Grant Regional | aspire to live well | Spring 2018

>> health NEWS If you have pre- diabetes, you can cut your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half by losing weight (if you’re overweight), exercising and eating a healthy diet. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health New name, new look for our community newsletter and more! “Aspire to live well” now graces the cover of our newsletter. It’s also our mantra for a renewed focus on wellness. Hospitals across the country have come to realize that achieving optimum health is much more than just receiving excellent medical care. With remarkable staff and resources, Grant Regional is well-positioned to help create healthier communities in our region. Our vision is to focus on supporting healthy behaviors by offering innova- tive programs that address a wide variety of health issues. We’re rising to the challenge and inviting you to join us! We’ll be partnering with others in our surrounding communities to start conversations, offer ideas, and inspire our friends and neighbors to live healthier. When you see the words “Aspire to live well,” you’ll know we’re forging ahead with our vision to pave the way for healthier tomorrows. An estimated 30 million Americans have a serious lung disease, and yet more than half of them don’t know it. That disease is COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It isn’t just one disorder. COPD is an umbrella term for several different lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. All the breathing disorders that fall under COPD are progressive—meaning they get worse over time. But the symptoms can begin so slowly and gradually that it’s easy to dismiss them as a side effect of growing older. Signs and symptoms of COPD include: ●   ● Constant coughing. ●   ● Shortness of breath during everyday activities. ●   ● Excess sputum production. ●   ● Feeling like you can’t breathe. ●   ● Tightness in the chest. ●   ● Not being able to take a deep breath. ●   ● Wheezing. ●   ● Fatigue. Who’s at risk? The No. 1 cause of COPD is smoking. The disease most often occurs in people who are at least 40 years old and who have a history of smoking. Long-term exposure to harmful lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemi- cal fumes, dust from the workplace and second-hand smoke—can also trigger COPD. Genetics can also be a factor, even for non-smokers. If you think you might have symp- toms of COPD, talk with your doctor. He or she can test your lung function. Sources: American Lung Association; COPD Foundation; National Institutes of Health Is it COPD? Learn the signs and symptoms Could you have prediabetes? Prediabetes means your blood sugar level is higher than normal. But it’s not high enough yet to be type 2 diabetes. About 1 in 3 Americans has prediabetes. Most people don’t know they have prediabetes because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms. Risk factors for prediabetes include being overweight, being 45 or older, having high blood pressure, or having a family history of diabetes. Prediabetes raises your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. ! A simple blood test can let you know if you have prediabetes. Ask your doctor if you should be tested. 3