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Preventive Care: Your Pathway to a Healthier Tomorrow

Did you know if you’re enrolled in medical coverage under the Northrop Grumman Health Plan your annual physical and related preventive care screenings are covered at no cost to you?

While going to the doctor when you aren’t sick may feel strange, it’s a great way to assess your health and prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Not to mention, eligible employees can earn a $500 well-being incentive for completing program requirements by Sept. 30, 2024.

Here are three things to keep in mind during and after completing a preventive care visit:

  1. Family health history matters. Many health conditions have genetic risk factors. For example, if a close family member is diagnosed with heart disease, you may have a higher risk of developing the condition. Health screenings can help identify conditions early and increase treatment success with prevention practices.

  2. Screenings may vary. Your provider may recommend certain screening types based on your age and family history. Examples of common preventive screenings include cancer screenings (breast, colorectal, cervical and prostate) and metabolic screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes).

  3. Know and monitor your numbers. If you receive a metabolic screening, your provider will share a few numbers that you should remember and monitor over time. While these numbers are useful to assess your health, it’s important to know that abnormal levels don’t necessarily indicate a medical condition.

    • Blood pressure is linked to hypertension and an increased risk for heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and more, and will consist of two numbers - systolic and diastolic. A normal systolic value is below 120 and diastolic value below 80.

    • Glucose or blood sugar levels are used to identify diabetes, a common condition identified by high-levels of glucose in the bloodstream. A normal fasting blood glucose level for someone without diabetes is between 50 and 99 mg/dL.

    • Cholesterol numbers are associated with risk for heart disease, as high blood levels can cause plaque buildup and lead to serious health issues. You should receive three values: HDL or “good” cholesterol, LDL or “bad” cholesterol and a total cholesterol. A normal HDL is above 60, LDL is below 100 and a total below 200.

Managing your health can feel overwhelming at times, but you don’t have to do it alone.  Northrop Grumman is committed to offering benefits, tools and resources to meet your needs and help you thrive:

 

Written by: Mackenzie Reulein

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