5 TIPS TO HAVING A HAPPY, HEALTHY HEART

Welcome to my blogger page you are reading to sam blogger never stop learning. Social, economic and environmental factors play a key role in people’s health – where they live, learn work, and play. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of wealth, power and resources at global, national and local levels. Identifying these so-called "social determinants of health" helps doctors determine the root causes of their patients’ medical conditions and is critical to improving whole-person health.

                  The Physicians Foundation found that nearly 90 percent of doctors have patients whose health is affected by these key factors. Below are some examples to illustrate how social factors can affect you and your health:* Loneliness and social isolation. More than a quarter of the U.S. population live alone. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased mortality and poor health outcomes. Identifying individuals at risk for these factors allows doctors to recommend prevention and care strategies to improve their patients’ health.* Food insecurity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy life. 
     
                   

According to Feeding America, food insecurity exists in every state in the United States. Seniors face challenges that put them at risk of food insecurity, such as being on a fixed income and having to choose between buying food or medicine, or struggling to obtain food without reliable transportation.* Transportation Barriers. A lack of transportation affects an individual’s health and well-being – from accessing health care services and healthy food options to maintaining social connections. 

Lack of transportation is the leading cause of patient no-shows for medical appointments, and missed appointments are associated with increased medical care costs and increased emergency room visits.2But many Medicare Advantage plans, provided by private health insurers such as Humana, offer their members health and wellness benefits, programs and services to help address social determinants, with rides to medical appointments, meal benefits, social interaction and screening for food insecurity.Humana is working to address social determinants of health through its Bold Goal, by working with Humana care teams, physicians, nonprofit organizations, and business and government leaders to identify, screen and refer members to community resources and long-term support. The Bold Goal is a population health strategy to help improve the health of the communities we serve by 20 percent by 2020 and beyond.



How to Stay Healthy and Happy

Everyone knows heart health is vital. Yet, more than 600,000 Americans die of heart disease every year — or one in every four deaths — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By arming yourself with information about nutrition, fitness and lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk for heart disease. From picking protein-rich foods that are low in saturated fat to snoozing for the optimal amount of time each night, here are some valuable tips to keep your ticker happy.


* Get your protein from foods that are low in saturated fat. While a good steak or hamburger can be enjoyable, it is also high in saturated fat. Better choices are fish, poultry and nuts. If you want something even lighter, consider a protein shake. The Bowflex Body French Vanilla Fitness Shake (www.bowflexbody.com), for instance, offers 15 grams of protein per serving and a scant 1 gram of saturated fat. An added bonus is that these shakes activate the metabolism and help build muscle, burn calories and boost energy.


* Put down the smartphone. In today’s world of 24/7 connectivity, it’s important to unplug from work, email and devices for at least an hour a day. This helps reduce stress, which is important for keeping your blood pressure and heart rate levels from going too high.


* Get some rest. Experts recommend aiming for around seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Consistently getting too few or too many zzz’s can be unhealthy.


* Move your body. A recent study from the University of Cambridge determined that inactivity is more dangerous to your body than obesity. There are limitless activities to get your heart pumping, such as walking, swimming or biking, to name a few. Looking for a workout you can do at home? The Bowflex TreadClimber (www.treadclimber.com) combines the motions of a treadmill, a stair climber and an elliptical for a comfortable low-impact workout that delivers high-impact results.


* Free your inner social butterfly. Better yet, work out with a buddy to help keep you motivated and on track. Research shows that having a strong social network and spending time with others can help reduce blood pressure and other heart disease-related factors.

“Even small steps, like adding one strength-training workout a week, can make a big impact,” says Tom Holland, Bowflex Fitness Advisor and “Beat the Gym” author. “Plus, the Internet is a great resource to find more tips and information.”
For a good place to start, visit www.bowflexinsider.com.


How to Take Care of Your Life.

People with Medicare have until Saturday, Dec. 7 to select their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage for 2020. To ensure you have the right Medicare plan in place come January 1 of next year, it’s important to focus on these four key questions:

* Are my doctors in network? Use online tools to confirm which doctors and hospitals are in a plan’s network. A licensed health insurance agent can also help you see if a specific doctor or hospital is in a plan’s network and taking new patients, and can determine what’s in network if you’re a seasonal resident.

* Are my prescription drugs covered? Although Original Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs, many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, or you can sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug Plan separately. A licensed sales agent can look up the medications you would like covered and help you estimate what the cost of each drug would be on a plan.

* What new, innovative benefits are available? Beyond vision, hearing and dental coverage, if you aim to become healthier, look for fitness program benefits as many Medicare Advantage plans offer a gym membership. If you travel or appreciate technology, virtual doctor visits are helpful when you can’t see a doctor right away. Most Medicare Advantage plans now offer transportation to doctor appointments and the gym, when a fitness center membership is offered as a plan benefit.

* What if I’m still working? If you or your spouse have health insurance from an employer, you may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare until the employment or the coverage stops. At that point, you would be entitled to a special enrollment period of up to eight months to sign up for Medicare without incurring any late penalties. Talk with your employer to find out how your coverage works with Medicare.While the clock is ticking until the Dec. 7 Medicare annual enrollment deadline, remember that you’re not alone.Take advantage of resources including licensed sales agents and websites such as medicare.gov and www.humana.com/medicare. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (or TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call Humana at 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time seven days a week. Y0040_GCHKND9EN_C