Health Centers’ Healthy Lifestyle Event Is March 13-17

One of the best ways to spend an hour or so of your time will be found at the Union’s Health and Dental Centers Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17 during Health Lifestyle, another valuable Health Awareness Event.

Quite seriously, the hour you spend attending Healthy Lifestyle can easily help you live a longer, healthier and happier life. In fact, it’s one of the most solid investments of your time that you can ever make.

Why is Healthy Lifestyle such a valuable event? Well, for one thing, it can lead to the end of bad habits and the adoption of good ones..

Here’s what we mean. Do you know what is the number one cause of death among adults in the U.S.? No, it’s not cancer or accidents, it is heart and blood vessel disease.

The sad truth is that more than 2,500 Americans die every day from heart and blood vessel disease, and many more are incapacitated (through strokes, for example). But education about heart and blood vessel disease will be a major focus of Healthy Lifestyle week, and no appointments are necessary to participate.

Basically, visitors to the Health Centers during this special week will learn about the “Do’s and Don’ts” of their lifestyles. As an example, nutritionists will be on hand to help participants learn how to eat healthy. MHAP representatives will be present to talk about ways to relax and ease stress.

As we all know, there are risk factors that can contribute to heart disease and stroke. They include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity and a high fat diet. Diabetes, obesity, stress and a family history are other contributors to heart disease.

The good news is that you can avoid many of these risk factors and overcome others. Having medical check-ups and evaluating your own lifestyle are the first steps to good health. A healthy diet, in combination with regular physical activity, can protect your heart and reduce the risk of disease. By visiting the Health and Dental Centers during Healthy Lifestyle week, members will have the opportunity to learn about their risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease and cancer. And that is important because proper education, along with regular visits to your physician, can greatly reduce your risk of illness or early death.

Many who visit the Health and Dental Centers during Healthy Lifestyle week will have their height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and respiration checked. Many will also be able to have their blood sugar tested with a simple finger stick. Many will have their Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. This test will reveal the percentage of body composition between muscle, fat and water. Many will be interviewed to identify risk factors for heart disease and stroke and, if necessary, will be directed to the appropriate resources that will be on hand.

In the event that abnormalities are identified through any of these tests, appointments will be made to have comprehensive physical exams conducted by Health Center doctors or, if necessary, referrals will be made to specialists. Educational literature and video programming will be on site. Staff and physicians will be available for consultation and to answer any questions. If indicated, they will arrange follow-up care or evaluation. Information on smoking cessation strategies and support groups will be available for members who want to stop smoking, as will information about medications that have assisted members in the effort to kick the nicotine habit. We should add that our Health Centers have been praised by the New York City Department of Health for the outstanding success rate of their smoking cessation efforts. Also, members will be able to sign up for workshops on depression and stress management coordinated by the Members Health Assistance Program (MHAP).

Like other Health Awareness Events, Healthy Lifestyle week can prove to be the difference between good health and a serious medical problem. As an example, high blood pressure is a “silent killer” — a medical condition that often has no symptoms. That means that you may have high blood pressure without even knowing it. But by attending Healthy Lifestyle week you can find out if you have high blood pressure or if you are at risk for heart and blood vessel diseases. You can also learn about good nutrition and how eating healthy can keep you healthy.

There is conclusive evidence that proper diet and exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease and other illnesses like cancer. That’s why visiting the Health Centers for Healthy Lifestyle week can really make a difference in how you feel and how long you will live. Again, the event will take place at the Health and Dental Centers, from Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. And remember, NO APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY. The addresses and phone numbers of the Health and Dental Centers are:

Midtown Health Center: 773-775 Ninth Ave. (at 52nd St.) 212-586-1550

Queens Health Center: 37-11 Queens Blvd. 718-361-5100

Brooklyn Health Center: 68-80 Schermerhorn St. 718-858-7200

Harlem Health Center: 133 Morningside Avenue (at 125th St.) 212-923-2525

Midtown Dental Center (Dental Only): 14 Penn Plaza 212-563-0095