February is American Heart Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The term “heart disease” includes several heart conditions. The most common form of heart disease in the U.S. is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects the blood flow to the heart and can cause a heart attack.
The biggest risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Almost half of adults in the US have at least one of these conditions. Diabetes and behaviors such as eating an unhealthy diet, lack of sleep and not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk for heart disease. Seeing a primary care provider annually is a great way to catch these risk factors early.
A heart healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and limiting substance use can help reduce your risk for heart disease. One factor that is often overlooked in preventing heart disease is the importance of social connection. Having social support can help people live longer, healthier lives. In turn, social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and other chronic conditions. Stable and caring relationships can give us the support we need when life gets tough. People with healthy relationships are more likely to make healthy choices that lead to better physical and mental health, improving overall wellbeing.
For members who want support managing their health, our Member Care Management team can help. Member Care Management can be reached at 1-877-222-1240 (TTY 711), 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or by email at Case.Management@Excellus.com.
The February Resources (ZIP) below includes materials that can be shared with employees.
Download Our February Resources (ZIP)
