9 ways our website works for you

The Internet is a great tool for improving your health. If you're looking for a reliable online health resource, look no further than priorityhealth.com. You'll find everything from health and diet assessments to preventive health care guidelines to advice for managing health conditions. Here are just 9 of the many healthy living tools available to you.

1. Strategies for heading off heart disease
   Most people believe heart attacks are sudden and intense, but they usually begin with mild symptoms. To protect your heart health, try to keep your blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg and your cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dl. View details about heart disease risk factors — including metabolic syndrome — and preventive lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy, exercising and quitting smoking.
2. Advice for keeping asthma in check
   If you have asthma, develop an asthma action plan with your doctor. This written plan can help you understand your symptoms and recognize the early signs of an attack. It provides directions about how to manage symptom flare-ups, including whether you should adjust your medicines, call your doctor or to go to the ER. (If you visit the ER, be sure to follow up with your doctor.) For better asthma control, take your long-term-control medicines even when you feel better. Take your quick-relief medicines only as needed. Note: Always clean inhalers weekly with warm water to prevent clogging. Learn more ways to manage asthma.
3. Mammography locations
   You can get breast cancer even if you don’t have a family history of it. Mammography can detect changes in breasts long before you can see or feel them. To find mammography locations near you, visit priorityhealth.com. You also can learn more about reducing breast cancer risk and available screening tests and treatment options.
4. Pre-baby care for women
   Staying healthy between ages 15 and 44 is important for all women, but it’s especially important for those who may become pregnant. Are you planning to start a family some day? Visit priorityhealth.com to find out what you can do now to stay healthy and prevent birth defects and premature or low-birth-weight babies. Learn more.
5. Pregnancy guide for moms-to-be
   If you’re pregnant, visit priorityhealth.com to find important information from our HealthyEncounters^SM Maternity program. You’ll learn what to expect and how to stay healthy during pregnancy. Also, remember to see your doctor during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy so that you can be enrolled in the program. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll receive an educational packet with information on:
   • Pregnancy
   • Labor and delivery
   • Postpartum checkup (four to six weeks after delivery)
   • Details about adding your baby to your health insurance
   • Well-child visits for your baby
   • Many more topics important to new mothers
   You may also receive care at home from a registered nurse after your baby is born if you choose the minimum overnight stay at the hospital. Learn more.
6. Common postpartum depression signs
   Check out priorityhealth.com to learn why experts recommend that new moms have a postpartum checkup four to six weeks after delivery and how to watch for signs of postpartum depression. Learn more.
   
   You can also call our Behavioral Health department at 800 673-8043 for additional postpartum depression information. All calls are confidential.
7. Children’s checkup schedules
   Children need well-child visits with their doctor to help monitor their growth and development:
   • Babies should have well-child appointments between the first and second month, at 4 months, 6 months, and 9 months, and between 12 to 15 months.
   • Young children should see the doctor at least once a year when they are ages 3, 4, 5 and 6.
   • Older children should have a checkup at least once at age 11.
   Online you’ll find essential guidelines for well-child visits and details about important immunizations and screenings.
8. Chlamydia screening recommendations
   It’s important to know the facts about this common sexually transmitted infection. Explore priorityhealth.com to learn:
   • Why it’s important for sexually active women ages 16 to 25 to be tested
   • Why parents need to be prepared to talk with their teens about chlamydia
   • Information about testing
   Learn more.
9. Important childhood immunizations
   Immunizations are one of the best ways to protect your kids from disease. Michigan has recently seen a significant increase in cases of pertussis, a respiratory illness often referred to as “whooping cough.” Pertussis can affect people of any age, but is especially serious for young children. Two vaccines, DTaP and Tdap, can help guard kids and adults from this highly contagious bacterial disease.
   
   In addition, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can protect your children against pneumonia, bacteremia and meningitis caused by invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). It’s recommended children receive doses of the vaccine at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months and between 12 to 15 months of age. Children who miss their shots at these ages should still get the vaccine.
   
   Make sure your kids are up-to-date on their immunizations at each well-child visit. Learn more about important immunizations and screenings.

Topics: Preventive care, Health disease, Asthma, Womens health, Children's health, Pregnancy