Asthma

Taking good care of asthma is important to you. Depending on your age and how bad your asthma is, you should be measuring your peak flows every day.

Taking good care of your asthma means taking your controller medication daily. Using your rescue inhaler as needed. You need to fill your prescriptions every month. Remember to see your doctor regularly and get your flu shot every year. This costs your health plan about $1,800 a year.

But going to the emergency room (ER) when you can’t catch your breath or are wheezing from asthma costs about $600 each visit. Being admitted to the hospital for asthma costs over $6,000!

Taking good care of your asthma means taking your controller medication daily.

Pregnancy

Taking good care of yourself when you are pregnant is very important to you and your baby. It is very important to see your doctor and take your vitamins. Remember you should not smoke, take drugs or drink alcohol.

It helps to know the warning signs of early labor. If you don’t, not only could you and your baby be sick, but the costs go up.

If you are in the hospital for a long time because you have problems, the cost is over $1,000/day. For every week your baby stays in the intensive care unit, it can cost over $16,000 for that week.

Taking good care of yourself when you are pregnant is very important to you and your baby.

Flu (Influenza)

The flu season comes every year. Did you know that a flu shot costs about $20 and is recommended for anyone who has health problems? If you miss the flu shot and get the flu and are treated at the doctor’s office, it costs about $80. If you go to the ER, it costs about $300. If you need to stay in the hospital, it costs over $8,000.

Think about the flu shot. If you need one, get it.

The flu season comes every year. If you need a shot, get it.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it pays to take care of yourself. Watch your blood sugar. You also need to control your blood pressure which you can do through diet, exercise and taking your medicines. You should see your doctor regularly. Remember to get your blood and urine checked.

Keeping your diabetes under control costs about $1,800 a year. Going to the ER because your sugar is too high can cost over $1,000 each visit. Staying in the hospital can cost over $6,000.

Bad things can happen if you don’t take care of yourself. You could lose your kidneys, a foot or your sight because of diabetes.

If you have diabetes, take care of yourself.

Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you may find that good diet and exercise is not enough. You may have to take blood pressure medicines. See your doctor regularly. Getting tests and taking medicines costs about $300 a year. Going to the ER because of high blood pressure costs about $500 a visit. Going to the hospital for a heart attack can cost over $15,000 a hospital stay.

Quitting smoking and stopping or cutting back on alcohol will help. Exercising, taking your medicines daily and seeing your doctor can help keep you from the ER or hospital.

Taking your medicine as well as good diet and exercise can help you control your high blood pressure.

Smoking

Smoking is very expensive for you and bad for your health. A pack a day can cost you $5 or over $1,800 a year. Smoking increases your chances of heart attack, cancer and stroke.

Making up your mind to quit smoking costs you nothing. If you have to take medicines to help quit, it costs about $100 a month.

Having a heart attack, cancer or a stroke can cost you your life. Being in the hospital for a heart attack can cost about $15,000. Taking care of you if you get cancer can cost over $85,000.

It is time to quit because it can happen to you.

Making up your mind to quit smoking costs you nothing.

Obesity (being overweight)

Obesity is a big risk factor for high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis (joint pain) and stroke. Eating the right foods and daily exercise can keep you from having to take medicines or shots for diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. Getting regular exercise can help you feel better too.

Taking care of obesity can cost about $2,000 a year. Going to the ER because you don’t control obesity-related diabetes or high blood pressure can cost more than $1,000 a visit. Being in the hospital for a heart attack caused by obesity can cost more than $15,000 each stay.

Take the time to exercise and eat right. If you do, you can reduce the number of pills you take and can feel better.

Take the time to exercise and eat right.

Dental

Regular brushing and flossing of your teeth and gums are important to your health. Filling a cavity or getting a root canal can cost between $100 and $500. Losing a tooth can ruin your smile and can cause you to lose other teeth.

Avoiding sweets, regular brushing, flossing and getting fluoride treatments can help you keep your smile.

It is especially important to take care of your teeth if you are pregnant. How you take care of your teeth and gums matters to your baby’s health.

Taking care of your children’s teeth will help them talk better, chew well and help your child keep his or her next set of teeth.

Regular brushing and flossing of your teeth and gums are important to your health.

Shots (immunizations)

Many childhood diseases can be stopped if your child gets all needed shots on time. Don’t wait to get shots. By getting shots on time, you can protect your child from disease. You will also protect others at school or daycare. Shots are not just for your children. Teens need to get shots too.

Shots are a gift of health.