Making a Heart Healthy Resolution

Richard Gilfillan, Director, CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

It’s the New Year, which means it’s time for those annual resolutions, whether it’s eating right or tackling a new skill.  But none may be more important than making the resolution to get heart healthy in 2013.

Did you know heart attacks and strokes are the first and fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.? The Million Hearts™ initiative, launched in 2012, is aiming to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with other federal agencies, communities, health systems, non-profit organizations and private-sector partners to help educate Americans on how to make a long-lasting impact against cardiovascular disease.

If you’re at risk for, or are already suffering from, heart disease, now’s the time to practice the “Million Hearts ABCS”:

• Aspirin for people at risk
• Blood pressure control
• Cholesterol management and
• Smoking cessation

Medicare can help you take control of many of the major risk factors for heart disease. People with Medicare can get cardiovascular screenings, counseling to stop smoking, and blood pressure and weight checks during their yearly wellness visit with their doctor.

Make a New Year’s resolution and give your loved ones one more gift they’ll be sure to treasure—a healthier you in 2013. Help prevent a heart attack or stroke by joining the Million Hearts™ initiative.

Protect yourself – Get screened for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV) affect thousands of women each year. Regular screening tests like pap tests and pelvic exams can help find cancer and other health problems early and improve recovery and survival rates. Talk to your doctor about scheduling your next test!

Find out more about Medicare’s pap test and pelvic exam coverage.

For more information about HPV, check out the American Cancer Society’s HPV Frequently Asked Questions.

To learn more about Cervical Cancer, go to the American Cancer Society’s Web site for Cervical Cancer Information.

At risk for glaucoma? Find out before it’s too late

At risk for glaucoma? Find out before it’s too late

Do you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or are you African American and age 50 or older? If so, your risk of getting glaucoma may be higher. With the start of a new year, it’s the perfect time to schedule a regular eye exam to check for glaucoma. You can prevent vision loss by finding and treating problems early.

Find out more about Medicare’s glaucoma screening coverage.