Contributed by Buckeye Health Plan
(Columbus, OH) – This Father’s Day, Buckeye Health Plan encourages fathers, and all men, to make their health a priority by taking preventive measures to prevent heart disease, starting with annual wellness visits and screenings.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men—causing about one in four male deaths. In Ohio, men are 61 percent more likely to die from the disease than women. If you knew that you could prevent it, would you try? The American Heart Association says that 80 percent of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable.
Fathers are often the heart of the family. In fact, 82 percent of men say they are trying to stay healthy to care for family members who rely upon them, yet only 50 percent engage in preventative care.
Many men can prevent serious health challenges by seeking care before serious symptoms occur. “An annual wellness visit is an important way to assess your health risks and establish healthy habits,” says Dr. Brad Lucas, Buckeye Health Plan Medical Director. “In fact, your doctor can be your best ally to help you get healthy, stay healthy and live longer.”
Learn the Risk Factors
There are several contributing risk factors for heart disease that can be monitored and controlled through an annual wellness visit including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Cigarette smoking
- Diabetes
- Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity
- Overweight and obesity
You may believe that you have all of these risk factors under control, but silent contributors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be hard to spot. These have no outward symptoms. In fact, it’s estimated that one in five people don’t know they have high blood pressure. And, high total cholesterol (≥ 240 mg/dL) doubles the risk of heart disease and heart attack. The longer high blood pressure and high cholesterol go unnoticed, the more damage they can cause to your cardiovascular system.
“Prevention is key,” says Dr. Lucas. “At Buckeye, we recommend that everyone has a yearly check for risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Buckeye covers well checks and other preventative screenings at no cost to our Medicaid members along with rewards for completing healthy activities.”
This Father’s Day, be heart healthy!
- Get outside. Play a favorite sport, go for a walk or run or take a bike ride
- Eat a healthy dinner rich in fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and whole grains
- Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night
- And, schedule an annual wellness visit
“We can all make changes to positively benefit our hearts,” says Dr. Lucas. “It just takes commitment to making simple heart-healthy changes. Being heart-healthy can help families thrive for generations to come.”
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Buckeye Health Plan offers managed healthcare for Ohioans on Medicaid, Medicare, integrated Medicaid-Medicare (called MyCare Ohio) and the Health Insurance Exchange. Since 2004, Buckeye has been dedicated to improving the health of Ohioans, many with low incomes, by providing coordinated healthcare and other essential supports that individuals and families need to grow and thrive. Follow Buckeye on Twitter @Buckeye_Health and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BuckeyeHealthPlan. Buckeye is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise offering core Medicaid, Medicare and specialty services.
