A Healthy Dose of Inspiration

Poor health is not caused by something you don't have; it's caused by disturbing something that you already have. Healthy is not something that you need to get, it's something you have already if you don't disturb it.  ~Dean Ornish MD Cardiologist, Researcher, Author 

There are many definitions of inspiration however the one I like best is the “extraordinary influence to help a person take action to create or become creative”. Using this definition when it comes to your health where do you look for inspiration?

Just a few short months ago were you most likely glued to your TV watching the Olympians demonstrate what health and fitness looks like in a larger than life way.  Just think to enter the competition it took millions of mico-decisions choosing the healthiest of foods and pushing for just one more minute of physical practice day in and day out for many years.  A level of commitment for many of us are inspired by.

Inspiration for good health is found in athletes such as soccer players, body builders and sport enthusiasts setting an example for all to see. And what are we seeing? We are seeing the results of a healthy lifestyle hobby or career that is the product of what a ramped up healthy eating and fitness program can do on a regular basis.

Inspiration can be found in overcoming. Lance Armstrong comes quickly to my mind. An example of a person filled with the commitment and persistence to overcome cancer and become a world class athlete. Suzanne Somers fight with cancer was very public and inspired others with her story of winning the fight with healthy lifestyle habits.

Or maybe it someone you know who is closer to home who is your inspiration? A relative, friend, neighbor or someone you work with who makes their good health a priority and disease prevention a goal.  You watch them make it look effortless. They are living the healthy life you wish you had, making choices that prevent disease.

Making healthy lifestyle choices is not an easy habit to develop. Each day we receive millions of messages from the media, our friends and family suggesting there is no real need for those healthy behavior changes we are just fine the way we are after all there is genetics to blame.

For this reason you are my inspiration. You get up every day knowing you need to do something about your health, looking for the truth and not knowing which way to turn. You who with each bite of food and each step you take know there is something better you can do for your health.

What? You are not an inspiration you say. I say you are. Think of this … you know some things that you can do to be healthier; you be one to share your good health habits and let others see you doing them. Do you teach one what you know to those around you? They are looking for answers too. The thing is you never know what you do inspires others that’s what so great about inspiration … it spreads quietly like a slow burning fire within then one day you are filled with it and boom! Something fantastic happens! You choose yogurt over ice cream!

So tomorrow when you go to work, with each conversation be the inspiration I see in you, share and teach others and together we can make our community a better place to live and work for all of us.

Your partner in health,

Wellness Consultant

Certified Health Coach

C2 Your Health LLC

Don’t feel like you are doing enough and looking for a place to start improving your health? Ramp up you nutrition with Juice Plus+ Whole Food Nutrition. How about getting a group of people together a get healthy as a group, ask about our programs to help you get healthier during the work day.

Job Stress and Heart Disease

February is American Heart Month bringing into focus all things about heart disease. One question I have not heard answered is "Can my job stress cause me to have a heart attack?" The short answer is "Yes". Surprised? Let's take a quick  look at why that is. This question of is stress at work was explored in February's edition of  Wellness Wednesday Getting Healthier Every Week where experts weighed in about job stress and health.

WebMD published Is Your Job Wrecking Your Heart? How job stress may affect your heart's health, and what you can do about it where they reported since the U.S. unemployment rate high, most people today are happy just to have a job and a regular paycheck. Add to this the 2013 State of the American Workplace Report who estimates 70% of Americans are disinterested and unhappy at work.

The Right Management, a subsidiary ManpowerGroup,  released a snapshot survey that underlines the dissatisfaction among American workers including feeling stuck in their jobs and unable to consider a career move even if they’re unhappy.

In fact, the American Psychological Association’s 2010 Stress in America Survey found that work is cited as 1 of the top 3 contributors to stress, second only to worries about money and followed closely by fear about the state of the economy.  

You might be asking yourself "What does all this stress have to do with heart disease?" 

 

Job stress puts pressure on the heart by raising blood pressure, heart rate, and even cholesterol levels. When you are under job stress you may have the tendency to reduce your attentiveness to healthful lifestyle choices, increasing likelihood of risky behaviors like over eating, smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and sleeplessness, which all exacerbate known risk factors for cardiac disease. These unhealthy behaviors leads to obesity and type 2 diabetes.When you have diabetes, you are at least twice as likely as someone who does not have diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke.

 

What can you do?

 

When it comes to stress the answer is very individual. It's a trial and error until you find the strategy that works for you. Here is what WebMD has to say:

• Add cardiovascular exercise, such as running, biking or brisk walking.
• Try yoga, tai chi, massage and / or meditation.
• Change your point of view, take a fresh look.
• Focus on healthy behaviors such as eating heart healthy and stop smoking.

To read the full article click here

Your heart will thank you.

Your partner in health,

 

 

Cindy Cohen RN, BS BA

Certified Health Coach

Wellness Consultant

C2 Your Health LLC

Health-E 4 Life Worksite Wellness

Employees with High Blood Pressure Jeopardize Your Bottom Line

We are off to a new year with higher sales goals, bigger and better business plans and of course more personal and business related stress. You may be surprised to know medical studies suggest cell phones raise blood pressure along with anger and stress increasing your risk of stroke and heart attack.

With National Heart Month is just around the corner so now is a great time to start thinking your blood pressure and your wellness. 

If you think what you don't know won't hurt you, then you are dead wrong. High blood pressure is known as the Silent Killer because you generally will not experience an signs or symptoms to let you know you have high blood pressure. This is what makes it so dangerous to you. 

You may KNOW this ...

If you have high blood pressure are at risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and renal failure. Untreated high blood pressure even shortens your lifespan and can happen at any age. Even children are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. 

You may NOT know this ...

• 47% of us have high blood pressure according to the Center for Disease Control Blood Pressure Facts.
• 25% are diagnosed with high blood pressure as reported in the study published in the January issue of the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular and Quality Outcomes in December.
• High blood pressure is the 1st leading cause of death in the U.S. and stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death. 
• 10 % recover almost completely, 25 % recover with minor impairments and 40 % moderate to severe impairments requiring special care. 

What will it cost you and your company? 

Sick day pay, missed work days, productivity and disability are just the start. Here is what the National Stroke Association projects as the lifetime medical costs: 

$147,525 average medical costs  

$5,392 yearly cost of medications 

$17,081 inpatient rehabilitation 1 year

$98,350 outpatient rehabilitation

The National Stroke Association data shows that with simple steps, lifestyle changes and minor medical treatment, 80% of strokes can be prevented. For this reason we recommend your company sponsor Wellness Clinics to identify who is at risk, provide medical intervention and continuous disease prevention wellness education. Blood Pressure Clinics along with a Obesity Prevention Program in the form of a series of educational exposures, health coaching, cooking classes, supermarket teaching and periodic weight checks are provided reduce medical spending and improves presenteeism. 

To begin your company's program consult with the National Institutes of Health who have developed Prevent and Control America’s High Blood Pressure new program Mission Impossible  a website which includes fact sheets on healthy activities in English and Spanish, posters for businesses, lists of potential community partners, and recommendations for action in employee populations. 

This leaves us with the question "what will it cost my employer if I get sick?" A better question might be "can my company survive after paying for my illness." If the answer is unsure, then seek the help of a wellness expert to get your company on the road to better health before it's too late. Health is either a pay now program via prevention or pay later with medical treatment. It's smart for business to pick the

low cost option which is wellness programing.

Your partner in health,

 

Cindy Cohen RN, BS BA

Certified Health Coach

Wellness Consultant

C2 Your Health LLC

Health-E 4 Life Worksite Wellness

A Special Thanks to the Michiana BetterU Makeover Challenge

Since the inception of the Michiana BetterU Makeover Challenge, C2 Your Health LLC has had the privilege to administer and coordinate the BetterU program, including facilitating the health coaching sessions over the 12 week challenge. C2 Your Health LLC is a proud sponsor of the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Michiana BetterU Makeover Challenge. 

Each year for the last 4 years 12 women from different backgrounds, walks of life and companies take on the BetterU Challenge demonstrating you can improve your health status in just 12 weeks. It's remarkable how big of a difference you can make in your health and the health of your family in such a short period of time. 

A special thanks to the women who participated in the 2013 American Heart Association Go Red for Women Michiana BetterU Makeover 12 Week Challenge for their willingness to share their fears, aspirations and hope to achieve a healthier life. We also salute them for being an inspiration to all of us who are striving to experience a disease free, long and vital life. 

Here is this weeks installment on the Michiana BetterU Blog.

Challenge Yourself to be a Better You Too

The BetterU Challenge is for all of us. The BetterU Challenge provides the average person with information, education, guidance and support. By making a series of small changes over time you will make a big difference in our health and wellness by reducing their risks of cardiovascular disease over your lifetime. Reducing heart risks such as lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and weight not only improve quality of life; it saves money on doctor bills, medications, hospital admissions and sick days. Isn't that what we all want?

To read the rest of the article go to the Michiana BetterU Blog ...

Your partner in health,

Cindy Cohen RN, BS BA

Wellness Consultant, Health Coach

C2Your Health LLC