Winning Health | Gold Coast Health Plan | Issue 2 | Fall 2021

3 Member Services: 1-888-301-1228/TTY 1-888-310-7347 New screening: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are serious childhood traumas that can lead to harmful stress. ACEs can harm a child’s growing brain and body and affect their health. ACEs events include: ❱ Child abuse (emotional, physical, sexual). ❱ Child neglect (emotional, physical). ❱ Parent or household substance use​/ alcoholism. ❱ Parent or household mental illness. ❱ Domestic violence​. ❱ Having a parent or family member in jail. ❱ Parent separation or divorce. ❱ Death ​of a parent or sibling. Facing ACEs early in life can lead to teen pregnancy, drug use, depression and more. Parents or caregivers of children with ACEs should talk to the child’s doctor about having their child screened. The ACEs screening can diagnose the child. It will also connect them with the best care. Gold Coast Health Plan is part of the ACEs Aware initiative, which partners with community agencies. This brings communities together to prevent, screen for, treat and heal induced toxic stress. For more information, visit healthychildren.org . Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the airways to narrow, making it hard to breathe. While asthma affects people of all ages, it most often starts when you’re a kid. It’s important to spot the symptoms of asthma and to get medical help for it. What are the signs? Sometimes asthma symptoms are mild and go away on their own. But at other times, symptoms can get worse. When this happens, it could bring on an asthma attack. Common asthma symptoms include: ● Coughing. ● Wheezing. ● Chest tightness. ● Shortness of breath. What causes it? The cause of someone’s asthma isn’t always known. But a number of things—known as triggers—can bring on symptoms or make them worse. Common triggers include: ● Allergens, such as dust mites; animal dander; mold; and pollens from trees, grasses and flowers. ● Cigarette smoke, air pollution and certain chemicals. ● Respiratory infections. ● Physical activity. ● Stress. If you have asthma, your doctor can help you find out what your triggers are. Everyone with asthma should have a written asthma action plan. The plan gives instructions on how to manage your asthma. For more information, visit goldcoasthealthplan.org . Sources: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute New incentive program for members with asthma Children and adults with asthma should meet with their doctor at least once a year or more. If you are between 5 and 64 years of age and have asthma, you can earn a $40 gift card for completing an asthma exam with your doctor. To get your gift card, you must complete the services below during an office or telehealth visit with your doctor by December 31, 2021: ❱ Asthma health exam. ❱ Create or update an asthma action plan. ❱ Review asthma medications. The asthma member incentive form is available at goldcoasthealthplan.org . Click “For Members,” then “Member Resources,” then “Member Rewards.” Schedule a visit with your doctor today! Could it be asthma? How to spot the symptoms