Clinically Proven. Dr. Schmidtke tested the ORCA Pain Relief Putty in a group of 201 adults who reported oral pain. After using the product, their average pain scores dropped from 7.5 to 0.5 on a scale of 0 to 10.

Keep ORCA Pain Relief Putty in your medicine cabinet for anytime a toothache or mouth pain strikes.

Visit NoMoreToothache.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) - The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to live most of their lives, including work, entertainment, and personal interactions, online. All this screen time has taken a toll, as more people of all ages are reporting symptoms of "cybersickness."

Cybersickness was a phenomenon before the pandemic, but had been studied mostly in the context of up-and-coming virtual reality games. Cybersickness is a form of motion sickness, characterized by nausea, disorientation, and oculomotor disturbances, according to a study of the problem by Kay Stanney and colleagues, published in 2020 in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.

A recent article in National Geographic explains how cybersickness is seasickness in reverse. Instead of your body moving while your perception thinks you should be still, such as the experience of being on a boat while looking at a fixed horizon. In a virtual world your body is still, but your senses are perceiving motion, whether through video games, zoom meetings, or just endless scrolling.

Fortunately, the dizziness and discomfort of too much screen time can be eased by some of the same strategies that work on other types of motion sickness.

For example, the Sea-Band wristband is designed to relieve the symptoms of motion and travel sickness naturally through the use of acupressure. Specifically, the Sea-Bands include studs sewn inside that put gentle, steady pressure on the P6 (Nei-Kuan) acupressure point. Studies have shown that applying pressure to this point relieves the nausea associated with motion sickness.

"Because the bands do not use drugs, they do not cause any of the side effects associated with anti-nausea drugs and can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous," according to the company website.

Sea-Band wristbands can be used by anyone, adults or children, and usually have an effect on symptoms within five minutes of putting one on, according to the company. Sea-Bands are latex-free, washable, and reusable, and they can be used in combination with other anti-nausea medications.

Sea-Bands can help relieve not only the nausea and dizziness associated with motion sickness and cybersickness, but also post-surgery nausea, nausea associated with chemotherapy, and nausea associated with pregnancy. And Sea-Band products are HSA- and FSA-approved, so they are covered by many health insurance plans.

For more information, visit sea-band.com.

By Heidi Splete, Senior Writer 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - Cooling towers, a key component on large buildings, require special levels of cleaning to control biocontaminants including Legionella, heterotrophic bacteria, and others. However, poorly maintained towers, which are often treated with corrosive chemicals, can become 'super spreaders' of Legionnaires' Disease, an acute bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract that is not rare and causes severe pneumonia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, potable water is the most frequent source of Legionella exposure, but cases have been linked to cooling towers. Because it is difficult to distinguish from other forms of pneumonia, unless specifically investigated, many cases of Legionnaires' Disease go undiagnosed and unreported.

In August 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) reported that the real number of Legionnaires' disease cases may be as many as 70,000 cases per year in the United States.

Clean, efficient, and effective treatment of cooling towers can improve the air quality and reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria into the atmosphere. A novel, chemical-free technology, the Plasma Disinfection System (PDS) uses a combination of high-temperature plasma streamers, ultraviolet rays, and ozone to reduce the impact of air- and water-borne bacteria and viruses that can spread in public spaces through cooling towers.

The PDS is a state-of-the-art, fully-automated, integrated treatment technology for liquids.

What makes PDS solution unique is its combination of three major treatment technologies: novel plasma (the 4th state of matter) plus two traditional technologies (biocidal ions and hypochlorite), that work together to provide continuous reduction and management of Legionella and bacterial growth in water systems. The PDS also reduces the use of corrosive chemicals, thereby vastly extending the life and warranty life of costly mechanical equipment.

Public health organizations in the United States and worldwide have expressed concerns over the risks for Legionnaire's Disease and other respiratory infections due to poor management of cooling towers. Private industry has responded by publishing guidance for water management programs.

In June 2017, the CDC published a toolkit for businesses on "Developing a Water Management Program to Reduce Legionella Growth & Spread in Buildings;" the toolkit stated that "legionella water management programs are now an industry standard for large buildings in the United States."

Visit www.reverseionizer.com for more information about how Reverse Ionizer's chemical-free technology can improve air quality in public spaces and reduce the spread of disease.

(NewsUSA) -As we head into fall and go back to school, it's more important than ever to carry on with healthy hydration habits from the long, hot days of summer. The human body is made up of 50% water. In order to achieve peak hydration needs, kids ages 4-8 require five cups of water per day and kids ages 8+ require 7-8 cups per day.

"Unfortunately, water isn't the most tasty or easy-to-drink liquid so often we substitute it with other things such as milk, sports drinks, OJ or fruit concentrates," says James Mayo, Co-Founder and CEO of SOS Hydration. "These substitutions offer some hydration benefits, but also come with excessive amounts of sugar and high calories that kids don't need. Just take a peek at the nutrition panels the next time you reach for one of these beverages. Many of these drinks disguise their contents on the front by clever marketing or small pack sizes, but look at the truth panel on the side to see the amount of calories and also in many cases the amount of artificial ingredients. A carton of OJ or apple juice can have 100 calories and a fruit concentrate pouch can have 60 with some cartons that call themselves honest still having a heaping of 40 calories and excessive sugar."

The next option for hydration you might consider are the water- enhancing powders. Many of these products tout ultra hydration but, again, one would be wise to visit the nutrition panels first as they are often loaded with artificial ingredients. "Some electrolyte drink options for kids on the marketplace lead people astray with their 'organic' ingredients or 'physician- recommended' but be wary of sugar, which is not the ideal product for kid's hydration," James warns.

This truth led SOS Hydration to launch a healthier choice for kids' hydration: SOS Kids, featuring PAW Patrol. SOS Kids, now available at Walmart in-store and online, was specially-formulated for daily hydration by SOS Hydration Co-Founder and board certified Internal Medicine physician Dr. Blanca Lizaola-Mayo to help keep children optimally hydrated, and actually avoid becoming dehydrated in the first place -- a condition that compromises the body and mind in a variety of ways. SOS Kids has only three grams of sugar in a 12-ounce serving; is boosted with Vitamins A and C, minerals Zinc and Magnesium; and contains no artificial additives -- all designed to keep kids ahead of their hydration needs so they can perform better and get more from their days.

This launch coincides with SOS Hydration's first annual "National Family Hydration Awareness Month" initiative this September, during which the public is invited to learn about the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of pre-hydrating to avoid becoming dehydrated.

To learn more, visit www.SOSKidsHydration.com.