www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
Every year, the American Heart Association
designates February to be American Heart Month.
It’s a time for learning about cardiovascular health,
and about risk factors, about warning signs of heart
attack and stroke. It is important to look at lifestyle
choices and determine
whether changes are
needed to maintain heart
health.
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is a broad
term used to describe a
range of diseases that affect
your heart, and in some cases, your blood vessels.
The various diseases that fall under the umbrella of
heart disease include coronary artery disease; heart
arrhythmias; infections and conditions that affect
your heart's muscle, valves or beating. The term
"heart disease" is often used interchangeably with
"cardiovascular disease" — a term that generally
refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked
blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest
pain (angina) or stroke.
Heart disease is the No. 1 worldwide killer of men
and women, including in the United States. In fact,
heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of all the
deaths in the United States, more than all forms of
cancer combined. Many forms of heart disease can
be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices
and diet and exercise.
ABCs of Preventing Heart Disease, Stroke and
Heart Attack
— Avoid Tobacco
— Be More Active
— Choose Good Nutrition
Sounds simple right? So why is coronary artery
disease still the leading cause of death in the
U.S. and stroke is the number three killer?
One reason — a lack of commitment to a heart
healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle is not only the best
defense against heart disease and stroke, it is also a
personal responsibility. By following these three simple
steps all of the modifiable risk factors for heart disease,
heart attack and stroke can be reduced.
February
2009
From the Arizona
Department of
Administration,
Benefit Options
Wellness Program
Page 1
Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit and encourage
others In your household to quit. It is a difficult habit
break, but it is harder to recover from a heart attack or
stroke or to live with chronic heart disease. Commit to
quit.
Be physically active every
day. Research has shown
that getting at least 30 minutes
of physical activity on 5 or
more days of the week can
help lower blood pressure,
lower cholesterol and keep
weight at a healthy level.
However, for those who are
inactive now, adding even 10 minutes at a time may
offer some health benefits. Start slow and work toward
30 minutes. Studies show that people who have
achieved even a moderate level of fitness are much
less at risk of early death than those with low fitness
levels.
Choose good nutrition. A healthy diet is one of the
best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease.
Which food and the amount you eat can affect other
controllable risk factors: cholesterol, blood pressure,
diabetes and overweight. Choose nutrient-rich
foods that have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other
nutrients but are lower in calories. A diet rich in
vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods,
fish, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
is the key. To reduce blood cholesterol specifically it
is important to reduce the intake of saturated fats,
trans fats, and cholesterols in foods. As for high blood
pressure, sodium is a concern. Shake the habit of
adding salt and use flavorful herbs and spices for
seasoning. Finally, to maintain a healthy weight,
coordinate your diet with your physical activity level so
you burn the calories you are taking in.
Making a commitment to the ABCs of preventing heart
disease and changing your lifestyle habits can
ultimately improve associated medical conditions such
at high cholesterol, high blood pressure and unhealthy
weight. Get motivated this February to take action.
Start slow changing one variable at a time and set
reasonable goals. Other things to consider in the
fight against heart disease include; taking the
recommended medications your doctor prescribes,
reducing stress, and limiting alcohol intake. Keep
communication lines open with your physician when
implementing new changes to ensure your safety.
Sources:
American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org
Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Portal,
www.bewellstaywell.az.gov
February
2009
Page 2 Upcoming Events
Program Features
° One on One Counseling with a
trained, clinical health coach
° 6 scheduled calls over 6 months
° Step by step quitting advice, health
education, and motivational materials
° Program workbook with industry
leading expertise and goal setting tips
° $500 allowance for tobacco cessation
prescriptions and over-the-counter
medications per member per lifetime
Get Started Today!
° Call Toll Free 866-661-6781
Monday thru Thursday, 8a.m. to 11p.m.
Friday 8a.m. to 9p.m.
Saturday 9a.m. to 6p.m. (EST)
Join the Tobacco-Free
Program Today!
Sign up to participate in the Healthful
Living™ Smoke Free Program. Success-fully
end your tobacco addiction.
The Importance of a
Primary Care Physician
Choosing a primary care physician (PCP) for your
health care needs is integral to the coordination of
health care benefits and quality care. A PCP is
usually one of the following types of medical
providers: Pediatrician, General Internists,
Obstetrician/Gynecologists or a Family Practitioner.
Many people no longer develop a relationship with a
primary care physician. Not electing a PCP is like
playing football without a coach. You are the
quarterback of your healthcare team, but without a
coach for guidance and instruction your success
managing your health will certainly be disjointed.
With a PCP your healthcare experience will be more
complete because the coach, quarterback, special
teams, & other players are working together. The
PCP is your ticket to continuity in health care
delivery.
You should share with your PCP information about
all vitamins, over-the-counter medications and
alternative therapy you are receiving, so that these
medical interactions are coordinated with those your
PCP is prescribing, or those your PCP is referring you
to for treatment.
What does a PCP do?
° Manages care of individual patients.
° Diagnoses and treats minor, uncomplicated
illnesses and injuries.
° Manages long term chronic illnesses.
° Prevents and detects health problems through
regular screenings and wellness education.
