El Paso Health | About Your Health | Winter 2021

I t’s not unusual to be anxious during a disease outbreak, especially a pandemic like this one. But chronic stress isn’t good for your body or mind. It might be time to take some steps to ease the pressure on yourself. Recognize the signs of stress You may be stressed if you’re having: ■ Fearful thoughts about your health and the health of your family and friends. ■ Trouble sleeping. ■ Changes in your eating patterns. ■ Difficulty concentrating. ■ A worsening of chronic health problems. ■ A worsening of depression or other mental health conditions. ■ A rise in your use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Take steps to feel better Health experts offer the following tips for coping with these stressful times: Wean yourself off constant news. This can be as easy as turning off the TV. You also may want to disable your phone’s news alerts. Check in with family and friends. Call them. Have a video chat. Meet with your book club over a group meeting app. Get your facts straight. Learn more about the virus from reputable sources like public health agencies and your local health department. Knowledge can ease anxiety. Keep to healthy daily routines as much as you can. Whatever you do for self-care, keep up with those habits. They can help you feel more in control. Move more. Exercise is a great way to improve both mental and physical health. Practice mindfulness. Be in the moment, rather than worrying about what comes next. Breathe deeply and accept the “now” without judgment. Put free time to good use. Listen to an audiobook. Draw or paint. Make notes in a journal. Work in your garden. Celebrate small wins. Keep track of moments of gratitude and joy. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Alliance on Mental Illness Fighting the flu Most adults believe vaccines are important, but they need a reminder from their qualified health-care Provider to get vaccinated. Your strong recommendation has a recognized impact that affects whether your patients get a flu vaccine. Try these reminder tips: 1. Follow up with each patient during all appointments to ensure the patient received an influenza vaccine. 2. If the patient still is unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation to try to identify and address any questions or concerns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests using the SHARE method approach to make a strong vaccine recommendation as well as provide important information to help patients make informed decisions about vaccinations: SHARE the reasons why the influenza vaccine is right for the patient given his or her age, health status, lifestyle, occupation, or other risk factors. HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with influenza vaccines (personal or in your practice), as appropriate, to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in influenza vaccination. ADDRESS any patient questions and concerns about the influenza vaccine, including side effects, safety, and vaccine effectiveness, in plain and understandable language. REMIND patients that influenza vaccines protect them and their loved ones from serious illness and influenza-related complications. EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting influenza, including serious health effects, time lost (such as missing work or family obligations), and financial costs. The CDC website has provided the following printable tools to assist your practice with the SHARE method approach: ■ Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation Fact Sheet for specific age groups: ■ Ages 6 months to 17 years. ■ Ages 50 to 64. ■ Ages 65 and over. ■ Preparing for Questions Parents May Ask about Vaccines Fact Sheet. ■ Flu Vaccine: Get the Facts. ■ The Flu: A Guide for Parents. ■ Sample Social Media Content. To find these printable tools, visit cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/ prepare-practice-tools.htm. Take extra care of your mental health 2 stay informed