IT’S HEART MONTH: Know Your Numbers
One person dies every 37 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for men and women of most racial and ethnic groups.
But it’s often preventable. A healthy lifestyle (eating healthy, getting exercise and not smoking) can help you achieve and maintain a healthy heart.
You can reduce your risk for heart disease by knowing and managing your numbers for 5 key heart-health indicators:
- Blood Pressure: Normal = less than 120 / 80 mm Hg (It’s easy to check yours at the self-service blood pressure kiosk in most pharmacies.)
- Body Mass Index: Healthy Weight = 18.5 – 24.9 (BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Use this BMI calculator to find yours.)
- Fasting Blood: Sugar Normal = less than100 mg / dL (100-125 means prediabetes; 126 or higher means diabetes, which greatly increases the risk for heart disease.)
- Total Cholesterol: Desirable = Less than 200 mg/dL
- HDL Cholesterol: Desirable = 60 mg/dL or higher (HDL “good” cholesterol helps remove “bad” cholesterol from the body.)
If you don’t know your blood sugar or cholesterol levels, contact your doctor’s office to schedule a simple blood test.
THEY’RE YOUR BENEFITS: Make the Most of Them
When you know how your Health Plan works, you can get the care you need, when you need it—without added financial stress. Our online video library can help you use your benefits wisely:
- How you can avoid surprise medical bills
- What you need to know about your deductible
- Get a handle on the out-of-pocket maximum
- Choose a PPO provider when possible
- Get recommended preventive care – it’s FREE to you!
GET YOUR DISCOUNTS: Save on Wellness, Entertainment, Activities and More
Are you taking advantage of all the discounts available to you? Click on the links to learn more!
- Your Health Plan: Save on chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, hearing aids, vision services, movie theater tickets, fitness centers, gym memberships, recreational activities, wellness products and a lot more. Log in to your Health Plan’s website to learn more: Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Regence.
- Trust Vision Plan participants (through VSP): Save on eyeglasses, sunglasses and contacts, as well as LASIK treatment, diabetes care and hearing aids. VSP’s Simple Values discount program helps you save on health, wellness and entertainment.
- PPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Did you know the EAP offers financial, legal, identity theft and will preparation services, in addition to counseling?
- The Standard’s Life Services Toolkit and Travel Assistance provide valuable resources to help with financial planning, beneficiary support and travel services. (Available to members who are eligible for Life and AD&D coverage.)
- WW (formerly Weight Watchers): The Trust will subsidize a subscription for active members, early retirees and their enrolled dependents.