Blue Cross Goes Red for American Heart Month

BATON ROUGE – In honor of American Heart Month, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is sharing tips to help Louisianians keep the beat going strong.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.,” said Dr. Emily Vincent, Blue Cross medical director. “While older people and those with long-term health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure tend to be at higher risk, there are steps everyone can take to improve their heart health.”  

Some examples of heart-healthy habits people can adopt include:

• Getting regular exercise
• Quitting or avoiding smoking, vaping and using tobacco products
• Watching your salt and fat intake
• Knowing your numbers for blood pressure and cholesterol
• Talking to your primary care provider about your family and medical history to know if you are at higher risk for heart disease

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.

Friday, Feb. 7, 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 here and here. Video footage of Wear Red Day at Blue Cross is available by request. 

Dr. Vincent talks about heart disease and tips for heart health in this video (1:28). Tasha Bergeron, RN, Blue Cross Population Health director, talks about how to be stronger than high blood pressure in this video (2:48).

Visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana YouTube page to see short videos with the clinical team on various health topics. Subscribe to know when new videos are added. You can also connect with Blue Cross on social media for regular health news and updates.

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. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying nonprofit health insurer with offices in every major region to serve our customers. We were recognized in 2019 as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in United States. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. We invite all Louisianians to visit our website at www.bcbsla.com or talk to us on social media.