BATON ROUGE, La. – February is American Heart Month, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is promoting awareness of heart disease and how Louisianians can delay or prevent it.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States,” said Dr. Vindell Washington, Blue Cross executive vice president and chief medical officer. “While people 65 and older tend to be at a higher risk, heart health is something to be mindful of at any age.”
With rising rates of obesity and high blood pressure nationwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting increasing cases of heart disease among younger people.
“The good news is, you can take control of your heart health by making some simple lifestyle changes that will greatly lower or even eliminate your risk of heart disease,” Washington said.
Some examples of heart-healthy lifestyle steps people can take include:
Blue Cross’ care team supports members who are living with heart conditions such as vascular disease, coronary artery disease or high blood pressure.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, you may be able to work with a health coach – a nurse, dietitian and/or social worker- who will offer personalized information and encouragement. There is no cost for members to work with a Blue Cross health coach.
Visit www.bcbsla.com/Stronger for more information on how to connect with a Blue Cross health coach or learn more about available programs and services.
Dr. Washington talks about heart disease and how you can keep the beat going strong in this video.
Friday, Feb. 1, was Wear Red Day, a national event led by the American Heart Association in which people are encouraged to wear red clothing to work or school to raise awareness of heart disease. Blue Cross employees joined businesses around Louisiana to participate in Wear Red Day, as shown in the attached photo.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. We invest both time and money in the communities we serve, supporting the health and wellbeing of Louisianians through more than 200 charitable organizations.
With our subsidiaries, HMO Louisiana and Southern National Life, we provide group and individual health insurance plans, life and disability insurance, group voluntary products and administrative services to one out of four Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also provides Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans and is a partner in offering the Healthy Blue Medicaid Managed care plan. Louisiana is the only state where we operate, with offices in every major region to serve our customers.
Founded in New Orleans in 1934, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is a tax-paying non-profit health insurer. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
To learn more, visit our website at www.bcbsla.com.
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