Assess & Manage My Health
Before exploring ways to improve basic health, it is important for you to evaluate your present health and lifestyle. University of Texas System “Living Well; Make it a Priority” offers confidential health assessment questionnaire, services and tools that will help you and your loves ones to “Make Living Well a Priority”!
Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
A health risk assessment (HRA) is a questionnaire developed to give you an overview of your health risks and strengths. For example, the HRA will ask you to answer questions about your diet, frequency of exercise, family history, safety and other risk factors. After completing the HRA, you'll receive a report outlining your health risks and strengths as well as suggestions for healthier living.
When you are finished, you will receive a personalized health report online, complete with confidential feedback on possible health issues and how to address them. Read more on how to complete your HRA today! (www.livingwell.utsystem.edu/hra.htm)
Improved Preventive Care Coverage
Your current Wellness and Prevention benefits include 100 percent colonoscopy coverage under the UT SELECT preventive care program. This means that a colonoscopy performed by a network physician at a network facility will now be available at no cost to you. Listed below are other important preventive care exams that you should consider:
- Routine Physical Exam*
- Immunizations • Well-child Exam (under age 2)
- Well-woman Exam*
- Routine Mammograms*
- Prostate (PSA)
- Osteoporosis Screening Screening
*Services limited to one per person per plan year. Learn more by calling UT SELECT Customer Service at 1-866-882-2034.
Top Questions to Ask Your Doctor
We believe that an understanding of the relationship between health and cost of care and better communication with your doctor will ultimately increased use of self care practices. Below we have listed several top questions to ask your doctor based on top modifiable/preventable conditions:
Questions to ask your Doctor about Blood Pressure
- What is my blood pressure?
- What should my blood pressure be?
- How much should I weigh?
- Can you recommend a diet or eating plan to help me reach that weight?
- What kind of diet should I be following to help control my blood pressure?
- How much exercise should I be doing?
- What is the name of my blood pressure medication?
- What are the side effects of this medication?
- What drug interactions may occur between the medications I am taking?
10 Questions to ask your Doctor about Cholesterol
- Do I already have atherosclerosis? Am I at risk for a heart attack?
- Do I have any other risk factors for heart disease?
- Should I see a nutritionist to help me change my diet?
- Can I control my cholesterol through lifestyle changes alone?
- In my case, which lifestyle changes will be particularly helpful?
- Do I need cholesterol-lowering drugs?
- What side effects can I expect from such medication?
- How low can I realistically expect my cholesterol to go? What should I aim for?
- Will it ever be safe for me to stop taking the medication?
- How often should I have my cholesterol checked? Should members of my family be tested?
10 Questions to ask your Doctor about Diabetes
- Does having diabetes mean that I am at higher risk for other medical problems?
- Should I start seeing other doctors regularly, such as an eye doctor?
- How often should I test my blood sugar and what should I do if it is too high or too low?
- Are there any new medications that could be used to help manage my diabetes?
- Does diabetes mean I have to stop eating the foods I like best?
- How can exercise make a difference in my diabetes?
- If I'm overweight, how many pounds do I have to lose to make a difference in my health?
- Are my children at increased risk for the disease?
- What is the importance of diet in diabetes?
- Do I need to take my medications even on days that I feel fine?
Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Depression
Going to the doctor can be intimidating. You might feel rushed and forget to ask questions that are important. It's always a good idea to know what to ask beforehand and to take notes when with the doctor. Some of the questions below may be worth asking. Print out this page and take it with you to your next appointment.
- What caused this depression?
- Is there an effective treatment that doesn't involve medication?
- What are the side effects and long-term effects of the medication?
- Are antidepressants addictive?
- I've heard that medication for depression will affect my sex life. Is this true?
- How long will it take for the treatment to work?
- What can be done to prevent my depression from recurring?
- Does depression run in families? Will my children be depressed?
- Do St. John's wort and other herbal therapies help with depression?
- What are the different types of psychotherapy and are any of them appropriate for me?
11 Questions About Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors -- unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and excess belly fat -- that may raise your risks of serious illness, such as diabetes, and blood vessel and heart disease. If you've been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome -- or are worried you might have it -- here are some questions to ask your doctor. Print them out before your next appointment.
- Do I have any metabolic syndrome risk factors?
- Will I need medicine to control them? If so, how will the medicine help? What are the side effects?
- Do I need to have blood tests to see if I have a higher risk of blood clots and inflammation?
- What is my BMI (body mass index)?
- Should I lose weight? What's a reasonable weight goal for me?
- What changes should I make to my diet? Do I need to take any special precautions?
- Should I consider seeing a nutritionist to talk about improving my diet?
- Do you have suggestions for how I could get more physical activity?
- Could any medicines I'm taking be affecting my metabolic syndrome risk factors?
