Health and Wellness Guidelines from Blue Cross Blue Shield

Chronic Diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S. This makes them the leading causes of deaths in the United States.

Know Your Numbers

Health problems can add up quickly. That's why it's important to have a health checkup each year. Preventive screenings help you learn your numbers and address health concerns before they become more serious—or to prevent problems altogether.

Chronic Diseases

Level of physical activity
Diet and nutrition
Tobacco use
Alcohol consumption

Learn more about chronic diseases in our featured articles.

Arthritis

Arthritis is an illness that causes pain and swelling in the joints, the places where 2 bones meet. Both young and older people can have it. There is no cure for most types, but your doctor can suggest care. The most widely found forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Regular joint pain is a sign of both, and can appear as hip, knee, hand or wrist pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis changes the lining of the joints but can also change other organs. Pain, swelling and redness are common. Treatment can ease symptoms and help improve function. Medicines and exercise can help lessen pain and disability.
Osteoarthritis is called degenerative joint disease. It is the most widely found form of arthritis. It affects close to 33% of people age 65 or older. Treatment can ease symptoms and help function. Education, physical therapy, weight control and drugs may help.
Being physically active can help your arthritis. The key is to add motion slowly to avoid pain. It can help joints more, lower joint pain, boost your mood and raise your energy. Losing extra weight can also help. Check with your doctor before starting exercise.
For more information about arthritis and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Asthma

Asthma is a lung condition caused by the swelling of the lining of the airways in your lungs. When your airways are exposed to irritants or allergens, they tighten. It is harder to breathe. Asthma should be taken seriously. The good news is that asthma can be controlled, if treated regularly. Most asthma medicines are effective and easy to take.
With treatment, most people with asthma can lead normal, healthy lives.
You can be free of signs of illness most of the time with your doctor's help. Take care of your asthma even when your breathing feels normal. Here are some easy steps to help:

Know your triggers. Take steps to reduce or remove them from your daily life. Some triggers may include: exercise, allergies, tobacco smoke, perfume, cold air, pollution and medicines.
Know how to use your inhaler and control medicines the right way.
Keep calm during an asthma attack. Breathe slowly. Sit up. Use your rescue inhalers as ordered. Know how to get emergency help if you need it.
Make a written asthma action plan with your doctor.

Work with your doctor and commit to taking these smart steps each day.
For more information about asthma and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Back Pain

Back pain is pain felt in the upper or lower back, and, for adults, it's a common complaint. It affects 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives.
Back pain can be acute or chronic. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and will last from a few days to a few weeks, while chronic back pain lasts for 3 months or longer.
Symptoms of back pain may include:

Muscle aches
Shooting or stabbing pain
Pain that radiates down your leg
Limited flexibility or range of motion of the back
Inability to stand up straight

The most common back pain is experienced in the lower back and often goes away within 4-6 weeks. However, you should see your doctor if you have severe back pain that doesn't go away in 3 days. You should also see a doctor if your back pain is the result of an injury or if you experience any of the following:

Numbness or tingling in your back
Weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs
Trouble urinating
Fever
Unintentional weight loss

It is important to understand that back pain is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of a medical condition. Some conditions that are commonly linked to back pain include:

Muscle or ligament strain
Bulging or ruptured discs
Degeneration of the discs
Spinal stenosis
Arthritis
Skeletal irregularities
Osteoporosis

If you have been living with chronic back pain, there are healthy choices you can make on a daily basis to help manage your condition
For more information about back pain and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic illness that occurs when your body cannot make or properly use insulin. Insulin is the hormone your body uses to break down sugar and fat.
There are 2 types of diabetes:

Type 1, which happens most often in children and young adults, occurs when the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2, the most common type, occurs when the body cannot properly use the insulin it produces.

There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but type 2 diabetes is both preventable and controllable.
When diabetes is controlled, people can live healthy lives. But if it goes uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to many very serious health problems and life-changing results. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:

Heart attacks
Blindness
Kidney failure
Leg amputations

The odds of developing type 2 diabetes are determined partly by genes and partly by lifestyle. Some healthy lifestyle choices may help prevent the disease, even if you already have prediabetes. Prediabetes is characterized by higher than normal blood sugar levels that are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. People can delay and possibly prevent the disease by losing weight, exercising and eating healthier.
Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

Excessive thirst and frequent urination
Weight loss, fatigue and drowsiness
Frequent skin, gum, bladder or vaginal infections
Slow healing of cuts and bruises
Blurred vision
Numb hands or feet

There is no cure for diabetes, and it often strikes without warning. Many of the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed. That's why it's important to get screened for the disease on a regular basis.
For more information about diabetes and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It affects people from all walks of life. Sometimes it is called cardiovascular disease or coronary artery disease (CAD).
Heart disease occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen rich blood flowing freely to your heart, brain, legs and every part of your body. Fatty deposits (cholesterol) build up in the arteries over time, making them blocked, or narrowed, and rough. When this happens, blood can no longer flow easily.
When the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen, symptoms such as pain in the chest, arm or neck area may occur. If an artery becomes completely blocked, part of the heart muscle begins to die from lack of oxygen. This is a heart attack.

