LM March 2024

It’s vital that all of us know how important heart health is— for ourselves and others. As leaders, you can be a model of good health and someone who shares key information and resources to promote heart care among your teachers and staff. With your help, we can work together to reduce the alarming mortality rate from heart-related diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one cause of death, killing more than 17 million people every year. Create a healthier, more aware workforce by sharing the information and tips in this article with your teachers and staff. And make sure to remind your team members that we have control over many things that can influence our heart health, but it’s up to each of us to choose how seriously we take this responsibility. Some people find it easy to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Others will do so only after being diagnosed with warning signs for heart disease, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Whatever our inspiration, the benefits of a healthy heart are worth the effort—both individually and collectively as an Your Health Matters Happiness is a healthy heart! from Health Alliance™

educational team. Good overall health can also protect us from type 2 diabetes, asthma, joint pain, and other chronic diseases and conditions. Who is at risk of heart disease? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke are: • High blood pressure. • High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. • Diabetes. • Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. • Obesity. • Unhealthy diet. • Physical inactivity. What can you do about it? If any of these risk factors apply to your team members, encourage them to talk to their doctor and ask these questions:

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To learn how Health Alliance can save your district money, contact your ISEBC agent:

Clemens and Associates, Inc.: tcockburn@clemensins.com (Egyptian, Shawnee, Kaskaskia, Southwestern and Wabash Valley)

American Central Insurance Services: jeremy@americancentralins.com (Abe Lincoln, Central Illinois Valley,

J. Krug: lsimios@jkrug.com

James Unland & Company, Inc.: bshock@unland.com (Western (Knox County) and Central Illinois Valley (Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties)

(Blackhawk, Kishwaukee (Boone, DeKalb and Winnebago counties), Northwest and Starved Rock)

Corn Belt, Illini, Kaskaskia, Two Rivers and Western)

*Health Alliance Medical Plans received the highest score in the Illinois/Indiana Region in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Satisfaction Study of members’ satisfaction with their commercial health plan experience. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

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