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Great Expectations® Heart Disease

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Great Expectations® Heart Disease helps members learn how to better manage their heart disease. Our goal is to help you understand more about your condition and show you steps you can take towards good health. We automatically enroll all members with heart disease at no charge. There are many benefits to participation.

    You’ll receive:

  • Information about how we cover your condition.
  • Occasional updates about heart disease and its treatment.
  • Great online information in the HeartHub.
  • Telephone access to cardiac nurses to answer your questions or for counseling.
  • Educational materials about heart health and reminders for recommended screenings.
  • Seasonal newsletters.
  • Online toolks to help you create a heart-healthy action plan using 7 Simple Steps.
    Here are important steps you can take to improve your heart health:
  • Know your body mass index (BMI). This takes into account your height and weight and is a good indicator of whether you are overweight or not.
  • Lose excess weight if you are overweight. Being overweight decreases your ability to improve your heart health. If you need help with losing weight, check out the resources available through Great Expectations® Weight Management.
  • Become physically active. Physical exercise can help strengthen your heart muscle, even if it’s just for 20-30 minutes on most days. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program to discuss what type of exercise is best for you.
  • Quit smoking. If you smoke, it constricts your blood vessels and reduces the size of your arteries. This increases your risk for a heart attack. If you need help quitting smoking, check out the resources available through Great Expectations® Quit Smoking.
  • Control your blood pressure. A healthy blood pressure is under 120/80. The new definition of prehypertension is a blood pressure level between 120/80 and 139/89. A blood pressure of 140/90 and above is considered high blood pressure and requires treatment. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart disease. So it’s very important to keep it under control. Studies have shown healthy lifestyle choices, along with medication, can lower blood pressure and may reduce the chance of stroke by 35-40%, heart attacks by 20-25% and heart failure by more than 50%. It's also a good idea to know your kidney count.
  • Control your cholesterol. High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for developing heart disease. If your cholesterol level is high, you can usually lower it with a heart-healthy diet, exercise and, if needed, medication. Please have your cholesterol tested as ordered by your physician or other health care provider.
  • Manage your stress. Prolonged stress can have many negative effects on your body. Learn more about how to manage stress at the online Stress Management Center.
  • Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol intake may affect your heart health. Talk to your doctor about how much alcohol (if any) is ok for you.
  • Keep your scheduled visits with your doctor or other health care professionals. Get your blood work and other tests done, as ordered. Take all your medications your doctor prescribes. Work with your doctor to get your LDL cholesterol under 100, if you have heart disease.
  • Follow a heart healthy meal plan with good diet and nutrition. Foods lower in fat, salt and sodium are healthier for your heart. You can learn to choose delicious and satisfying foods that are also good for you!

For information or to enroll in a Great Expectations® program, members can log into My Health Toolkit and select "Great Expectations" from the Health and Wellness menu.

You can also request a multi-page booklet called "Charting Your Route to Relief." 

 

Other Helpful Links

American Heart Association

American Heart Association Heart Healthy Exercises

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute