Home Administrative Billing & Reimbursement BlueCard® Health and Wellness Medical PEAR portal Pharmacy Products Quality Management

Heart disease vs. exercise — fight fire with fire

January 29, 2016

Heart disease kills approximately 600,000 Americans every year, making it the leading cause of death in the United States. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking are three key risk factors for heart disease, and 49 percent of Americans have at least one of those three risk factors.1 Those statistics make it highly likely that every doctor has older patients who either have or are at risk for developing heart disease. Medication is sometimes the necessary approach, but other medical conditions and lifestyle choices that increase risk — obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, poor diet, and excessive alcohol use — can be controlled by leading an active, healthy lifestyle.

The facts are convincing, but getting older adults to adopt new habits often takes a lot more than statistics and a recommendation. That?s why Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness program is offered at no additional cost to Keystone 65 Select HMO, Keystone 65 Preferred HMO, Keystone 65 Focus Rx HMO, and Personal Choice 65SM PPO members. SilverSneakers provides an actionable program to help members develop health and fitness goals, as well as a strong support system to help achieve them. With millions of members, SilverSneakers is the nation?s leading fitness program exclusively for older adults.

The SilverSneakers membership includes:

  • fitness membership with access to more than 13,000 locations nationwide;
  • indoor and outdoor fitness classes designed specifically for older adults;
  • a members-only website and online community;
  • a strong social network and support system.

Heart muscles get stronger and healthier with exercise, and the more exercise, the lower the risk of heart disease.2 That means heart disease isn?t inevitable — exercise can change the statistics. It?s time to fight fire with fire. Encourage your Independence Medicare Advantage patients to learn more about the program, find the closest SilverSneakers location, or get their ID number by visiting Silver Sneakers or calling 1-888-423-4632 (TTY: 711).

1www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

2www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004006.htm

SilverSneakers is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc., an independent company.


This content was prepared for the Provider News Center and may not be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of Independence Blue Cross. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Connect with us     Facebook     Twitter     Flickr     YouTube     Walk the Talk    Independence Pinterest    Independence LinkedIn    Independence Instagram Site Map        Anti-Fraud        Privacy Policy        Legal        Disclaimer
© 2023 Independence Blue Cross.
Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving the health insurance needs of Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.