Healthy Lifestyles Week Is a Big Success

Members and their families had a great opportunity to improve their health by attending Healthy Lifestyles, a health and wellness event that was held at the Health and Dental Centers in March.  Those that attended received useful tips on living happier, healthier and longer lives, and in many cases received quick tests and/or screening for various health issues.

As always, diet (or nutrition) was one of the most significant topics covered during Healthy Lifestyles, which was formerly called Eat Well, Be Well, Feel Well, and there were many other things of value to be learned. Do you have a pre-diabetes condition? Tests were available to find the answer to this question. How is your blood pressure? What are the signs of a heart attack? Is your cholesterol too high? Those who visited the Health and Dental Centers for Healthy Lifestyles learned why it is so important to know the answers to questions like these.

By now, most people know that proper diet can help prevent heart and blood vessel diseases. But not as many people know that there is also ample evidence to show that a proper diet can help prevent cancer, too. In addition, there are relationships between diet and other illnesses. A good example is the always painful gout. That’s why we are happy to report that pamphlets and other information helped bring home the message of good nutrition at the Health and Dental Centers during Healthy Lifestyles week.

Exercise is important, too—very important! Regular exercise has long been known to help prevent heart and blood vessel diseases. But did you also know that regular exercise can help prevent cancer? Did you know that regular exercise can help reduce stress? Did you know that regular exercise can add years to your life? Important information on the health value of exercise was available at the Health and Dental Centers during the week.

Stress management is also an important part of anyone’s life. Stress is related to many illnesses and it can cause difficulties in the home and on the job. Members who visited the Health and Dental Centers for Healthy Lifestyles could learn valuable information on managing stress. Members were reminded that representatives from the Members Health Assistance Program (MHAP) are readily available to answer questions and to offer the opportunity for counseling or to join support groups.

Information was also available on smoking cessation. There are a number of innovative medications available to help people quit smoking, and through the Health Centers and/or the Members Health Assistance Program, members who want to kick the habit can easily learn about different methods available to do so. Many smokers think that quitting is extremely difficult if not impossible. But visitors to the Health and Dental Centers for Healthy Lifestyles learned differently.

Visitors to the event also learned much about high blood pressure, a condition that is often called “the silent killer.” The name is appropriate because many people that have high blood pressure don’t know it. High blood pressure can lead to hardened arteries and strokes, and can also cause blindness or impaired vision, kidney disease and heart problems. Members who participated at the Health and Dental Centers could ask to be tested for high blood pressure and were taught simple steps to reduce it. Losing weight, increasing activity and exercise, eating a healthy diet low in salt and fats, and seeing your doctor regularly — and following his/her instructions —  are all ways to keep blood pressure from being a silent killer.

We’re happy to report that more than 7,000 members visited the Health and Dental Centers during Healthy Lifestyles week and most took good advantage of this informative and valuable event. It is clear sign that members and their families appreciate the value of health and wellness events!