7 things you can do to prepare for your next doctor appointment

Whether it’s your first visit with a new doctor or a routine checkup with your longtime healthcare provider, it’s always best to be prepared. Your doctor first learns about your overall well-being by asking questions—and so do you. You can—and should—ask questions too, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that when you’re actually in the appointment with your doctor. Preparing ahead of time helps enable a much more efficient and productive appointment. Here are seven ways you can prepare for your primary care visit with your doctor.

Medicaid renewal has changed—find out if this affects you

Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program designed to provide healthcare coverage to low-income individuals and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed legislation to provide for continuous enrollment as to avoid interruption in coverage during a global health crisis. But that’s changing. By the end of 2022, over 85 million individuals were enrolled in Medicaid—and over 14 million could lose coverage due to these changes. If you or someone you know is on Medicaid, it’s time to act. We’re here to help—read the following carefully to learn more about Medicaid renewal in 2023 and what steps, if any, you need to take to avoid a gap in your insurance coverage.

Try to spy an STI—How simple STI testing makes 4 common STIs easily treatable

When it comes to your overall health, it’s important to stay in the know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STIs typically aren’t something people want to talk about; however, it turns out that half of the most common STIs can be cured or treated if caught early. So we should talk about them. That’s because many common STIs have no early signs or symptoms in the majority of people infected. Untreated STIs can lead to reproductive health problems like infertility. The only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested. If you’re sexually active, getting tested is the most powerful tool to protect your health and others from STIs.

Raising the voices in colon cancer screening

With proper screening, early detection of colorectal cancer often leads to a cure. Since the 1980s, incidents of colorectal cancer have declined—in fact, from 2011 to 2019, incidents dropped by about 1% each year. These promising statistics demonstrate the power of preventive screening.

At-home FIT tests: How they help you detect colon cancer without getting a colonoscopy first

When it comes to colorectal cancer, there is one statistic—a promising one—that stands out: 90% of patients survive beyond 5 years when colon cancer is caught early. Early detection is the key to catching and treating colorectal cancer (CRC). The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone ages 45 to 75 get screened for CRC—further guidelines suggest that those age 75 and older should discuss with their primary care provider about whether or not they should be screened.

Monitoring your heart health: How to help prevent cardiovascular disease

We all know that it’s important to keep your heart healthy—and 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable. Heart disease risk factors vary from person to person, so even if you’re otherwise healthy, you should consider screening for heart disease.

4 benefits of health coaching in employee wellness programs

With chronic health conditions driving health insurance premiums to an all-time high, more employers are turning to corporate-sponsored health and well-being programs to help control costs—and with good reason. Research shows that well-implemented workplace health programs can contribute to significant cost savings on employee absenteeism, healthcare costs, workers’ compensation and disability management claims.1

Understanding my digestive health: Celiac disease, wheat allergy and non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes genetically susceptible individuals to react to gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Individuals with an allergy to wheat have a different type of immune reaction to wheat proteins. For those with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consumption of gluten can cause discomfort and other symptoms, although the causes are not yet clearly identified. Even though the three conditions are quite different, they may be confused because they can all result in some overlapping symptoms after consuming gluten. 

Chronic kidney disease and my journey as a two-time kidney transplant recipient

I’d like to introduce you to Cindy, my kidney transplant. Named after the nurse who tended to me in the hospital, Cindy has been with me since 2007. I tell people that Cindy calls the shots—and I work hard to manage my health, stay connected with my healthcare providers and make sure that she stays happy. It’s not easy, but I’m grateful that I have a functioning kidney, and that’s why I’m sharing my chronic kidney disease (CKD) journey to help both patients and their providers.

How to explain rheumatoid arthritis to those who don’t have it

If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the first thing you should know is that you are not alone. In the U.S., 41 out of 100,000 people—or an estimated 1.3 million Americans—live with this unpredictable and sometimes debilitating condition.