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Who Needs Vaccines?
Vaccines aren’t just for babies or young children. Different vaccines are recommended for children, teens and adults. The right vaccines can help keep people of all ages healthy. Vaccines you need will depend on factors like age, health problems, jobs and travel. Some examples:
Other vaccines you need are:
Immunizations protect people at risk, such as the very young, the very old, and people with weak immune systems or serious illnesses. Some of them can’t get immunizations. When people who can get vaccinated do, everyone is better protected.
Adults with chronic health problems like asthma, COPD, heart disease and diabetes are more likely to get complications from certain diseases. If you have chronic health issues, make sure you know what vaccines you need.
Are Vaccines Safe?
Before a vaccine is approved for use in the U.S., it goes through testing to make sure it's safe and works well. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluates the results of clinical studies. Safety is closely watched during use. Like other medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. They're mostly mild.
Don’t put off vaccinations. Talk to your provider if you have concerns.
Sources: Vaccine-Preventable Adult Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022; 5 Reasons It Is Important for Adults to Get Vaccinated, CDC, 2022; Autism and Vaccines, CDC, 2024; Prevent Seasonal Flu, CDC, 2024; Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Vaccine for Adults, CDC, 2024
Hearing loss can cause many day-to-day challenges and can be more than an inconvenience. Studies show hearing loss may increase the risk for falls. Each year, one in four people over the age of 65 takes a nasty tumble. Some of these falls lead to serious injury.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found that people with “mild” hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to fall than people who hear well. The risk went up as hearing loss increased.
It’s not clear why hearing loss and falls are linked, but researchers point to three likely reasons:
If you feel like you no longer hear as well as you once did, talk with your provider. Ask questions about what you can do. Tell your family and friends. They can start speaking louder and more clearly. Be aware of background noise that makes hearing more difficult.
You can use a variety of tools and techniques to hear better, including:
Sources:
Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults, Hearing Loss and Older Adults, National Institute on Aging, 2023
Hearing Loss Linked to Three-Fold Risk of Falling, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2012
Age-Related Hearing Loss, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 2023
Wellness Coaching and Programs Can Help You Improve Your Numbers
Are you worried about your blood glucose, cholesterol or BMI? With Well onTarget® Wellness Coaching, you have access to coaches and programs to help you stay healthy. You’ll start with a Health Assessment to identify where you can improve, then it will suggest programs for you. There’s no limit to the number of programs you can complete, but you can only sign up for one at a time.
Well onTarget has courses to help you with eating better, improving cholesterol levels, quitting smoking and other lifestyle changes.
Family History Can Be Critical
Some people have a family tie to a severe form of high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia. The American Heart Association says this inherited condition affects 1 in 200 adults in the United States.
People with this condition have high cholesterol from birth but may have no symptoms until they've already developed serious heart problems.
FH can be diagnosed through an exam, lab work or genetic testing. It’s also helpful to know your family history. If your parents, siblings or children have FH or an early heart attack, it’s a good idea to get tested.
Once FH is diagnosed, you can use a combination of diet, exercise and medication to treat the condition.
Talk to your doctor if you think you or your children are at risk. It can cause deadly cardiovascular complications in children.
Source:
Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), American Heart Association, 2020
You woke up on Saturday not feeling well and your Primary Care Provider’s office isn’t open. You don’t know where to go for care. Use this handy guide to help you decide the right option for you.
Mediation can improve your mood and reduce stress. It can take as little as two minutes twice a day. Try this simple meditation:
Steps to Keep Your Brain Healthy
Some of the steps for brain health are the same ones that keep your mind and body healthy:
Sources:
6 tips to keep your brain healthy, Mayo Clinic, 2022
6 simple steps to keep your mind sharp at any age, Harvard Medical School, 2020
The AlwaysOn app provides convenient access to Well onTarget. Work on your health and fitness goals anytime, from anywhere using your smartphone.
The Well onTarget Fitness Program mobile app helps you keep your fitness routine organized. Use it to:
Download the Well onTarget Fitness Program app or AlwaysOn app free of charge from the Apple or Android app stores. When you go to the app store:
Cardiovascular exercise is repetitive motion using large muscles that increase your heart and breathing rate. Blood flow is directed to the muscles doing the work and away from the ones not doing work.
Regular cardio causes your resting heart rate to drop because your left ventricle adapts to the larger blood volume and gets bigger. With a larger and stronger muscle, more blood is pumped per beat, even at rest, so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. This is what makes cardio exercise so good for your heart.
