Very helpful Health and Wellness information from Blue Cross Blue Shield

Health and Wellness

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

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.

There are 4 common causes of chronic disease that you can control:

• 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 maylog 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 maylog 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 maylog 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 maylog 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.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (HBP), also known as hypertension, happens when your heart uses too much pressure to pump blood through your body. It also can happen when your arteries are too tightly constricted. High blood pressure is serious because it can often lead to heart disease, kidney failure, stroke and other health problems.

A blood pressure check is performed by wrapping a cuff around your arm, inflating it and measuring when the blood flows. The test can be done by a person (using a stethoscope), or by machines. The test measures the amount of force your heart uses to pump blood through your body.

Testing your blood pressure regularly is important because HBP is painless and shows no symptoms. You can have it for years and not know it until you have serious damage to your heart, kidneys or eyes.

When you get your blood pressure checked, your results will include 2 numbers. The "top number" is your systolic pressure, or the pressure your heart exerts while pumping blood. The "bottom number" is your diastolic pressure, or the pressure your heart exerts when it is at rest between beats.

Results for adults fall into the following groups:

	Systolic (mmHg)		Diastolic (mmHg)
Normal	Less than 120 mmHg	And	Less than 80 mmHg
Prehypertension	120-139 mmHg	Or	80-89 mmHg
High Blood Pressure
Stage 1	140-159 mmHg	Or	90-99 mmHg
Stage 2	160 mmHg or higher	Or	100 mmHg or higher

Your systolic and diastolic pressures can fall into different groups. In this case you would fall into the more serious group of the two.

If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure is defined as 130/80 millimeters (mm) of mercury or higher. HBP numbers also differ for children and teens.

Body Mass Index

Body mass index (BMI) is used to estimate the amount of body fat a person has based on height and weight. In most cases, the higher your BMI, the more body fat you have. Diabetes and heart disease are two of the many health problems linked to having a high BMI.

BMI is an estimate and not a direct measure of how much body fat you have. The weight used to figure out BMI includes both muscle and fat, so some people may have a high BMI but not a high percentage of body fat.

As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with the same BMI may have different amounts of body fat. For example, at the same BMI:

• Women tend to have more body fat than men.
• Older people tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
• Athletes tend to have less body fat than non-athletes.

To figure out your BMI, enter your height and weight in the fields below. Your doctor uses your results, combined with other measures and risk factors, to find your chance of having weight-related health problems.

Please note these values apply only to adults age 20 and older. The CDC explains more about BMI for children and teenagers.

Cholesterol

A cholesterol test is a blood test that checks the level of cholesterol in your blood. This test helps doctors estimate your chance of heart disease. Beginning at age 35 for most men and 45 for most women, a cholesterol test is recommended every 5 years or as directed by your doctor.

While people vary, most of the time the best levels are:

Total cholesterol level	Less than 200 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL)
HDL cholesterol level	More than 40 mg/dL for men More than 50 mg/dL for women
LDL cholesterol level	Less than 100 mg/dL*
Triglyceride level	Less than 150 mg/dL

* Your goal LDL level should be based on your chances of having a heart attack, which includes other factors. Learn more about LDL levels.

A cholesterol blood test is used to find out if you have high cholesterol. It is almost impossible to have cholesterol levels that are "too low" except in very unusual illnesses.

Your test result will fall into one of these ranges:

Normal	Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high	200–239 mg/dL
High	More than 240 mg/dL

If your test results show your total cholesterol to be 200 mg/dL or higher, your doctor will most likely do another test called a lipid panel to measure your LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels.

The higher your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, the better. HDL removes cholesterol from the blood stream. For the most part, men's HDL levels should be above 40 mg/dL and women's levels should be above 50 mg/dL. Values lower than these thresholds increase your chances for heart disease. Levels higher than 60 mg/dL in fact lower your chances for heart disease.

Unlike HDL, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are better. LDL deposits cholesterol on your artery walls, creating cholesterol plaque that can clog your arteries. This explains why having less LDL cholesterol is better for your body.

Your goal LDL level should be based on your chances of having a heart attack, which is based on your age, tobacco use, blood pressure and HDL level. Your doctor will also factor in diabetes and family history of heart disease.

For a person who has an average change of having a heart attack, LDL level is:

Normal	Less than 100 mg/dL
Near/above normal	100–129 mg/dL
Borderline high	130–159 mg/dL
High	160–189 mg/dL
Very high	190 mg/dL

Triglycerides are a form of fat made from leftover calories your body does not burn off as energy. If you eat more calories than your body needs, your triglyceride level may be high.

Your triglyceride level falls into one of these groups:

Normal	Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high	150–199 mg/dL
High	200–499 mg/dL
Very high	500 mg/dL

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Sources: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

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