Health Resources for Heart Disease | Fidelis Care
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Heart Disease Resources

People of all ages need to keep their heart healthy. Eating well, exercising regularly, and seeing your health care provider can help you keep your heart healthy. Work with your healthcare provider and adopt good lifestyle habits to help lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease describes conditions related to plaque building up in the walls of the arteries. Other conditions include arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart failure, and heart valve problems.

What is your risk?

Heart disease can happen to anyone, including children. You can be born with it, and a family history of heart disease may increase your risk.

Most heart disease develops over time due to poor habits such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your provider about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.

What is a good resting heart rate?

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Remember, factors such as age, physical activity, and overall health can affect what is considered your normal resting heart rate.

Talk to your provider if you have concerns about your heart rate.

How does high blood pressure affect heart health?

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes for high blood pressure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • Not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Unhealthy diets, including high amounts of sodium and alcohol

Talk to your provider about how you can lower your blood pressure to help avoid heart disease and stroke.

How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish; avoid having too much salt or sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week
• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at a healthy level
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
Can heart disease be treated?
Yes. Talk to your provider about how to safely reduce the risk of heart disease. You can also talk about setting goals for a healthier heart. Your provider may also prescribe medication.
What are symptoms of a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Be aware of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulder, or back

Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

What can cause Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and meet your body's needs. The following factors may increase your risk of CHF:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor diet
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking and/or using tobacco
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Stress

Talk to your provider to learn more about CHF.

What can cause heart arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Factors that may cause arrhythmia include:

  • Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high
  • Caffeine, illegal drugs, and certain medications
  • Dehydration
  • Low levels of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium
  • Physical activity
  • Strong emotional stress or anxiety
  • Vomiting or coughing
  • Smoke
  • Use illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
  • Drink alcohol more often and more than is recommended (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women)
  • Take certain antibiotics and over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines

Talk to your provider about how to prevent arrhythmias.

Here are some resources to help you prevent or manage heart disease:

 

Managing Blood Pressure Flyer

American Heart Association

 High Blood Pressure Resources Page (CDC)

Heart Health Articles and Videos (Healthwise)


 

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Fidelis Care Unity Events Bring Local Communities Together at Summer Street Festival Series
7/26/2022 • Posted by Fidelis Care

Unity-Events-for-New-York-State-NYS-Health-Insurance-Fidelis-Care


LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. (July 26, 2022) – Fidelis Care, a New York State health plan with more than 2.5 million members, today announced the return of its signature “Unity” events this August and September, promoting community health and wellness and the importance of staying connected with friends and neighbors. A dozen Unity events, from Long Island to Buffalo, will each offer free and fun family activities including live music, face painting, health screenings, and special appearances by Fidelis Care’s popular dinosaur mascot, the Fidelisaurus.

Fidelis Care’s original Unity event, “Unity in the Heights,” started in 2011, featuring an exclusive partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and gathering over 1,500 people annually in Washington Heights in upper Manhattan. Since then, Unity events have expanded across the state with a variety of local partners, offering more New Yorkers the opportunity to enjoy family-friendly activities, meet friends and neighbors, and learn about health and wellness.

“Fidelis Care is proud of our unique Unity event series and the growth we’ve continued to see across New York State,” said Chief Member Engagement Officer Pam Hassen. “Having a grassroots presence and serving the needs of local residents in their neighborhoods and communities has always been the heart of our mission. We believe in the power of unity and connection to transform lives.”  

"The Unity Summer Street Festivals are a great opportunity for people to have fun, meet their Neighborhood Coordination Officers, build bridges between the police and the community, and learn about ways to prioritize their health," added Inspector Maximo Tolentino, New York Police Department. "The NYPD is proud to partner with Fidelis Care on these Unity events, and we look forward to meeting everyone.”

"It’s wonderful to partner with Fidelis Care to bring our community together for a family-friendly event, focused on health, wellness, and safety,” added Minnie Torres, Food Pantry Coordinator at the Elder State Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, “Hosting Unity in  Schenectady allows us to offer support and resources for so many people, while meeting their neighbors and having fun.”

 

Fidelis Care Unity events will be taking place in the following locations across New York State:

Event

Date

Address

Time

Unity in Buffalo

Saturday, Aug. 6

Coldspring Church

107 Verplanck Street

Buffalo, NY

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Unity in Schenectady

Friday, Aug. 26

State Street Office

5 Catherine Street, Schenectady, NY

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Unity in the Heights

Saturday, Aug. 27

160th Street between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Unity in the Bronx

Saturday, Aug. 27

4125 Carpenter Ave,

Bronx NY 10466

11a.m. – 5 p.m.

Unity in Rockland

Friday, Sept. 2

175 Route 59

Spring Valley, NY

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Unity in Suffolk

Saturday, Sept. 3

Brentwood High School 52 Third Ave

Brentwood NY

12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Unity in Nassau

Saturday, Sept. 24

65 Dartmouth street

Hempstead, NY

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Unity in Queens

Sunday, Sept. 25

1674 Putnam Ave Ridgewood NY

12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 


About Fidelis Care
Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 2.5 million members statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health  insurance.  Follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fidelis-care, on Twitter at @fideliscare, Instagram at @fideliscare, and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.