Important Health Reminders

The following reminders can help keep you and your family healthy. It's important to find and treat health problems as soon as possible. Call your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Heart Disease
Heart disease includes heart failure, heart attacks and stroke. It frequently occurs when someone's cholesterol, triglycerides and/or blood pressure are too high and he or she has too much fat around the waist and poor glucose control. (Together, these problems are called the metabolic syndrome.)

For more information about heart disease and its risk factors, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, the metabolic syndrome, medications and healthy lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, tobacco cessation and more), visit priorityhealth.com and click on "Classes & Resources," then "Cardiovascular."

Remember:

• Try to keep your blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg and your cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dl.
• Overweight and inactive kids are at risk for heart disease.

Asthma
The risk factors for asthma are the same for adults and kids: family history, tobacco use, allergies, viral infections and exposure to secondhand smoke.

If you do have asthma:

• Take long-term control (LTC) medicines, such as Advair Diskus, every day to keep you healthy.
• Take quick-relief medicines, such as Albuterol, only when needed.

Remember the Rules of Two^TM

Your asthma may not be under control if:

• You take your quick-relief inhaler more than TWO times a week.
• You wake up at night due to asthma more than TWO times a month.
• You refill your quick-relief inhaler more than TWO times a year.

For more information about asthma, including triggers, medication, action plans and risk factors, visit priorityhealth.com and click on "Classes & Resources," then "Asthma."

Cancer

Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer rates have decreased, largely due to early detection from a Pap test. Women should be screened within three years of beginning sexual activity or at age 21. Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Review our Preventive Health Care Guidelines for recommended Pap test frequency. Click on "Classes & Resources," then "Preventive Care Guidelines."
• Learn about cervical cancer risks, screening, treatment and more. Click on "Health & Wellness," then "C" under Health encyclopedia.

Breast Cancer
Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Download a list of mammography locations. Click on "Classes & Resources," then "Women's Health & Pregnancy," then "Mammography."
• Learn about breast cancer prevention, screening, treatment and more. Click on "Health & Wellness," then "B" under Health encyclopedia.

Colorectal Cancer
Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Learn more about colorectal cancer prevention, screening, treatment and more. Click on "Health & Wellness," then "C" under Health encyclopedia.

Preconception Planning
Time spent planning a pregnancy can be very beneficial for you and your child. Our resources below can help you get started.

Reproductive Life Plan
Have you set personal goals for having children? Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Get ideas on how you will achieve your reproductive life plan goals and questions to ask yourself. Click on "Classes & Resources," then "Women's Health & Pregnancy," then "Maternity health information."

Preconception Counseling
Staying healthy between ages 15 and 44 is important for all women, but it's especially important for those who may become pregnant. Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Get information on staying healthy and preventing birth defects and premature or low-birth-weight babies. Click on "Classes & Resources," then "Women's Health & Pregnancy," then "Maternity health information." You can also click on "Health & Wellness," then "Pregnancy Center."

Maternity and Parenting
See your doctor during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy so that you can be enrolled in our HealthyEncountersSM Maternity program. You will receive an educational packet with information on:

• Pregnancy
• Labor and delivery
• Postpartum checkup (four weeks after delivery)
• Adding your baby to your health insurance
• Setting up your baby's well-child visits
• Many more topics for 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. For more details, visit priorityhealth.com and click on "Health & Wellness," then "Pregnancy Center."

Postpartum Care
Visit priorityhealth.com to:

• Learn the importance of a postpartum checkup four to six weeks after delivery and how to watch for signs of postpartum depression. Click on "Classes & Resources," then "Women's Health and Pregnancy," then "Maternity health information."
• You can also call our Behavioral Health department at 800 673-8043 for additional postpartum depression information. All calls are confidential.

Checkups for Children
Make sure your kids receive the well-child checkups they need before reaching their teens:

• Babies should have well-child appointments at these ages: 1 month and 2, 4, 6, 9, and 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 well-child checkup at least once at age 11 or 12.

Chlamydia
Know the facts about this sexually transmitted infection. Visit priorityhealth.com and click on "Health & Wellness" and then "C" under Health encyclopedia to learn:

• Why it is important for sexually active women ages 16 to 25 to be tested
• Why parents need to be prepared to talk to their teens
• Information about testing