Podcast #5

Welcome to Your Health, Aurora's audio program designed to demystify the health care system a little bit, and even share some tips and information to help keep you and your loved ones healthier. I'm Neal Linkon, and I manage Aurora's Web sites. We very much want to hear from you, especially if you have any ideas or feedback on our program. Please drop us a line at internet@aurora.org.

Few things in health may be as confusing and potentially perplexing as eating. What's healthy today gets reported on tomorrow as being dangerous. So what's a health conscious consumer to do?

Christina Rogers is a clinical dietitian, so who better to ask? I spent a few minutes with Christina to get some basic advice.

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For more information, tips and updates, go to www.Aurora.org/Eat. You also might want to sign up for our monthly email newsletter on healthy eating. To see a sample edition and sign up, go to www.Aurora.org/eNews.

We know that health care can be complicated and scary. It is for us sometimes, too. Sometimes, though, just knowing where to go for help and when can be half the battle.

There are lots of different kinds of health care facilities, and you can find any of them that Aurora offers by going to www.Aurora.org/Facility.

 Here are the main kinds:

• A hospital is where you would go if your doctor sends you there, or if you have a real emergency. At any time if you think you are seriously ill, having a heart attack or are badly injured, call 911 or go to the ER nearest you.
• A clinic is where you'll see most doctors. That's where most appointments take place.
• A pharmacy is where you would go to get your prescription filled. Many also offer what are known as over-the-counter medications, which do not require a prescription, and things like bandages and whatnot.
• Aurora QuickCare is a great option for many common ailments and where you don't have time to wait for a doctor's appointment. To learn more about what you might go to a QuickCare facility for, and where to find one, go to www.Aurora.org/QuickCare.
• Urgent care or walk-in facilities are also handy when you have an immediate need, but don't think it's a real emergency. These are usually doctor's offices or clinics where you can go without an appointment. Be prepared to wait, however, because it's often first-come, first served.
• Rehabilitation centers is where you might go for physical therapy or other kinds of therapy that helps patients return to their highest level of functioning following illnesses, chronic conditions and orthopedic or work-related injuries.

Sometimes it's hard to know whether an injury or symptom merits going to the emergency room, or if you should just ignore it. We offer a lot of advice on what to do given specific symptoms. Go to www.Aurora.org/Housecalls and you'll find detailed explanations of what you should do for a wide range of specific symptoms. The information is there for adults, or for your children.

Care management is a focused approach to planning and giving care to the people we serve. In 1995 we started a project to ensure that people with asthma were being given the best treatment and teaching we could offer. That was the beginning of care management at Aurora, and we've been going strong ever since.

The “care management approach” means that we work together to:

• Define health care needs of the people we serve
• Research the best ways to meet those needs
• Design a plan of action that can be carried out by all of our health professionals
• Measure our results against national standards

In each edition of Your Health, we'll look at a Care Management initiative to give you a better idea of what this is all about. Most importantly, these segments will have real meaningful and useful information to help you and your loved ones.

One of our most important initiatives is on cholesterol. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by lipoproteins:

Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, carry most of the cholesterol in the blood. LDL is called bad cholesterol. It can stick to the walls of arteries and lead to a build-up of fatty plaque. High-density lipoproteins, or HDL, help the body get rid of LDL. HDL is called good cholesterol. A high level of HDL is linked with a low risk for heart disease.

Triglycerides are another fat in the blood. A high level of triglycerides may damage blood vessels and increase the risk for heart disease.

Most people with heart disease have too much LDL cholesterol. LDL is the main cause of blockage in the arteries. To lower your risk for future heart attacks, the most important thing you can do is lower your LDL level.

People with heart disease need more than a “finger-stick” blood check. You will need a blood test called a lipoprotein profile. This test will break down your total cholesterol number into HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. You will need to fast – nothing to eat or drink except water – for 9 to 12 hours before this test.

The latest guidelines show that if you have heart disease:

• Ideally, your LDL level should be 100 or less. Any decrease in your LDL will help decrease your risk. Your HDL level should be above 45 if you are a male, and above 55 if you are a female. Your triglyceride level should be below 200.
• To lower your LDL, take medication as prescribed. Your health care provider may prescribe medications that can lower your cholesterol by changing how your liver makes cholesterol. When you start taking the medication, you will be asked to have blood work to measure your progress and to watch for side effects.

Follow a low-fat meal plan, even if you take cholesterol-lowering medication. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit fats (especially saturated fat), meats, and high-fat dairy products.

Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help lower your LDL and raise your HDL. It can also improve your heart and lung fitness and help you control your blood pressure, weight, and stress levels. Be sure to consult your health care provider before starting a new program.

Manage your weight. People who are overweight usually have higher blood cholesterol levels than people whose weight is normal. A low-fat meal plan and exercise should put you on the right track for weight control.

To learn more about care management, go to www.Aurora.org/CM. To learn more about cholesterol, the good and the bad, go to www.Aurora.org/LDL.

Health care doesn't have to be scary, not with a little help. We hope these programs offer a little bit. If we can help you in any other way, or if you have suggestions for us, please let us know at internet@aurora.org. I'm Neal Linkon, and I'll see to it personally.

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Your Health, Edition 5 (14:13)

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