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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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More Heart Health News:


New! Authorization Appeal Function Now Available on the Fidelis Care Provider Portal
4/10/2024 • Posted by Provider Relations

Fidelis Care is pleased to announce another new functionality in the Provider Portal, allowing providers to submit authorization appeals electronically.  With this easy-to-use new tool, providers are able to submit inpatient and outpatient prior authorization appeals.

 

To Submit an Authorization Appeal:

1. Log in to the Fidelis Care Provider Portal with your User ID and Password.

                Please note: Users will need Authorizations Viewer or Account Administration user roles to access authorization information.

 

2. Select Authorization Status located on the menu on the left side of the page.

 

3. On the Authorization Search page, click on Search All Authorizations. You can search by Subscriber ID, Authorization #, Medicaid ID, Medicare ID, SSN, or Name & DOB.

 

4. Click on the Authorization you would like to appeal.

 

5. At the bottom of the Authorization Form Page, Click Request Auth Appeal. The Outpatient or Inpatient Authorization Status needs to be selected to request an appeal.

 

6. On the Appeal Request Form page, you can look at all of the codes included on the authorization, by clicking on the green arrow below Authorization History.

 

7. Under Appeal Details, provide the primary contact person and phone number for the requested appeal. 

 

8. Under Rationale, please list any specific codes and rationale you want Fidelis Care to consider for the appeal. 

 

9. You will also need to submit any supporting documentation for the appeal under Evidence Files.

 

10. When all fields have been completed, click Review and Submit Appeal.

 

11. Once your appeal has been submitted, you will receive a message at the top of the screen, showing your appeal has been successfully submitted.  If an Authorization Appeal Request already has an appeal on file, another appeal cannot be submitted.

 

12. Check for the status of the Authorization Appeal, by looking up the authorization from the Authorization Status menu. While the authorization appeal is in review, the status will show as Open and the decision will show Pending.  Your appeal status will show as Closed once an appeal decision has been made. 

 

For more detailed instructions please use the following resource guides:

Provider Access Online resources, including a new video tutorial

Provider Portal User Guide - Authorization Appeals QRG

 

For additional questions, or if we can be of assistance in any way, please contact your Fidelis Care Provider Relations Specialist. To find your designated representative, please visit Contact Your Designated Provider Relations Specialist.