Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind., Hotline column

April 30--Sugar or caffeine?

Q Dear Hotline, I'm trying to figure out how to stay energized through the work day. Am I better off capitalizing on a sugar rush or getting some caffeine through coffee or energy drinks?

J.J., Spencer

A It really depends how long you need that energy for, dear reader.

Sugar can provide a great boost for quick energy, according to lifestyle website Livestrong.com, but will often lead to "crashing" within an hour or two. Also, adding a regimen of sugary foods to one's diet could cause complications for blood pressure, unhealthy blood sugar levels and more bodily concerns.

Caffeine, on the other hand, is a surefire way to get energized and improve concentration, but is more prone to cause user dependency. And instead of a crash, you may find yourself unable to rest or sleep later that night.

The best advice, if you're honestly having issues staying awake at work, is to get a full night's sleep the day before, and to take intermittent breaks at work so you're not feeling burnt out by 2:30 p.m.

But a little coffee and chocolate goes a long way to help me, personally.

Pick the right solution for you

Q I got an unexpected letter from "Adreima Reimbursement Matters" after my recent visit to IU Health Physicians, asking to help me apply for financial assistance. Is this a scam? Or something else? Please advise.

A.F., Bloomington

A Though many things about the health care world can be scary and scam-prone, dear reader, this letter from Adreima is not one of them.

Amanda Roach, a spokeswoman for IU Health Bloomington Hospital, reached out to me to explain that these letters are legitimate.

"Our IU Health Individual Solutions team helps patients apply for health insurance," Roach wrote. "Adreima provides a similar service and works with the Indianapolis-based Individual Solutions team."

Those most likely to get one of these letters include patients who have completed a visit to IU Health Physicians in Indianapolis or had a service provided through IU Health outside of south-central Indiana.

"The letters are legitimate, but patients living in south-central Indiana can disregard them and instead work with their local IU Health Individual Solutions team should they need help applying for health insurance coverage," Roach continued.

IU Health Individual Solutions has offices in Bloomington, Bedford, Paoli and Martinsville. Contact info for each office can be found online at iuhealth.org/individual-solutions.

That being said, dear reader, there is a faulty faux health care scam letter for every valid one, so it's keen and wise that you wanted to make sure. Besides, it's the health of you and your family -- what could be more important to protect?

Write to Hotline, c/o The Herald-Times, P.O. Box 909, Bloomington, IN 47402, or email hotline@heraldt.com, using "Hotline Inquiry" as the subject line. Include your name, city and phone number.

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