In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month in May, Community Memorial Health System encourages people to better understand the risk factors and symptoms of stroke, a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability in the United States. Not many people know that for stroke sufferers, the idea of life insurance is one worth looking into. For some people, having a stroke leaves them unable to function like they used to, which can eventually take a tole on the individual’s everyday life. You may soon realise that your medical bill is very high and you are unable to pay for it, even though you never asked for this condition. But on a positive note, by having a look into sites like https://www.moneyexpert.com/life-insurance/, it is made even more clear how life insurance can benefit anyone who has suffered from a condition like a stroke or may be struggling to get their finances together to pay for existing medical bills. There is always a solution for any problem. You’ll eventually start to get your life back together.

National Stroke Awareness Month each May seeks to educate people about stokes and how to prevent them. According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year. Leading a healthy lifestyle and lowering risk factors can help reduce the risk of a stroke. Eighty percent of strokes are preventable. Recognizing symptoms is critical to treating strokes and possibly preventing or reducing disability, said Stephanie Lara-Jenkins, RN, Stroke Coordinator at CMHS.

“Time is crucial in the treatment of a stroke because the earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater the chance of recovery,” she said. “We have the potential for reversing your stroke or mitigating your disability from a stroke if you get treatment right away.”

Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.

Symptoms of stroke (sudden and sustained) are: numbness and/or weakness on one side of the body; numbness or weakness of an arm or leg; slurred speech, trouble speaking or the inability to speak; changes in vision including blurred vision, double vision or vision loss; dizziness and/or loss of coordination; and lightheadedness or feeling faint.

Stroke risk factors are: high blood pressure (see your doctor to control your blood pressure if it’s higher than 130 over 80); atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm); high cholesterol; heart disease; diabetes; smoking; heavy alcohol use; physical inactivity; obesity; a family history of stroke; and depression.

With this in mind, it is so important to find ways of managing stress. Relaxing and exploring new ways of coping with your problems can help to lower high blood pressure. One solution to combat stress that everyone seems to be talking about nowadays is CBD oil. So, does cbd oil lower blood pressure? Well, there is research to suggest that the stress and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD products can indeed lower your blood pressure. If natural remedies like this interest you, be sure to do plenty of research into the potential health-boosting benefits of CBD for more information.

CMHS offers a free, confidential online StrokeAware Risk Assessment for those seeking to determine their risk. This free online tool takes about seven minutes to complete. The StrokeAware assessment will provide participants with a personalized risk assessment report written by a CMH nurse practitioner that will help them learn about their risk and identify any medical or lifestyle factors that may cause a stroke. The StrokeAware Risk Assessment can be taken by visiting https://ha.healthawareservices.com/ra/survey/766.

Local comedian Randy Lubas entertains the crowd at Cypress Place Senior Living on Wednesday April 11. He was the keynote speaker for the annual Health & Wealth Expo held at the senior community. The theme for the expo this year, it’s tenth, was “Laughter Is The Best Medicine.”

by Rick Beavin, California Medicare President for Humana

What is happening

To combat identity theft, CMS will be changing the format of all Medicare numbers, which means that every existing Medicare beneficiary will get an updated Medicare Card that lists their new Medicare number.

What is changing

Instead of being based on a beneficiary’s Social Security number, each Medicare number will be an individually generated combination of letters and numbers.

The new card is paper, which is easier for providers to use and copy.

Why is this happening

Removing the SSN from Medicare cards will help fight identity theft for people with Medicare. In doing so, CMS aims to better protect:

Private health care and financial information

Federal health care benefit and service payments

When is this happening

All Medicare cards will be replaced between April 2018 and April 2019. California residents will be among the first to receive theirs between April and June this year.

This will be a long process because CMS will be issuing approximately 60 million new ID cards.

Until the new card is received, continue using your current ID card. Once the new card is received, begin using it immediately. Beginning January 1, 2020, only the new card will be usable.

Who will be impacted

New cards will be generated for all active existing and new Medicare beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will have a unique number (e.g., husband and wife will have their own).

What does this mean for people with Medicare

The new cards won’t change Medicare benefits. People with Medicare may start using their new Medicare ID cards as soon as they get them. Until they receive the new Medicare ID card members are to continue using their current Medicare ID card.

For Medicare beneficiaries with a Medicare Advantage plan, the change applies only to their Medicare card and not to their health insurance carrier’s medical card, such as their Humana Medicare Advantage card.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (with Humana or any company), your Medicare Advantage plan ID card should be kept and used when going to the doctor, hospital, lab, etc.

How do I protect myself from scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited to ask you to get your new Medicare number or get personal or private information.

Scam artists may try to get personal information and/or your current Medicare Number by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call the Medicare government office at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Additional Sources

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/NMC-Mailing-Strategy.pdf

https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/your-medicare-card.html

https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/your-medicare-card.html