HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Do You Know Your Numbers?

Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure … yet only 25% of them have it under control.

The other 75% have an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death. High blood pressure can also harm vital organs like the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

There are no symptoms, so the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked at a health provider’s office or drugstore. (Tip: Schedule an annual exam at no cost to you to get your blood pressure measured and evaluated.)

Whatever your age, you can take steps each day to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.

  • PREVENT high blood pressure by making healthy choices. Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, don’t smoke, limit how much alcohol you drink, and get enough sleep.
  • MANAGE high blood pressure by measuring it regularly, managing diabetes if you have it, taking medication as prescribed by your doctor, getting regular checkups as recommended by your doctor, and practicing healthy habits.

Team up with a wellness coach (click below for details) to help you develop healthy habits and keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. A coach can guide, support, and encourage you on your journey to a healthier, happier you.

p.s.: Think you’re too young for high blood pressure? Nearly 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 44 have high blood pressure. This has contributed to a 40% increase in stroke rates among younger adults in recent years.

May is #HighBloodPressureEducationMonth.

Resources

MENTAL FITNESS: The New Way to Mental Wellness

Just as you work out for physical fitness, you can train your brain to develop mental fitness. This equips you to handle stress, balance work and family, have healthy relationships, and seek help for your mental health when you need it.

Your Health Plan gives you access to many tools (at no cost to you!) to improve your mental fitness. Here are a few of them (click the resources below for more):

Practice Relaxing. Intentionally build stress relief into your daily life through things like massage therapy, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and regular physical exercise.

  • Providence participants enjoy discounts on services through Life Balance.
  • Kaiser Permanente participants have access to fitness deals on virtual and in-person workouts, gyms and gear.

Develop Skills. Learn how to deal with the challenges you face (such as depression, stress, insomnia, and more) through a self-guided online program or app.

  • Providence participants have access to programs like these through Learn to Live, which also offers self-directed virtual therapy, one-on-one coaching, and webinars.
  • Kaiser Permanente members have access to several wellness apps (Calm, HeadSpace Care, myStrength), as well as online and in-person health classes.
  • All SD-1 Trust members have access to 40+ online and/or coach-guided mental health skill-building courses through the PPS Employee Assistance Program, Uprise Health.

Talk to a Professional. When mental or emotional issues interfere with your daily life, a few sessions with a therapist (through one-on-one or group therapy) can help you identify strategies to get back in balance.

  • Providence participants can use the Behavioral Health Concierge for help selecting a therapist. Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with an in-network provider or through TalkSpace.
  • Kaiser Permanent participants can schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with an in-network provider (no referral or prior authorization required).
  • All members have access to eight free counseling sessions (virtual, by phone, or in-person) through the PPS Employee Assistance Program, Uprise Health.

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth.

Resources:

YOUR BENEFITS CAN HELP: When You Need It the Most

Dealing with catastrophic health issues, such as a life-threating illness, injury, or death, is unfamiliar territory for most of us. That’s why the Trust steps in to help with services and benefits like these:

  • Case Management: Case managers provide support and assist with coordinating your care.
  • Palliative Care: Relief from physical symptoms and emotional stress provided by a specially-trained team.
  • Hospice Care: End-of-life care.
  • Advance Health Care Directive: Legal protection for your future medical care choices.
  • Terminal Illness Care: Resources and benefits including accelerated Life Insurance, Life Insurance conversion, online will preparation, and resources for funeral planning, grief support, legal services and more.
  • Death of a Covered Participant who is covered by Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) or Long-Term Disability (LTD): Benefits and resources for surviving dependents.
  • Grief Support: Resources to cope with grief and learn to heal.

If you or your dependent are facing a catastrophic health issue, we encourage you to:

  1. Visit the Trust’s website page Life-Threating Illness, Injury and Death for more information.
  2. Talk to a counselor to discuss coping strategies. Choose an in-network therapist for an in-person or virtual visit, or use the PPS Employee Assistance Program’s free, confidential counseling benefits.
  3. Talk with your health care provider about the services available to you or call your Health Plan’s Customer Service team for more information.
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