February Is Heart Health Month: Maximize Your Plan Benefits to Support Heart Health

Did you know that February is Heart Health Month? All the hearts you see for Valentine’s Day serve as a good reminder to think about your actual heart. This time of year, many people are in new health plans, so it’s also a good time to review the plan benefits that can support heart health.

A Death Every 34 Seconds

The CDC says that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. In 2019, more than 900,000 people died of cardiovascular disease in 2023 in the United States, accounting for one out of every three deaths. A person dies an average of every 34 seconds from heart disease.

Heart disease is also expensive. The CDC says heart disease was responsible for costs totaling around $418.9 billion from 2020 to 2021. This includes healthcare services, medicines and lost productivity due to death.

What Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is also known as heart and blood vessel disease or cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, it includes several health problems, many of which involve a build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Some people have a higher risk of heart disease. For example, the CDC says people with diabetes have twice the risk of developing heart disease, and the longer you have diabetes, the greater your risks. However, you can take steps to reduce your risk.

How to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Whether or not you have an elevated risk of developing heart disease, you can reduce your risk through lifestyle changes and healthy habits.

• Exercise regularly. The CDC says adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, plus two days of muscle-strengthening activity.
• Get a good night’s sleep. According to the National Institute of Health, experts recommend seven to nine hours of sleep a night for adults.
• Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease significantly, so quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.
• Limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol also increases your risk of heart disease, so drinking in moderation (or not at all) can reduce your risk.
• Eat heart-healthy foods. The National Institute of Health recommends eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, protein-rich foods, and oils and foods high in monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Limit salt, saturated fat, added sugars and alcohol.
• Maintain a healthy weight. You can use the CDC’s BMI Calculator to see if your weight is considered healthy.
• Some stress is normal, but chronic or excessive stress can contribute to your heart disease risk and make it harder to stay healthy.

Using Your Health Benefits to Protect Your Heart

Your health plan may include benefits that can help you stay heart-healthy. Some common benefits include:

• Smoking Cessation Programs. Quitting smoking can be hard, but treatments and programs can increase your chance of success, and your health plan may cover the costs.
• If excessive stress is interfering with your health, counseling may help. Check your health plan for coverage.
• Sleep Treatments. If you’re unable to get a good night’s sleep, it may be because of sleep apnea or other health problems. Talk to your doctor and check your health plan for coverage.
• Diabetes Screening. The CDC says 98 million Americans have prediabetes, putting them at a greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, but most of them don’t know it. Knowing you have prediabetes can empower you to make changes to lower your risk, so screening is important, and most health plans cover it.
• Heart Disease Screening. Your doctor may recommend blood pressure tests, cholesterol tests, and other tests to determine your risk and whether you need to take medication or make lifestyle changes to lower your risk. Check your health plan for details, but most plans cover preventive screenings.
• Your doctor may recommend certain medications to manage your risks and improve your heart health. Check your health plan for coverage.

Every year, thousands of people die of heart disease, but most of these deaths can be prevented. This February, take steps to protect your heart, and spread the word to help others do the same.

Does your health insurance provide the benefits you need to protect your health? Heffernan Insurance Brokers can help you with Medicare and Employee Benefits.