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Health & Wellness

At Health Choice Generations Utah HMO D-SNP, your health is our priority. Here are some Health & Wellness tips.

Get your annual flu vaccine!

As flu season ramps up, it is important to understand how getting a flu shot reduces your chances of getting the flu.

Everyone 6 months of age and older needs to get a flu shot each year. The shot is especially important for people over 65 years old, pregnant women, and young children.

Even after having the flu shot, make sure to stay healthy and protect yourself.

  • Wash your hands often
  • Avoid close contact with sick people
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough

Let us help protect you. Call Customer Service today to schedule an appointment at 1-844-457-8943, 5 days a week (April – September) or 7 days a week (October – March) from 8am to 8pm. We are here to help you stay healthy!

Now is the right time for an annual wellness visit!

Your annual wellness visit is an important part of staying healthy.

Your appointment will include a review of:

  • Your health history
  • Your medications
  • Improving or maintaining your physical and mental health
  • Your physical activity and exercise
  • Your exam may also include things like:
    • Height, weight, body mass index (BMI)
    • Blood pressure screening
    • Cancer screenings

If you have special conditions like diabetes, your provider will check to see if you need updated tests and screenings like A1C blood tests, kidney monitoring, and a vision check.

We want to help you stay healthy. Call Customer Service today to schedule your wellness visit at 1-844-457-8943, 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. We are here to help you stay healthy!

Breast Cancer Awareness

If you are a woman, you could be one of the one in eight women in the U.S. to get breast cancer.

There are many risk factors for breast cancer, but really the most common risk is simply being a woman. Fortunately, current treatment can be very effective. In fact, the 5-year survival rate can be as high as 98% if breast cancer is detected early and confined to the breast.

The American Cancer Society recommends the following methods to help detect breast cancer early:

  • Women age 50 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
  • Women in their 20’s and 30’s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a regular health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a clinical breast exam by a health professional every year.
  • Breast self-examination is an option for women starting in their 20’s. Women should learn about the benefits and limitations of breast self-examination. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.

Learn more about what you can do to help detect breast cancer early. For more information about breast cancer and the importance of mammography, visit these websites

What is Colorectal Cancer Screening?

A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person doesn’t have symptoms. (When a person has symptoms, diagnostic tests are used to find out the cause of the symptoms.)

Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps. Precancerous polyps are abnormal growths that are found in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find these. If abnormal growths are found, they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early. If found early, treatment is the best course of action.

Fast Facts

  • If you are age 50 to 75 years old, you should get screened for colorectal cancer.
  • The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening beginning at age 50. Some groups recommend starting earlier, at age 45.
  • About 90% of new cases of colorectal cancer happen in people who are 50 or older.
  • Millions of people in the United States are not getting screened as recommended. They are missing the chance to prevent colorectal cancer or find it early. Treatment often leads to a cure.
  • If you think you may be at an increased risk for colorectal cancer, learn your family health history. Talk to your doctor about your history and if you should begin screening before age 50.

Source: cdc.gov

Health Risk Assessment

Health Choice Generations cares about you. We want to make sure all your health care needs are met. Please take a few minutes to print and complete the Health Risk Assessment linked below. This information is used to better understand what health care needs you may have and how we can help you stay healthy.

Health Risk Assessment
Evaluación de riesgos para la salud

 

Once completed, please mail to:
Health Choice Generations
Attn: Health Services
PO Box 45900
Salt Lake City, UT 84145

Diabetes

Did you know that diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S.?

According to the American Diabetes Association, 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010. Diabetes affects heart health and can also cause blindness, kidney failure, and amputations of feet and/or legs not related to accidents or injury.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Fatigue
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased thirst or hunger
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Slowed healing of wounds

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent diabetes, or if you already have diabetes, to manage it so that you can lead a healthier life.

Ways to prevent diabetes include:

  • Losing weight
  • Eating healthier
  • Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Quitting smoking if you are a smoker

If you have an increased risk of diabetes due to family history or if you’re overweight, you need to make diabetes prevention a priority. Fortunately, this can be as simple as eating healthier foods, and it’s easier than you think.

Take the first steps towards a healthier diet by adding more fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and leaner meats to your shopping list and try and include them in most meals. In time it’ll get easier to eat more healthy foods, plus eating healthy foods will help you lose weight.

For more information about diabetes, visit these websites:

High Blood Pressure

Do you know why high blood pressure is also called “The Silent Killer”?

Approximately one in three people in the U.S. have high blood pressure (or hypertension), that can lead to stroke, heart attack, or kidney disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with high blood pressure may have no symptoms. You may feel fine and not be aware that high blood pressure is damaging your arteries, heart and other organs. This is why high blood pressure is sometimes called “The Silent Killer.”

Because high blood pressure is such a dangerous condition, it’s vital to follow your physician’s course of treatment. This can include a variety of prescriptions and over the counter products, but also requires special attention to diet, sleeping habits, and of course, exercise.

The key is consistency. Get a plan from a doctor to manage your blood pressure, and stick to it.

In addition to your doctor’s recommendations, here are some ways to lower your blood pressure:

  • Eat healthy foods
  • Eat foods that are low in sodium
  • Stay active
  • Lose weight

For more information about high blood pressure, visit these websites:

Last Updated on January 3, 2022