Know Your 5 Key Health Indicators
BJC
wants to help you take charge and take action to improve your health.
Safeguard your health by knowing your five key health indicators and
what you can do to improve your quality of life.
Health
Indicator #1: Blood Pressure
You want your blood pressure to be 120/80 or below. If
your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89, you have
prehypertension; if your first number
is 140 or above, you have hypertension. High blood pressure aka
hypertension, often produces no symptoms, but it can damage your blood
vessels, heart,
kidneys and other organs.
Why
is this important?
High blood pressure is called the "silent killer," as it
often produces no symptoms, and people can have it for years without
knowing. But that doesn't mean harm hasn't come to your body.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack,
heart failure or kidney failure  all of which can shorten your life or
lessen your quality of life. Estimates show one in three U.S. adults
has high blood pressure, but one-third of these people don't know they
have it.
The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your
blood pressure checked.
Live a heart-healthier life by partnering with your physician to
regularly monitor your blood pressure; knowing what your blood pressure
should be and striving to reach those numbers; and these lifestyle
changes:
1. Read food labels at the grocery store and buy foods that are low in sodium and fa
2. Know your body mass index; work towards a healthy weight as needed or take measures to maintain a healthy weight
3. Participate in moderately intense physical activity (like brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week; when you don't have a block of time, you can do the activity in three 10-minute segments
4. Remain tobacco-free or if you smoke, pick a quit date and ask your doctor for help
5. Limit your alcohol to no more than two drinks a day (for men) or one drink a day (for women)
6. Take your medication as your doctor prescribes
Blood Pressure is just 1 of 5 indicators in BJC's "Know Your 5 Key Health Indicators" brochure.
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BJC
Targets Influenza By Requiring Vaccinations For All Employees
(ST.
LOUIS, Sept. 17, 2008) Â In an effort to reduce the risk of influenza
among vulnerable patient populations, BJC HealthCare will require
annual influenza vaccinations for all employees. The vaccinations will
be provided on site and free of charge.
