What is your Health Challenge?
Flexibility
Know Your Numbers
Medication Compliance
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oral Health
Physical Activity
Primary Care Physician
Sleep
Stress Management
Substance Abuse Prevention
Tobacco
Weight Management
Body Mechanics
Body Mechanics is a term used to describe the way we move as we go about our daily lives. How we hold our bodies when we sit, stand, lift, carry, bend and sleep impacts the stress we add to our joints. Poor body mechanics are often associated with lower back and neck pain. Take care of your neck, back and weight bearing joints!
Goals
Be aware of your movements and posture as you work and play
Learn about ways to protect your neck and back
Avoid repetitive stress, strain and twisting
Flexibility
Flexibility is needed to perform everyday activities with relative ease. Getting out of bed and lifting objects require flexibility to prevent the deterioration associated with age, physical exertion or a sedentary lifestyle. Without adequate flexibility, daily activities become more difficult. Over time, we create habitual body movements and postural patterns that can lead to reduced mobility and function.
Goals
Learn how you can improve your personal flexibility
Incorporate flexibility into your regular exercise routine
Protect your neck and back with muscle strength, balance and flexibility
Know Your Numbers
It is very important to understand the basic measures of good health. We encourage you to know your blood pressure, blood sugar level, body mass index, waist circumference and all the elements that make up your cholesterol.
Goals
The first step to better health is understanding where you are today and where you need to be in the future. Take the health assessment to learn how you measure up in six areas of wellness. View your results and check out your personalized wellness plan, then take action to positively impact your health.
For best results be sure to have the following information ready: height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol values (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), and blood sugar or A1C value.
Medication Compliance
There are many reasons why people are not able to take their medications as directed. People may forget, they may not understand the importance or value of compliance, they may fear the side effects or may have physical difficulty taking the medication. Having a primary care physician, who can help you manage and understand the importance of compliance is critical to your health and wellbeing!
Goals
Review all your medications with your primary care physician
Ensure that your prescriptions are current and updated
Confirm all dosage, frequency and safety factors with your physician or pharmacist
Mental Health
Life sometimes challenges us which can test our ability to cope as we juggle work, family, children, finances, crisis, injury, illness, death and other factors that throw us off center. Reaching out for support is a strength and helps us as we navigate through difficult times. Employee Assistance is a great resource and readily available. No one needs to go through any trauma or challenging circumstance alone.
Goals
Reach out for help and support
Call Employee Assistance: 877-679-1100
Support friends, family and colleagues facing challenging situations. Please find a mental health screening tool for you to better assess your personal needs. AspenStrong, an Aspen based non-profit, keeps a community calendar of all mental health and substance abuse events in the valley.
Nutrition
Are you thinking about making dietary changes to lose weight, increase energy or your athletic performance? Do you want to serve as a better example for your children and family? Whether you want to improve the quality of your caloric intake, expand your dietary palate or learn to make your favorite family recipes with more nutritional value, reflecting on your nutrition is always a good thing as you establish your personal health goals.
Goals
Reach out to a VHA Health Coach to learn more about nutrition
Develop a personalized nutrition plan for you and your family
Set achievable and actionable goals to guarantee your success!
Oral Health
The mouth and face reflect signs and symptoms of health and disease. There is evidence associated with oral health, diabetes and cardiac disease. Oral health impacts quality of life especially related to aesthetics, communication, social interaction and intimacy. Establishing a relationship with a trusted dentist will support health and well-being for you and your family. Your smile says a lot about you and your health!
Goals
Establish a relationship with a dentist for you and your family
Understand the basic elements of oral health and hygiene
Visit the dentist twice a year for regular check-ups and cleaning
Physical Activity
Scientists have found that the type of exercise you do doesn’t matter as long as you are moving! Strive to achieve 30 minutes of physical activity each day. In addition, reduce sitting time to less than seven hours a day and screen time to less than three hours a day. Prolonged sitting is the new “smoking” and places us at risk for several health risks.
Goals
Meet with a VHA Health Coach for advice on how to increase your physical activity and fitness
Develop your own personal activity plan– make it fun!
Invite a friend to keep you accountable and on track to achieve your goals
Primary Care Physician
Researchers have found that patients having a primary care physician have better management of chronic diseases, have lower overall healthcare costs and a higher level of engagement and satisfaction with their care. Primary care physicians aid in coordinating care in one place for preventative screening, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, cough, flu, stomach pain or high fever.
Goals
Establish a relationship with a primary care physician for you and your family
Visit the Emergency Room only for emergencies— not basic healthcare needs
Discuss your lifestyle and medical risks with your physician
Sleep
Make sure you are getting enough good quality sleep. Identify factors in your routine that might be interfering with a restful night’s sleep such as nicotine, caffeine, alcohol stress, sleeping environment and shift-work. Excessive snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, where breathing during sleep is compromised.
Goals
Assess your current sleep patterns— are they healthy?
Identify areas where you can improve your sleep preparation process
If sleep problems persist, speak to your primary care physician or health coach
Stress Management
High, sustained levels of stress can wear you down both physically and mentally and will impact your immune system and your body’s ability to fight off infection and disease. Regular exercise, work-life balance, meditation, socialization and developing a support system can all help to enhance coping skills and improve stress management.
Goals
Identify the areas of greatest stress in your life– take action!
Reach out to Employee Assistance for support in reducing stress levels: 877-679-1100
Develop a plan that helps you reduce your stress and provides you with the necessary support
Substance Abuse Prevention
Addiction is a very complex and challenging condition which requires professional intervention and a strong support system. If you or any of your loved ones, co-workers or community members are suffering with addiction, please reach out! Employee Assistance is readily available and a great place to start to find support, expertise and guidance.
We are here to provide you comfort as you explore the best options for you, your family, friends and community.
Goals
Ask for help!
Call Employee Assistance: 877-679-1100
Help a friend in need
Tobacco
The effects of tobacco are serious and can harm every organ in the body. Smoking is the cause of nearly one of every five deaths in the U.S. Smokers are 30% to 40% more likely to develop type two diabetes than nonsmokers. Tobacco users are at high risk for all cancers, heart disease, loss of bone density, lung diseases and vision loss.
Goals
Take the first step to being tobacco free!
Speak with your primary care physician or health coach as to the tools available for cessation
Ask your employer about resources available to support your cessation efforts
Weight Management
Losing just 10% of your current body weight will provide long-term health benefits such as: reduced joint pressure, reduced pain and inflammation, less risk of chronic disease, improved breathing, better sleep, lower risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Goals
Determine if you are at your optimal weight through VHA Health Fairs or you primary care physician
Reach out to a VHA Health Coach to discuss nutrition and physical activity opportunities
Develop a plan that works for you and your personal health goals