VoL.5 No.3
Member Newsletter
Summer 2008
Bye-Bye Bifocals
Progressive lenses let you see without
lines
IF YOU’RE OVER 40 years old and are
having trouble reading fine print, you now have more options
than just the lined bifocal lenses your parents wore.
Progressive lenses, sometimes referred to
as no-line bifocals, not only provide visual correction for
distances that traditional bifocals can’t, but they also
hide the fact that you even need reading glasses.
Progressive lenses are the closest to how
natural vision is (before the onset of presbyopia which is the
diminished ability to focus on near objects that comes with
age) that you can get in a pair of prescription eyeglasses.
Progressives provide a smooth transition from distance through
intermediate to near, with all the in-between corrections
included as well. This constant graduation of the prescription
means that you can look up to see in the distance, look ahead
to view your computer in the intermediate zone, and drop your
gaze downward to read and do fine work comfortably close up.
With progressive lenses, you get the best
vision through the lens when you look directly at the objects
of focus. There is a “corridor” of optimum vision
that runs vertically down each lens. Your eye care practioner
will measure both eyes in relation to the position of the frame
in order to place the corridor in just the right location for
you. In this way, you’ll get the best vision when you
point your nose directly at whatever you want to see.
Choosing the right eyeglass frames for
progressive
lenses is important.
lenses is important.
Until recently, a disadvantage of the
progressive corridor was that an eyeglass frame had to be a
rather large size in order to accommodate all of the areas of
focus in the lens. If the frame was too small, the reading
portion would wind up being cut off, defeating the purpose of a
progressive lens. Today, lens manufacturers have overcome
that difficulty by offering progressives that are more compact
and fit into small fashionable frames.
There are many different progressive lenses
on the market today. The differences among the lenses are
mainly in the width of the central corridor of optimum vision.
For example, some progressives that are made for a great deal
of computer use have a wider intermediate zone. Others have a
larger reading portion. Also, progressive lenses are available
in regular plastic, glass, polycarbonate, high-index and
photochromic lenses. Your eye care professional is in the best
position to evaluate which lens style will work for you.
The vision benefit of your Passport to Health® membership can save you 20%
to 60% on frames and lenses. Consult
your benefits directory or call your Customer Service Representative
toll free 1-800-871-7082.
Walk Your Way To Health
 | ||
For example, walking controls weight, blood
sugar and cholesterol levels and improves cardiovascular
fitness and circulation. Walking also helps facilitate medical
rehabilitation and recovery from ailments, generates a sense of
well-being and can relieve depression, anxiety and stress.
Here are some tips to help make your
walking more enjoyable and effective:
Warm up and cool down. Stretching helps to improve circulation and
minimizes aching muscles.
Choose proper footgear. Buying shoes is the only real expenditure
necessary for walking, so don’t cut corners on your shoe
budget.
Pay attention to your feet. Changes and/or pain in the feet and ankles
are not normal and could indicate a serious foot ailment. If
you notice red spots, swelling or other abnormalities,
including numbness, tingling or burning, consult a podiatric
physician as soon as possible.
 | ||
Avoid walking in cold weather. Walk in an indoor mall when it’s cold
outside.
Exercise smart. Establishing
a walking program is an important undertaking.
As with all exercise programs, consult with
your primary care and /or podiatric
physician before beginning a walking
program.
Your Passport
to Health® membership can
save you money on visits to a
podiatrist.
Call your Customer Service Representative toll free 1-800-871-7082.
Call your Customer Service Representative toll free 1-800-871-7082.
Light Up Life Instead of a Cigarette
Between 1 and 9 Months
Coughing, sinus congestion,
fatigue and shortness of breath decrease;
your overall energy level increases.
After 1 Year
Your risk of heart disease decreases to
half that of a
current smoker.
current smoker.
After 10 Years
Your risk of dying from lung cancer drops
to nearly the same rate as a lifelong nonsmoker. You also
decrease your chance of developing cancer of the mouth, larynx,
esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas.
After 15 Years
Your risk of heart disease is reduced to
that of a person who has never smoked.
For more information and help in quitting
smoking, consult with your physician. For a doctor near you
call your Passport to Health® Customer Service Representative toll free
1-800-871-7082.
IT’S NOT EASY to break the smoking
habit. Many ex-smokers say quitting was the hardest, and yet
the most rewarding thing they ever did.
The rewards are noticeably worth it.
HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU QUIT:
After 8 Hours
The carbon monoxide level in your blood
returns to normal and the oxygen level in your blood increases.
After 24 Hours
Your risk of heart attack begins to
decrease.
After 48 Hours
Nerve endings adjust to the absence of nicotine and your ability to taste and smell begin to return.
Nerve endings adjust to the absence of nicotine and your ability to taste and smell begin to return.
Between 2 Weeks to 3 months
Your circulation and exercise
tolerance improve.
tolerance improve.
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
The fountain of youth may be as near to
you as a simple change of habit.
To stay youthful at any age:
Be physically active for 30 minutes a day. Regular exercise can help to prevent
cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure and may hinder
mental deterioration.
Get your beauty sleep. During sleep the body restores itself.
Eat plenty of antioxidants. Antioxidants combat the free radicals that
harm and weaken the body’s maintenance and repair
systems.
Hydrate your body. Water helps skin stay elastic and helps
digestion.
Take care of your skin. Sun is a primary source of wrinkles. Avoid
excessive exposure and always wear sunscreen.
Keep your mind at rest and in shape. Stress is linked to mental decline.
Stay Social. Make
an effort to befriend people of all ages to help retain a
balanced perspective.
Approach life with a positive attitude.
A Tasty Approach to Healing
 | ||
Certain chocolates and dark chocolates have
been shown to contain super high levels of flavonoids that help
keep blood platelets from clumping together. This aspirin-like
action may well reduce the risk of blood clots that could lead
to heart attacks. And, studies of people with high levels of
flavonoids show they have a lower risk of heart disease, lung
cancer, prostate cancer, asthma and type 2 diabetes. Another
study of people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark
chocolate had lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholesterol,
higher blood antioxidant levels, and 4% higher levels of good
HDL cholesterol. Chocolate has also been linked to increased
blood vessel flexibility. Unlike aspirin, some of the
properties in chocolate can trigger production of nitric oxide,
which helps keep arteries flexible and increases blood flow.
While it’s doubtful chocolate could
ever substitute for blood pressure medications, it is
reassuring to know that it might be beneficial rather than harmful. Additionally, researchers have reported that an ingredient in chocolate called theobromine may be more effective in controlling a persistent cough than traditional cough medicine containing codeine. Theobromine appears to calm the cough reflex, which is controlled in part by the vagus nerve. But, don’t run out and stock up on chocolate as a substitute for professional medical evaluation and monitoring.
reassuring to know that it might be beneficial rather than harmful. Additionally, researchers have reported that an ingredient in chocolate called theobromine may be more effective in controlling a persistent cough than traditional cough medicine containing codeine. Theobromine appears to calm the cough reflex, which is controlled in part by the vagus nerve. But, don’t run out and stock up on chocolate as a substitute for professional medical evaluation and monitoring.
Your Passport
to Health® membership enables
you to save 10% to 40% on doctor’s fees. For a doctor near you
call toll free 1-800-871-7082. Be sure to have your membership card handy
