February is American Heart Month, a time to understand the impact of heart health (like how it’s the number one cause of death for women and that every year 785,000 Americans will have their first heart attack). The goal of the month-long campaign is to raise awareness about the “silent killer” and teach Americans ways to improve their heart health—two goals shared by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. In fact, Blue Cross tries to make it as easy as possible for members to give their hearts a little extra love—not only during the month of February, but all year long. Here are four ways members can protect their heart, with help from their Blue Cross plan:
- Track your vital signs: Since heart disease doesn’t always have obvious symptoms, it’s important to monitor your heart health by regularly testing your blood pressure, cholesterol and resting heart rate. Blue Cross members can do this through free preventive screenings. If your numbers are a little high, don’t panic. Your doctor can help you figure out what adjustments to make, such as quitting smoking, cutting down on your sodium intake and being more active.
- Cook heart-healthy recipes: Our health blog, a Healthier Michigan, and its Pinterest board have tons of great recipes and tips for incorporating delicious heart-healthy foods into your everyday diet.
- Get support for your wellness journey: You can’t improve your heart health if you don’t stick with your lifestyle changes. Our lifestyle coaches and wellness programs are designed to help you set realistic goals and actually reach them. Log in to bcbsm.com to find out if your plan covers these programs. You can also sign up for #HealthyMe, which is a free site that lets you set goals, track your progress and get support from other Michiganders who are striving to become healthier.
- Be proactive: If you have heart disease, Blue Cross’ chronic condition management services can help you figure out a way to get your symptoms under control. Our team of registered nurses can help you create goals and meet them as well as identify gaps in your current treatment plan.
Looking for more ways Blue Cross puts heart health first in February and all year long? Keep reading:
- How the Blues are Going Red for Heart Health This February
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Lights up Detroit Skyline in Support of Heart Health
- Blue Cross Employee, R.N., Reclaiming Health After Losing Mom to Heart Disease
Photo credit: Image Catalog