Preventing Heart Disease

Here are key steps to help lower your risk for heart disease and heart attacks:

Exercise on a regular basis
Don't smoke or use other tobacco products
Eat healthy – choose a nutritious diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, fish, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Maintain a healthy weight
Reduce your stress
Know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides) and take steps to manage them

For more information about heart disease and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that increase your chance of heart disease. Doctors say that a person is at risk when 3 or more of these unhealthy measurements are present:

A waist size of more than 35 inches for women or more than 40 inches for men
A body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, which means a person is overweight
Triglycerides over 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), measured with a blood test
Fasting blood sugar (a blood test also called "blood glucose") of 100 mg/dL or higher
Blood pressure higher than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) systolic or higher than 80 mm Hg diastolic
HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol") of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women

How can these be harmful?

These problems can also cause:

Harm to your heart and arteries, leading to heart disease or stroke
Kidney damage
High blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack, stroke or kidney disease
Diabetes ("high blood sugar") – this can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke and may harm your eyes, nerves or kidneys

How is it treated?

Treatment for metabolic syndrome may include medicine to control cholesterol, blood pressure or glucose. If you're overweight, losing weight through exercise and diet can help. Always check with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.
For more information about metabolic syndrome and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Obesity

Obesity refers to body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. If you are obese, you have a much higher ratio of body fat than lean muscle mass. Generally, anyone more than 100 pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese.
Obesity can be the result of:

Eating more food than the body can use
Drinking too much alcohol
Not getting enough exercise

How is obesity harmful?

Medical problems frequently associated with untreated obesity and morbid obesity include:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease
Stroke
Certain cancers, including breast and colon
Depression
Osteoarthritis

Treatment

A combination of exercise and cutting calories appears to be more effective than either one alone. Sticking to a weight loss program is difficult. It requires a lot of support from family and friends. Here are some other encouraging and practical tips:

Realize that even modest weight loss can improve your health.
Work with your doctor or dietitian to develop a plan best for you.
Focus and commit to eating a more healthy diet and exercising more.
Adopt new behaviors: keep a food diary, avoid food triggers, think positively.

Again, work with your doctor on a plan that will work for you. Focus on health, not diets. Little steps mean a lot. Losing just 10 pounds can make a difference in your health.
For more information about obesity and other health conditions, members may
log in to Blue Access for Members.

Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease in which the lung is damaged, making it very hard to breathe. Symptoms often worsen over time and, when severe, may prevent you from doing even basic activities like walking, cooking or taking care of yourself.
With a damaged lung, less air flows in and out of the airways because of one or more of the following:

The airways and air sacs lose their shape and elastic quality.
The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.
The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed.
The airways make more mucus than usual, which can clog them.

Causes and Prevention

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Most people with COPD are smokers or former smokers. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants — such as pollution, dust or chemicals — may also cause or contribute to COPD.
What is the best way to prevent COPD? Do not smoke. Or quit if you currently do smoke.

Living with COPD

If you have COPD, there are healthy choices you can make to help manage your health:

Consider a smoking cessation program.
Avoid exposure to other potential breathing irritants.
Use an air filter in your home.
Eat well and exercise regularly to strengthen your body and lungs.

For more information about COPD and other health conditions, members may log in to Blue Access for Members.

Know Your Numbers

Preventive screenings help you learn your numbers and address health concerns before they become more serious—or to prevent problems altogether.
When you visit your doctor for your health checkup, be prepared to talk about which preventive screenings you need:

Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Fasting glucose (blood sugar)
Body mass index (BMI)

Solving the total health equation is a lot easier if you know your numbers.

A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
© Copyright 2013 Health Care Service Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Lewis Insurance
2525 S. Lamar Ste 11
Austin, TX
78704

www.austinhealthbrokers.com
www.nationwide.com/joshlewis

Lewis Insurance / Nationwide Insurance - Austin, Texas

Monday, July 22, 2013

Health and Wellness