|
February is American Heart Month
|
|
 Have a heart. A healthy one, that is. That's the idea behind American Heart Month in February. Make no mistake - your action is required. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and a major cause of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that about every 25 seconds, an American will suffer a coronary event of some kind.
Click Here for full article.
|
| How to Quit Smoking - Now! | |
Millions of Americans try every year to quit using tobacco.
Unfortunately, many of them give up because they lack the support they need to stop. If you've decided to quit using tobacco in 2011, don't worry. Help is just a phone call away, and it's FREE for State Health Plan members.
|
| This Just In - Health News Personalized to You | |
Here's some good news for State Health Plan members - a Personal Health Portal that shows you only the health articles you want to see. It's a little like getting a free newspaper where every article is about you.
Some health sites make you wade through a huge database of generic articles on topics that have nothing to do with you. But at NC HealthSmart, we use the health interests you select to show you only news that's relevant to your needs. Plus, as your interests change, you can update them - and your reading list - instantly.
|
| Important News for Those Turning 65 - and About to Retire | |
Have you ever wondered how the State Health Plan coordinates with Medicare? When a State Health Plan member turns 65 and retires - or when a Plan member retiree turns 65 - Medicare becomes tha t person's primary health insurance (meaning Medicare pays health claims first and the Plan becomes the secondary payer). If a member remains actively employed after age 65, the Plan continues to be that member's primary health insurance.
|
| How Smoking Affects Your Heart | |
 Did you make a resolution to quit smoking for the New Year? Are you having a hard time? For extra motivation, consider these points about how smoking affects your heart:
- Your chance of developing coronary heart disease is increased two to four times. Coronary heart disease (or CAD, for coronary artery disease) is the leading cause of death in the United States.
- Nicotine causes the heart to beat faster and thus raises blood pressure.
- Smoking increases the production of LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while at the same time decreasing the production of HDL (the good cholesterol).
- Smoking causes poor circulation, which can cause loss of circulation in fingers and toes.
- According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the U.S.
Click here for full article.
|
