February's Health + Wellness Pulse: Take Care of Your Heart

Did you know February is American Heart Month? That makes this the perfect time for you and your partner to take Just One Step and schedule your yearly checkups. Not only will you get the lowdown on your heart health — you and your partner will also earn $200 a piece in wellness incentives!

Your One Step This Month: Schedule Your Yearly Checkup

Even if you’ve never been diagnosed with heart disease or conditions, it’s important to establish a primary care provider. Yearly checkups can help find health problems before they start, or discover them early, so you can get the treatment you need.

As a regular, benefits-eligible, full-time employee, you are eligible — participation in one of our health plans is not required. If your spouse or domestic partner is enrolled in one of our health plans, they are also eligible. Together, you can earn up to $400 (or $200 each) by getting your checkup.

The process is easy: Just schedule your exam, print this form and bring it to your appointment to be completed by your doctor, and claim your wellness incentive by submitting the completed form to Employee Hub.

That’s all there is to it! By having these annual checkups, you can help catch conditions like:

Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease
Irregular heartbeats (also known as arrhythmias)
Congenital heart defects (heart conditions you’re born with)
Disease of the heart muscle
Heart valve disease
High cholesterol
And many others!

Are you at high risk for heart disease?

Nearly half of people in the United States have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease:

If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor today.

Heart Healthy Foods (Plus: What to Avoid)

Your diet plays a significant role in the health of your heart, and a few heart-healthy changes in the foods that you eat can help reduce your chances of heart disease. Here are a few foods to add to your plate, plus a few others to limit.

Foods to Eat	Foods to Limit
Vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli and carrots	Sodium (salt)
Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, grapes and prunes	Saturated fat
Whole grains such as plain oatmeal, brown rice and whole-grain bread	Sugar
Protein-rich foods such as fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and soy products	Alcohol

Quick Tips for Eating Better:

Eat at home more often so you can cook food from scratch
Flavor foods with herbs and spices instead of added salt
Read food labels and choose products with lower sodium

How much exercise do you need to keep your heart healthy? Here’s what the US Department of Health & Human Services recommends:

Remember, when it comes to exercise, every step counts!

Mental Health Corner

The winter months can take a toll on your mental health. If you or a loved one is struggling, connect with Anthem’s Emotional Well-being Resources, administered by Learn to Live, to find the support you need to develop resilience, reduce stress, and practice mindfulness. The online programs and personalized coaching help you work through thoughts and behaviors that affect your emotional well-being. You’ll learn effective ways to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues (at no extra cost to you). Log in to anthem.com, go to My Health Dashboard, choose Programs, and select Emotional Well-being Resources to begin.

Sydney Health Mobile App

Anthem’s secure mobile app serves as an excellent connection point for mental health support. Use Sydney Health to:

Find behavioral health professionals in your plan’s network.
Check cost and what your plan covers.
Discover resources that support your well-being.
Connect to LiveHealth Online for a virtual visit with a therapist.

Learn more