ARealNursePodcast Angela Thomas

It's that time of year again, open enrollment! Or perhaps you are starting a new job and have to select healthcare coverage, where do you begin? Listen as Kim and I discuss why choosing the right plan matters. To begin with really evaluate you and your family's healthcare needs. Then don't be afraid to ask questions to ensure that you understand exactly what's being covered before you finalize your insurance selection. If you are in either an employer provided or Medicare plan there are certain times outside of open enrollment in which you have the ability to change your plan should you find that your coverage is not suitable for your healthcare needs. Check your plan for these exceptions some examples are childbirth, marriage, or your current plan can not meet your medical needs just to name a few.

This episode builds onto the prior two episodes; hypertension and strokes in an effort to stress the importance of lifestyle changes. Heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans with an estimated 2800 people per day dying as a result of a heart attack. Tune-in as I discuss some of the most common heart diseases along with their symptoms, but more importantly, how to work towards prevention. The African American community suffer from heart disease at rate higher than any other ethnicity. Often times coupled with other diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Making lifestyle changes can dramatically change these statistics but it begins with a made up mind to step into wellness. The first step begins with knowledge then action. Once you begin to feel better you’ll want be better so you can live better! Please note that the statistics discussed in this episode can be found at the American Heart Association or the Center for Disease Control website. Share this series with family and friends and don’t forget to subscribe, like and share @arealnursepodcast.

Tune-in to this episode to learn exactly what is a stroke, the most common types of strokes and how to make life-style changes to increase your chances of prevention! Even though 80% of strokes are preventable it’s the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. For the sixty percent who survive they are often left with some sort of brain injury that is not reversible.

Hypertension is a silent killer and in the United States 20% of the adult population is walking around with high blood pressure unaware. Hypertension is when the amount of pressure against the walls of the blood vessels is too high. If the pressure remains to high over time this can lead to other undesired health challenges like heart disease and stroke. Tonight, “MY” goal with this episode is to gain your buy-in. Gaining your buy-in will result in you getting your blood pressure reading today after listening to this episode but if not today then surely within the next few days you will make this act of self-care a “must do” on your to do list this week. And while you’re at it encourage a friend to do the same. Then monitor your readings over the next few weeks to establish what your normal reading is and should you discover you have hypertension seek medical attention immediately! Don’t forget to subscribe, review and share wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. Next week I’ll be taking about strokes. Turn on your notification for when @Arealnursepodcast is dropping gems on IG. Until next time stay safe!

Learning to manage the “silent” killer, hypertension before it manages you! Should you learn that you indeed have high blood pressure it can be controlled and you can lead healthy lifestyle but only if you take control of your choices.

Studies reveal that Blacks and Hispanics most often within the last six months of their lives seek aggressive medical management when dealing with incurable diseases. This episode explores what exactly is hospice and why it was even started in the first place. Hospice was brought to the US in 1974 as a way to offer those with incurable diseases a way to die with dignity,compassion and as pain-free as possible. However, due to numerous factors including healthcare disparities many never benefit from the true intent of hospice care. Additionally, this episode is to dispel the belief that hospice “kills” or that you can only benefit from hospice once you’re at the very end of the life. Doing so really robs the person of the full benefits of hospice and thus the patient often dies an ugly death. Death does not have to be ugly and you have the right to direct your end of life care. For further information check out: hospice talk.com. https://hospicefoundation.org/End-of-Life-Support-and-Resources/Coping-with-Terminal-Illness/How-to-Choose https://www.nhpco.org/find-a-care-provider/