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What is "Wellness?" |
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Wellness is the process of being aware of and actively working toward better health.
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What is biometric testing and why is it important to me? |
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Biometric testing involves obtaining body measurements including height, weight, blood pressure, and percentage of body weight that is fat. These simple measurements are easy to obtain and can be powerful predictors of future health problems. Evaluation of biometrics provides information about risk factors for future illness that you can do something about.
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I feel healthy. Why should I participate in a health and wellness program? |
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The key to being healthy and staying healthy is prevention. Many serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure have few or no symptoms before irreversible disease occurs. Wellness programs that include focused screenings can identify early signs of serious illness before it's too late to preserve your health and quality of life.
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What is a Health Risk Assessment? |
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A Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is a personal health and lifestyle inventory. The purpose of this inventory is to increase your awareness and the awareness of your doctor in the areas of your life that place you at increased risk of illness and possibly early death. Understanding your risks, particularly those you can change, is an important first step in taking an active role in managing your health.
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Will my wellness evaluation include blood tests? |
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Screening blood tests are usually included in the initial health and wellness assessment. The purpose of screening blood tests is to identify risk factors for treatable conditions such as diabetes and heart disease before symptoms develop.
Tests for anemia called hemoglobin, blood sugar called glucose, and blood fats called lipids are typically performed. Detailed testing is usually undertaken with your doctor if abnormalities are identified on the screening tests.
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I am not very physically active. Is it safe for me to start an exercise program? |
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It is safe for most people to increase their daily activity with things like walking a few extra blocks each day, climbing a flight of stairs instead of taking the elevator, mowing the lawn, or riding your bike instead of taking the car to the store.
For some people, such as those with known health problems and those who have been very inactive, some forms of exercise could be dangerous. If you have any questions, you should talk with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
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Do I have to go to a gym or health club to improve my fitness? |
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No. You don't have to go to the gym to improve your health and fitness.
It's best to achieve fitness in three areas: flexibility, muscle strength, and aerobic (heart and lung function). You can accomplish improvement in all three areas without ever setting foot in a gym. Pick an activity you think you would enjoy and keep doing, such as walking, running, bicycling, or inline skating, and get started. Perform gentle stretches before and after you participate in the chosen activity.
Once or twice a week participate in easy strength training activities such as push-ups and crunches. Your Wellness Coach can help you set up a program that is right for you. Studies have shown that as little as 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day can produce significant improvements in your health.
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I would like to quit smoking. I have tried to quit in the past but was unsuccessful. What should I do? |
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There are many reasons to quit smoking. Using tobacco increases your risk of developing serious heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, and many cancers. If you are a woman and pregnant, smoking can harm you and your baby. Most people who are able to quit smoking have had at least one unsuccessful attempt in the past. Learn from your previous quit attempts as you prepare to stop using tobacco for good.
Resources available to help you include your doctor with information about whether a prescription will help you, the "Quit Line" for telephone support as you start to change your behavior, and possibly your family and friends. Your Wellness Coach can provide you with information and support as you tackle this difficult, but highly important aspect of managing your health.
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What can I do to get the right amount of health care at the right time and right place? |
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Here are some things you can do to improve the quality of care you receive:
- Take responsibility for your own health and health care.
- Team up with your doctor to choose from among your treatment options but don't rely on someone else to make choices for you.
- Learn all you can about your health and illness.
- Ask your doctor for help when you have questions about your care. Let your doctor or nurse know if you don't understand what they told you about your health or what you need to do.
- Don't be afraid to ask "why" as often as it takes for you to understand your health issues
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