° Determines when a patient needs to see a
specialist and coordinates care with appropriate
services
In short, your PCP is the glue for your health care
process. Your PCP knows your family medical
history, lifestyle, and habits, treats you as a whole
person, and helps you develop and carry out a
personal health maintenance and improvement
program.
Many individuals do not have a relationship with a
PCP. Those who have not developed a relationship
with a PCP should consider seeking referrals from
family members, co-workers or through their health
insurance Nurse Line or online search tool.
February www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
2009
Page 3
Upcoming Events
SCREENING SERVICES STATUS:
Screening contracts were awarded on June 17th.
Mobile Onsite Mammography, Healthwaves,
Banner Occupational Health, and Maxim
Health Systems are now under contract to pro-vide
convenient, at-work screening services.
Wellness is currently taking requests for screen-ings
at State worksites. Listed below are each
companies services.
Healthwaves
• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations
• Mini Health Screening
• Osteoporosis Screening
Maxim Health Systems
• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations
• Mini Health Screening
• Osteoporosis Screening
• Skin Cancer Screening
Mobile Onsite Mammography
• Mammography Screening
Banner Occupational Health
• Skin Cancer Screening
EDUCATIONAL CLASSES STATUS:
Wellness awarded contracts for educational
classes, fitness classes, massage, and weight
management on October 24th. Kronos Optimal
Health, The Back Rub Co., and Jesse Tsao will
be the State’s vendors providing services in the
future. Wellness is working to complete the
vendor implementation, but due to severe
budget restrictions will not be able to offer the
contracted services at this time. These pro-grams
will be placed on hold pending analysis
from the ADOA budget team.
Thank you for your patience during this
difficult budgeting period.
“Early detection is the best defense we have at this
time for catching breast cancer in its earliest
stages,” says Catherine Midgette, Executive Vice
President of MOM. “If we find the cancer in its ear-liest
stages, the patient has a 97 percent survival
rate.” Mobile On-Site Mammography (MOM) travels
to perform mammography screenings at worksites
across Arizona.
MOM will directly bill insurance. Benefit Options
health plan members do not have to pay a copay
at these events. (Other insurance plan members
may have a copay. Check with your insurance’s
member services department for more informa-tion.)
Call MOM at 480-967-3767 to schedule your
appointment.
This service is generally provided on a request-basis.
Call MOM at 480-967-3767 or 1-800-285-
0272 to schedule this service at your worksite.
There is a minimum of 25 participants preferred.
Feb. 4 — Mesa, MVD
1840 S. Mesa Dr.
(8am—1pm)
Feb. 10 — Phoenix, DOE
1535 W. Jefferson
(7:30am-11:30am)
Feb. 10 — Phoenix, DOE
2005 N. Central Ave
(1pm-5pm)
Feb. 12 — Florence, DOC
4374 E. Butte Ave
(8am-5pm)
Feb. 18 — Phoenix, AHCCCS
701 E. Jefferson
(8am-5pm)
Feb. 19 — Phoenix, AHCCCS
701 E. Jefferson
(8am-5pm)
Feb. 23 — Phoenix, PSPRS
3010 E. Camelback
(8am-12pm)
Feb. 24 — Phoenix, Capitol
1700 W. Washington
(8am-5pm)
February www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
2009
Page 4
wellness information
Created and published by ADOA, Benefit Options Wellness
Program
100 N 15th Ave, Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85007
www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
email: wellness@azdoa.gov,
Phone: 602-771-9355
What Services & Programs are
Offered by Benefit Options
Wellness?
The Wellness website has the complete list of
screenings, classes and other programs
available for request and scheduling at State
worksites.
Wellness events are requested and coordinated by
State employees at worksites. If you are interested in
hosting a program at your worksite, visit the
Wellness website to view what is available and learn
what Wellness has to offer.
Event requests must be submitted online by clicking
this logo:
Complete the brief form, including contact
information and the event requested and hit submit!
A Wellness team member will reply to your request
and begin scheduling your event.
Log on Today!
Take advantage of the many programs and
services to keep employees healthy
February Screening Schedule
Continued
Call MOM at 480-967-3767 to schedule your
appointment at any of the following locations
Feb. 25 — Winslow, DES
319 E. 3rd St.
(8am—12pm)
Feb. 25 — Winslow, ASPC
2100 S. Highway 87
(8am—4pm)
Feb. 26 — Goodyear, ASPC
2014 N. Citrus Rd.
(8am—4pm)
The minimum 25 participants is preferred to
maintain the above schedule. In the event,
the minimum participation is not met, ADOA
may cancel the MOM screening until adequate
utilization can be confirmed.
Please call Wellness at 602-771-9355 with
any question regarding the participation mini-mums.
A nurse practitioner or physi‐cian’s
assistant with Banner
Occupational Health will per‐form
a FREE assessment to
check for suspicious lesions
and will provide skin cancer prevention educa‐tion.
The screening takes about 10 minutes, and
participants will not disrobe.
February 24 — 11:30 am—3:30pm
ASPC, Winslow
2100 S. Hwy 87
Please visit the wellness website at
www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness and click
the schedule by county for information to register
for a skin cancer screening near you.
