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Water helps relieve fainting spells
Drinking water could help people suffering from low blood pressure who faint while standing up. During tests, researchers found that drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water can raise blood pressure in five minutes.
Cranberries keep bladder infections away
Cranberry juice is a great home remedy for lessening the severity of bladder infections. It produces a substance that acidifies in urine, preventing bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder.
As a preventive, drink seven ounces of 100-percent cranberry juice daily. Don’t use if labeled “juice cocktail.” Cranberry capsules can be substituted.
Courtesy blood pressure check
City employees can get a free blood pressure check on a nonpriority, courtesy basis weekdays from 1 - 4 p.m. by visiting the Physical Exam and Drug Testing Unit on the Garden Level of 611 Walker.
Anyone having chest pain should call 911 immediately for emergency medical services.
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Grapefruit juice and drug interactions
Grapefruit juice interacts adversely with certain medications. Researchers believe that compounds in grapefruit juice suppress an intestinal enzyme that processes medications. So what does this mean?
Certain drugs cannot be taken for several hours before or after drinking grapefruit juice, if at all. The grapefruit juice may elevate the drug level up to nine times the prescribed dose leading to potential harmful and even life-threatening side effects. Even eating grapefruit slices may interact adversely.
Drugs interacting with grapefruit juice include those prescribed for heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, antihistamines, antibiotics, HIV medications, psychoactive, and immunosuppressant drugs. For a complete list, visit www.benefitspulse.org.
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Life insurance
The city provides life insurance coverage for employees and dependents at no cost. Employee coverage is equal to your annual base salary, $2,000 for a spouse, and $1,000 for each dependent child. Employees may buy more coverage for themselves of up to four times their annual base salary and more coverage for their dependents.
- The life insurance plan covers a person only once, as an employee or as a dependent. Only one parent may cover dependent children. If your spouse and you are city employees, each of you should review your benefits file to ensure you are covered once. An employee is entitled to a higher level of coverage than a dependent. The plan does not cover retirees’ dependents.
- An on-the-job death benefit is paid to your beneficiary if your death is caused by an on-the-job injury, accident, infection or disease. The benefit is equal to your annual salary, and is in addition to your basic life insurance coverage.
- An accelerated death benefit is available if you have a terminal illness that could result in death within 12 months. You may apply to receive a lump sum payment of up to 75 percent of your life insurance. The balance will be paid to your beneficiary upon your death.
- If you die more than 200 miles from your home, expenses incurred to transport your body to a mortuary near your primary place of residence are eligible for reimbursement of 10 percent or $5,000, whichever is less.
- You should review your life insurance beneficiary or designate a new beneficiary to ensure the right person receives your life insurance when you die. The life insurance company will hold benefits for a minor until the child reaches 18 or until the benefits division receives a letter of financial guardianship before the child is 18.
- If your covered dependent, or you die within 31 days after your life insurance ends, a benefit will be paid to the designated beneficiary. You are the beneficiary for your dependent. The benefit will be the amount in effect before coverage ended.
The life insurance plan has rules and administrative procedures that apply to the above coverage. Call Human Resources customer service, (713) 837-9400, or visit 611 Walker, 4th floor, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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