- How might my family history affect my risk of getting metabolic syndrome and having cardiovascular problems?
- Should I be taking aspirin therapy?
Remember that when you meet with your doctor, tell him or her about all of the medicines, herbs, and supplements you use. "Natural" medicines can be powerful, and they can interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs. You could also keep a food diary for about a week before your next appointment. Just jot down the foods you eat each day. Then, you and your doctor can go over it together and talk about ways of improving your eating habits.
FREE Weight Management Program
Sometimes a little extra support is all it takes to stay on track with weight loss goals. The UT SELECT Weight Management Program provides just that. When our members decide to make positive lifestyle changes by managing their weight, we’re ready with resources to help make the journey successful!
Call: 1-800-462-3275. *Program available to all UT SELECT members.
Conditions Management Recourse
If you have a chronic condition, you don’t have to go it alone. Now you can find personalized help and support with the Personal Health Manager at Blue Access® for UT SELECT members. Whether you have diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure or another chronic disease, the Personal Health Manager can help you take control.
Ask A features that connect you via e-mail with dietitians, registered nurses, personal trainers and life coaches
- Guidance plans for common chronic conditions
- A health encyclopedia and drug index
- Clinical Tools and My Charts to track your progress
Check out the Personal Health Manager at Blue Access® for UT SELECT for members to help manage your chronic condition. When you do, the forecast for the future will include a better quality of life. See below details on how to contact our Conditions Management Recourse:
By phone: Call 1-800-462-3275
24/7 Nurse line
A staff of trained, experienced registered nurse counselors is available 24/7 to answer health care questions and provide information about a wide variety of health care issues and medical non-emergencies. To talk to a nurse, call this toll-free number: 1-888-315-9473. Click here to view and print a 24/7 Nurse line refrigerator card.
Free Smoking/Tobacco Cessation Program available to all UT SELECT members:
Living Well Health Manager powered by WebMD-Smoking Cessation Program
Overview: A healthy lifestyle is the key to continued well-being. Changing your lifestyle for the better takes time and real effort. But, with the help of this program, you can do it. And it’s worth it: Quitting tobacco can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke and improve your self-esteem.
About the Program: The Smoking Cessation Lifestyle Improvement Program has two equally important parts: the Readings and the Planner. Together, they take about 30 minutes per day to complete. We recommend that you read one step of the Readings per day and check your Planner daily.
How to Register:
Step 1: Log onto: Living Well Health Manager, powered by WebMD website at www.webmdhealth.com/ut
Step 2: Complete registration* and accept Privacy Policy
Step 3: Click on the Living Health Tab, then select the option under Lifestyle Programs “Smoking Cessation”
*Program available to all UT SELECT members.
American Cancer Society Quitline.
Quitting smoking isn’t easy but it is a fight you can win. By using at least one of the ways listed below for your quit attempt, you can double your chances of being successful. By using more than one of the ideas listed below, you double your chances of staying quit for good!
- Self help materials. Self help materials are available to help you quit smoking, no matter where you are in the process. These materials can help you learn how to prepare for your quit attempt, develop strategies to help with cravings, and prevent relapse once you have quit. The self-help materials offer proven methods that are easy to follow and can keep your motivation high.
- Support programs. Support programs can be in a variety of forms – group smoking cessation programs, telephone counseling programs, or support groups. To learn about the options available in your community, contact the American Cancer Society 1-(800) QUIT-NOW or www.cancer.org.
- Telephone counseling. Telephone counseling is a proven, confidential, counseling program completed by telephone that will support and help you stay focused on your reasons for quitting.
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Nicotine replacement therapy can relieve many of the nicotine withdrawal symptoms that occur when a person stops smoking. NRT can double a person’s chance of successfully quitting. Talk to your doctor about a strategy that might work for you.
To learn about the FREE options available in your community, contact the American Cancer Society 1-800-QUIT-NOW, 1-800-784-8669 or www.cancer.org
UT SELECT FREE Tobacco Cessation Program
Quitting smoking takes desire, determination and support. That’s why UT SELECT has developed a motivational toolkit that can help members who are ready to take steps toward this major lifestyle change. Guidance and support with licensed wellness coaches
How to register:
Call: 1-800-462-3275.
*Program available to all UT SELECT members.
e-Learning
Fitness Over Forty, a series of video presentations targeting the increasing "over Forty” population, addresses health and fitness issues that are specific to men and women ages 25 to 54 and older. Dr. David Di Paolo, radiologist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and nationally-certified fitness trainer, hosts the series featuring UT Health Science Center medical professionals who inform viewers about the benefits of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Just go to http://www.uthct.edu/fitnessoverforty/archive.asp, and search for a topic that you are interested in.
