In honor of National Heart Month, WashU’s employee Well-being Team is highlighting important steps and resources to help you take care of your heart. Eating healthier, exercising more and getting regular check-ups are key steps toward a healthy heart. In addition, reducing stress and considering our emotional connection to ourselves play a vital role in your overall health.
What’s your goal for personal well-being? Let WashU’s 8ightWays to Wellness be your guide to good health, energy and confidence to live your life to the fullest – for yourself and those close to you.
Tips for a healthy heart
Nutrition
Eating a healthy diet is important for our heart health. Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and keep red and processed meat to a minimum. Making a dessert this weekend? View these heart healthy dessert recipes.
Looking for more recipes? The MyWay to Health team hosts cooking demo’s and can help you make a nutrition plan. Schedule a consultation or view MyWay to Health demo’s and webinars, including Healthy Winter Soups and Stews.
Physical activity
Build physical activity into your everyday life. Find an activity you enjoy and set a goal for yourself—maybe invite a friend or family member to join you to keep you motivated.
Looking for a new activity? The WashU Rec Center offers a variety of programming to help keep the WashU community active and engaged.
Also, be sure to save the date for the this spring’s wellness challenge. Registration opens February 16 and the challenge will begin March 6.
Health care
As part of your routine health care, it’s important to connect with your provider to get recommended screening tests that monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and other key heart health metrics. Schedule your annual screening with your primary care provider or at an upcoming WashU health screening event. Employees are eligible for a $50 VISA gift card once completed.
If you take medication for your heart, receiving your blood pressure medicine regularly is easy with the mail order option through Express Scripts. Learn how to transfer your prescription from retail to home delivery at www.express-scripts.com.
Establish a relationship with your health care providers and get the support you need to stay on top of your health and well-being. Connect with our WashU United Healthcare Nurse Advocate if you need a medical provider, or check out the new primary care service dedicated to WashU employees who participate in our health plan, WUCare.
Reduce stress
Finding ways to effectively reduce distress in our lives is also important for our heart health.
Practice mindfulness-based stress reduction and become aware of habitual reactions to tough situations. WashU Wellness Connection’s Move into Mindfulness program helps you move toward greater balance, control and peace of mind, and, gives you practical coping skills to deal with stress. It is important to take care of your mental health. Find emotional well-being programs and resources to support you and your family, including the employee assistance program, WashU Psychiatry, and more.
Financial well-being can help alleviate stressors, too. View Guidance Resources’ Money Matters Toolkit, set up a virtual appointment with a TIAA financial consultant, or attend an upcoming financial wellness workshop to stay financially fit with a strategy that helps you now and in the future.
Support a healthy workplace
Join our Wellness Champions Network to help foster a healthy work environment for you and your coworkers. The network is a diverse group of volunteers who help promote the 8ight Ways to Wellness while addressing the unique needs of their own departments.
Stay up to date on what’s happening with the Well-being team each week when you join our Microsoft Teams channel. All benefits-eligible employees are invited.
Learn more about employee wellness online.