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The Power of Heart Health | |
It's never too late or too early to make changes. Better health is a matter choice. Click below to learn more.
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| About Us | |
A not-for-profit ministry of
Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust Inc.
Church of the Brethren Insurance Services provides ancillary coverage for ministers and other employees of congregations, districts, and camps.
Medical and ancillary plans are available to Brethren-affiliated employer groups.
Long-Term Care Insurance is available for all members of the Church of the Brethren, their family and friends, and employees of Church of the Brethren-affiliated agencies, organizations, colleges, and retirement communities. |
Contact Us
1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
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Greetings!
The 29th day of February only comes once every four years. How are you going to make the most of it in this leap year? Each day is an opportunity to make good choices for our long-term health. Consider taking action to maintain or improve your good health this month. If you need some ideas, the Healthy Highlights guide in the left column of this month's newsletter offers a 30-day calendar that can help you make heart-conscious changes to your daily habits.
The heart is, after all, the focus of February for many people, and perhaps because of all the heart-shaped gifts that appear around Valentine's Day, February has been designated American Heart Month by the American Heart Association. With heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S., it's important to think about how the choices we make every day affect our cardiovascular health.
We want to enable you to pay attention to your heart -- and the rest of your body, too. One way you can simplify your medical care experience is by using myCare Navigator, a free phone service that can help you find providers in your area for everything from first-time visits to second opinions, schedule appointments with doctors, share medical records between your different providers, and ensure that you're making the most of your medical insurance coverage. Click here for more information about myCare Navigator.
Brethren Insurance Services hopes you have a healthy heart -- and one filled with the love of family and friends -- this month and every month. Happy Valentine's Day!
Scott, Tammy, and Connie |
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Daily aspirin therapy for heart health | |
Heart disease is a concern for many Americans, and with good reason: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that it is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Along with a healthy diet and exercise, those at risk of a heart attack or stroke can take another precaution to reduce their risks -- a daily dose of aspirin.
According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, taking an aspirin daily may actually lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, as it interferes with the body's blood-clotting action.
As blood clots within the vessels that supply blood to your heart and brain, it can block arteries that are already narrowed due to the buildup of fatty deposits. When this occurs, blood cannot flow to the heart and brain successfully, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. However, by taking aspirin on a regular basis, you can reduce clotting and potentially prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Is aspirin therapy right for me?
Taking a daily dose of aspirin is not right for everyone. It is ultimately up to you and your doctor to determine if this therapy will benefit your current health condition. Daily aspirin therapy typically benefits the following groups --
- Smokers.
- Those with high blood pressure.
- People with a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or higher.
- Those with a low-density lipoprotein ("bad" cholesterol) level of 130 mg/dL or higher.
- Those who lack regular physical activity.
- Diabetics.
- People experiencing lots of stress.
- Men who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day or women who consume more than one alcoholic drink per day.
- People with a family history of heart attack or stroke.
Though you may be afflicted with some of these risk factors, daily aspirin therapy may not be for you if you have any of these conditions --
- Suffering from a bleeding or clotting disorder.
- Asthma.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Heart failure.
- Taking certain medications that may increase your chance of bleeding.
Dosage
There is no uniform aspirin dosage that suits all patients with heart disease risk factors. Some patients benefit from 75 mg, which is less than one baby aspirin, while others benefit from 325 mg, or the potency of one regular aspirin.
Side effects
There are several side effects of taking daily aspirin therapy that you should discuss with your doctor before beginning this regimen. They include --
- Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding stroke).
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (development of a stomach ulcer).
- Allergic reaction.
- Ringing in the ears and hearing loss.
- Negative interactions with alcohol.
Talk with your doctor about this inexpensive, readily available preventive treatment for heart disease to determine if it is right for you.
Content © 2008-2010 Zywave Inc. |
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Finding a doctor is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4 |
How do you find a doctor who's near your home, serves your specific medical needs, and is a member of your insurance network? It's easy with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Provider Finder.
To locate a network provider, you can --
- Follow the instructions below to find a provider on Highmark's website.
- Call 1-800-810-BLUE, and a representative can help you find a provider.
- Contact your provider to ask if he or she participates in your network.
To find a provider online, follow these instructions --
- Go to www.highmarkbcbs.com and under Find Providers, click on Find a Doctor, Hospital or other Medical Provider.
- In the provider search section on the left, select the type of provider you want to search for (doctors, hospitals, imaging centers, etc.), enter an address or ZIP code, and select a plan. You can also select a radius and other criteria.
- Click the Submit button.
- Once you receive your search results, you can customize these results by gender, board certification, specialty, or weekend hours available. You can also compare up to three providers or choose to view them on a map.
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70 percent of people aged 65 and older will eventually need some form of assisted care and are usually not financially prepared to handle the costs related to these services.
