|
Bike to work
|
Make your commute something to look forward to by hopping on your bike and pedaling to work! Here are some safety tips to consider when biking to and from work --- and everywhere else.
|
| 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
|
|
Greetings!
Did you feel the ground tremble in the afternoon of April 25? It wasn't an earthquake --- it was thousands of Americans getting outside and taking a fitness walk. National Walk @ Lunch Day was a success at Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated workplaces across the country, including Brethren Benefit Trust and several other denominational organizations. Check out photos from the event at BBT's Flickr page. May you have success walking more and more every day!
Walking is a great way to keep the pounds off and keep your health risks low --- including the risk of a stroke. May is designated National Stroke Awareness Month, which means it's a good time to think about what you can do all year long to prevent a stroke. To learn more about this condition, which will affect approximately 700,000 Americans this year, read the article below.
In the digital age, monitoring and improving your health can be as easy as logging in to a new health counseling portal sponsored by WebMD. If you have a chronic condition or a specific concern you'd like to address, WebMD's online tools can help you. Read below to see how you can create a Wellness Profile that will identify any health risks you may have, and then you can address those risks with the help of WebMD and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Thank you for continuing to allow Brethren Insurance Services to help you take care of your health! It's an honor to walk with you.
Scott, Tammy, and Connie
|
|
 Know the facts about a stroke or
brain attack
| |
About 700,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent stroke this year. Many people mistakenly think that strokes only affect the elderly, but 25 percent of all strokes occur in those under age 65. Not only is stroke the third-leading cause of death among Americans, but it is also a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
What is a stroke?
Also called a brain attack, a stroke is as serious as a heart attack. It most often occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot. The brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they are prevented from receiving the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. There are two kinds of stroke, each with a different cause. In an ischemic stroke --- the most common type --- a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.
Risk factors
Some risk factors are genetically determined, while others are the result of certain lifestyle choices. The most common risk factors include ---
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Increasing age
- Being overweight
Signs and symptoms
One or more of the following symptoms may signal a stroke ---
- Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg (usually on one side of body)
- Confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding
- Blurred, double, or decreased vision
- Dizziness and/or loss of balance
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- TIA, or transient ischemic attack (a temporary loss of blood to the brain which lasts no more than 24 hours; it indicates a serious underlying risk that a full-blown stroke may follow.)
Diagnosis
It is important to recognize that there are other conditions that may imitate a stroke, such as brain tumors, brain abscesses, migraines, meningitis, an overdose of certain medicines, or an imbalance of sodium, calcium, and/or glucose in the body. Only a medical professional can properly diagnose a stroke. To do so, he or she will likely perform an electrocardiogram, along with monitoring vital signs and taking blood. Other procedures such as CT scans, MRIs, or angiograms may also be utilized.
Treatment
The most common forms of stroke treatment include a tissue plasminogen activator, an intravenous drug that dissolves blood clots; blood-thinning drugs such as heparin and aspirin; and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and/or diabetes under control. If the stroke was serious, a patient may need to undergo rehabilitation to re-learn how to speak and walk.
Prevention
Know the controllable risk factors and focus on making any necessary lifestyle changes you can. For example -
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Watch your diet (limit sodium and saturated fats).
- Exercise regularly.
- Do not use tobacco products.
- Always take prescribed medications as directed.
- If you've never had a stroke but are at high risk for developing one, your doctor can start prevention treatment, such as aspirin therapy.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional. © 2007-2008 Zywave Inc.
Five possible signs of a stroke According to an October 2011 post in Men's Health magazine's "Doctors on Call" blog, there are five subtle signs that a stroke may have taken place --- - Sentences. The stroke victim may have trouble forming sentences or describe significant memories.
- Smiles. If the victim is asked to smile, he or she may not be able to form a symmetrical grin.
- Tongue. If the potential victim is asked to stick his or her tongue out and it deviates to the left or the right without the victim noticing, a stroke may have occurred.
- Strength. Extend your index and middle fingers, hold them in front of you, and ask the victim to grip onto them with both hands at the same time. If he or she does so with much more strength on one side, it may be a sign that part of the body has been affected by stroke.
- Squinting. Another sign of stroke is if a person is asked to squint and his or her forehead wrinkles more on one side, or if one eye cannot close.
More information can be found at the "Doctors on Call" blog.
|
|
A brand-new online wellness program is ready to help you!
|
Thanks to a partnership between Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and WebMD, you now have access to an even wider range of health and wellness tools from the comfort of your computer chair.
A whole new set of health tools created by Web MD are now ready for you to use to improve your health and manage any chronic conditions you may have. Tools include a symptom checker, a comprehensive collection of news articles, a health record, health trackers that can help you monitor your vitals, digital health assistants that can help you overcome wellness challenges, and more.
First things first --- users should take the WebMD Wellness Profile before starting their routine. This will help you measure your potential risks and ensure that you receive guidance in reducing those risks. Follow these instructions to access your WebMD benefits.
1. Start by going to your member website at highmarkbcbs.com.
2. Click the Members tab and log in. If you do not have a User ID and Password, create one by choosing Register Now from the Log In box. Follow the instructions to guide you through the registration and PIN process.
3. Once you are logged in, simply click on the Wellness Profile link under Programs to get started.
|
|
|