Too much cardio can cause you to become overtrained. Overtraining creates more stress than your body can handle. It can lead to sickness, injury, the release of stress hormones and weight gain.
Most Americans aren't in danger of overtraining. Many don’t get the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.
People who are physically active tend to live longer and have lower risk for heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, depression and some cancers.
What are you waiting for? Lace up those sneakers and go for a walk.
Well onTarget offers coaching programs to improve your blood pressure. Access the self-guide program “Improving Your Blood Pressure” to learn how to improve your blood pressure through healthy behaviors like physical activity, healthy eating and stress management. You have three ways to access these online tools:
Life is full of stressful experiences. Stress can raise your blood pressure for a short period. But, chronic stress can weaken your immune system and lead to health problems. Even moderate stress can make other health conditions worse.
While you can’t avoid all stress, there are steps you can take to manage stress before it overwhelms you. To help protect your health and heart, try these tips:
Source: Reduce your stress to protect your heart, Harvard Medical School, 2011
You can’t control a sneeze because it’s an involuntary reflex. Sneezes are your body’s way of getting rid of things it doesn’t like including dust, pollen or smells like cigarette smoke. When an irritant is in your nose, it sends a message to your brain that activates your abdominals, chest muscles, lungs and tongue to force air out of your nose and mouth.
When you're sick and you sneeze, you could pass germs to others. Germs from a sneeze can fly as fast as 100 mph and travel up to 30 feet. Make sure to use a tissue when you sneeze. If one isn't available, sneeze into your elbow.
Source: Why Do We Sneeze?, The University of Vermont Health Network, 2019
Your nose can get red and raw from all the wiping and blowing caused by nasal drip. Consider these simple steps for your runny nose woes:
Source: Runny Nose, Cleveland Clinic, 2023
Check Your Blood Pressure
In 2019, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death in half a million Americans. It increases the risk for kidney disease, heart attack and stroke.
Often called a ‘silent killer’, high blood pressure usually doesn’t have any symptoms. The best way to monitor your blood pressure is to have it checked regularly and know what your numbers mean.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. That’s why you should keep an eye on your blood pressure levels.
The two things measured when you take your blood pressure are systolic and diastolic. Levels are categorized as follows:
Normal: systolic less than 120 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
Elevated: systolic 120 -129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
Stage 1 hypertension: systolic 130 -139 mmHg or diastolic 80 - 89 mmHg.
Stage 2 hypertension: systolic 140+ mmHg or diastolic 90+mmHg
Be sure to check your blood pressure regularly and take any medicine you doctor orders as directed. If you have any side effects, don’t stop taking it without checking with your doctor first.
Sources: High Blood Pressure, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022
Health Advisors provide extra support after you’ve had a significant health event. They’re available to you at no cost. They may call to help you:
A Health Advisor can also make appointments for you for things like follow-ups and physical therapy. If you see a call from BCBSTX, be sure to pick up or call back. We may be checking in to make sure you’re healing well and understand your treatment plan or to see if you need details about your coverage.
And easier to prepare than you think! Here's a menu for a day of heart healthy eating for the whole family!
Breakfast: Flourless Banana Pancakes with Berry Maple Syrup
There's nothing quite like a pancake breakfast. These banana pankcakes make the most important meal of the day easy and delicious!
Lunch: Lemon Herb Feta Chicken Sliders
Packed with protien and Mediterranean flavors, these ground chicken sliders come together quickly and are perfect for meal prep! Serve with a salad or your favorite heart healthy side.
Dinner: Grilled Salmon with Citrus Tomato Salsa
Your heart (and stomach) will love this light, bright and Omega-3 packed salmon! Keep the grill hot and pair with a side of your favorite grilled veggies and rice.
Dessert: Grilled Peach Vanilla Yogurt Honey Oat Crumble
Heart healthy doesn't mean you have to skip dessert. These low-calorie grilled peaches are the perfect treat to end a day of heart-healthy eating!
Interested in more healthy recipes? Check out the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas digital recipe book.
It goes both ways. What you’re eating can either improve your mood and mental health or trigger feelings of anxiety and depression.
Healthier choices boost your mental health. Pay attention to how the foods you eat make you feel and choose options that will make you feel better.
Avoid:
Do:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a chair rise exercise to improve your lower body strength. The goal is to do this exercise without your hands as you become stronger.
How to do it:
Repeat these steps 10-15 times, taking a small break between repetitions. Start slowly at first and work up to more repetitions.
Recommended Exercise Chair Rise Exercise, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.