As if we needed another reason to get out onto the water, the fact remains that whether you are looking for it or not, kayaking is a form of exercise, not to mention the beautiful settings that surround you.  Kayaking gives us a balanced approach to our cardiovascular system and our upper body strength.

These health benefits are often a side effect of simply doing what you love most.  During kayaking the low impact movements may improve joint health in some people.  The extra calories burned through kayaking may also lead to natural weight loss, which in turn can help aching joints.  Kayaking also is a great way to relax and reduce stress.  It is a great sport to help with physical and emotional healing.

Kayaking is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle for your family too!  Kids of all ages love can enjoy kayaking.  Safety is the main goal when involving children in this sport.  Life preservers are a non-negotiable.  Children should ride with an adult several times before venturing on their own and must be supervised by an adult at all times.  Keep in mind when children are learning to kayak it is best to start in calm shallow water until they get the hang of the movement.   Half an hour to an hour is just right for all first trips regardless of age. You may also want to make certain that children are familiar with the water, experienced in swimming, physical strength, and coordination level.  So enjoy kayaking !  Get your family on the water and begin a healthy life!

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak to one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

You may have seen the sport out on the beach.  While many people find paddle boarding fun, many also see the health benefits with this popular sport.   If you are an avid water lover, and ready for a good challenge, then stand up paddle boarding might be the perfect combination for your summer activity.  Also, more activity promotes good health so having fun with your summer activities can improve overall health and fitness. 

According to exercise experts, this sport is a full body workout.  Paddle boarding strengthens your core, improves balance, and best of all burns calories.   When you paddle you rotate using your abs.  You may also develop muscles on the core areas (hips, trunk and buttocks). You can contact most local surf shops to find paddle board lessons which are being taught up and down the East Coast.   Our agency owner worked closely with AB Surf Shop on Atlantic Beach to purchase an awesome board for a Christmas gift and we were very happy with our purchase.

Paddle boarding does take a little practice.  The hands-on experience is challenging.  Although regular practice will guarantee success, most people usually are able to stand within 10 minutes.  Paddle boarding is an active sport for any athletic ability and any size person. 

Paddle boarding is a fast growing water sport.  Remember it is important to stay active and healthy.  Not only do you get health benefits from your healthy lifestyle, but you can save money when purchasing private health insurance and get discounts in your premium due to excellent health. 

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak to one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

 A favorite summer pastime for many of us is relaxing by a pool or swimming in the ocean while unwinding from the day or — better yet — even spending the whole day poolside blissfully relaxed. If your dog is included, here are some tips. 

Not all dogs enjoy swimming or can swim particularly well. If it seems like your dog does not want to swim, it is important not to force him/her.  A safety vest such the canine flotation device, is designed to keep your pet afloat in the water. These vests are adjustable and designed to fit around your pet’s chest. Having a ramp installed in the pool or around the dock may also help your pet exit the water without struggling. 

If your furry family member is an avid swimmer who enjoys a refreshing dip, it is important for you and your children to swim at a safe distance to avoid getting scratched or pulled under while swimming.  It is also helpful to teach your dog the “turn” command so he/she can swim around you to avoid those unwanted scratches.  When your kids are swimming beside or with your pet, make sure they have on their life vest. 

Watch for water-related problems such as ear infections, a dull, dry coat and signs of dehydration. Dehydration can occur quickly — an easy way to check that your dog is not dehydrated is to lift your dog’s lips and look for bright pink and moist gums. 

Outdoor exposure to water can change your dog’s vaccination needs. Know your dog’s travel history, disease exposure, age, breed and health status to tailor a vaccination protocol. Pets can contract several contagious water-borne illnesses and intestinal parasites such as Giardia from exposure to outdoor untreated water. 

Also, excessive ingestion of heavily chlorinated pool water, saltwater or stagnant lake water can result in vomiting and diarrhea. You might consider bringing plenty of fresh filtered or bottled water to the pool, ocean or lake to avoid intentional ingestion of these and other potentially harmful agents.

 Be sure always to have plenty of fresh water available at all times to all pets in the home, year-round. Provide plenty of shade and a cool, dry shelter from the heat and the elements. To avoid burned footpads and heat exhaustion, exercise your pets during the early morning and at dusk when the pavement is cooler and heatstroke is less likely.

What does the Surgeon General have to say about regular physical activity? A lot. The list of ways it improves health is too long to list here, but it’s hard to name a health risk that exercise doesn’t mitigate in some way.

According to the nation’s chief medical officer, men and women of all ages can derive great benefits from 30 minutes a day of “moderate activity.” Walking falls squarely in that category. Even people who have been completely sedentary can start with 10-minute walks and build up gradually to the recommended 30 minutes a day.

Of course, anyone with a chronic health problem or an identified risk for one should talk with a doctor before starting any program of exercise. So should men over age 40 and women over age 50.

Walking might not seem like “real” exercise alongside intense activities like biking, running or swimming. But researchers have found that if people stick with it and make walking part of a regular routine, it leads to aerobic fitness and body fat reduction, whether it’s in long periods or multiple short ones. And reducing body fat means reducing your risk of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and anxiety.

One study found that when given a choice, sedentary adults were comfortable walking about 11 miles a week. They were able to vary the intensity and length of their walking sessions to suit their daily schedules. So your workforce doesn’t have to be burdened by the “not enough time” excuse any longer. But be aware that in another study, walks of less than 10 continuous minutes didn’t provide the same health benefits. The necessary participation has a low minimum, but it does have one.

Even people who improve health for a living have something to learn. An eight-year study of thousands of female nurses found that brisk walking three or more hours per week lowered women’s risk for coronary heart disease.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak to one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

With our fast paced lives, it is hard to find the time to enjoy the outdoors with your family. Have you ever thought about setting aside one evening each week as family time? We are all faced with finding a good balance between work and family.  Setting aside one night per week as “family time” is the beginning to a healthy lifestyle for your family. Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of outdoor play each day.  Below are some activities for families of all ages to enjoy.
 

DISCOVER THE WILDERNESS: Take your family on a walk through your neighborhood or backyard and look at nature’s beauty. Try to keep a nature journal and post pictures of different creatures you encounter. (more…)

Walking: A plan of action

Bringing the benefits of moderate walking exercise to your workforce is a realistic, effective goal. But like many other things that are good for you, it takes the right approach to make sure you trigger a long-term change instead of a temporary fad. The key to success is planning.

Step 1: Map it out

Begin by making sure your company’s management supports what you’re doing. You don’t need a detailed plan or a budget yet—just make sure you’re not (more…)

Blue Points

Earn prizes for taking an active role in your health.
Physical activity can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. That’s why we created Blue PointsSM, our physical activity and wellness incentive program available exclusively for BCBSNC members.

Just 30 minutes a day of physical activity or participation in wellness activities earns points toward prizes like electronics, sports equipment, clothing and more!* Collect points and select prizes from our four Blue Points prize levels (B, L, U, and E). Special prizes are available for children ages 6 – 12 through Blue Points for KidsSM.

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Daily activity and exercise is essential for your pet, lack of exercise leads to poor muscle tone, obesity, heart ailments, bone disorders and often results in  dog behavior and emotional problems. Dogs with no exercise subjected to overcrowding and being confined in cages for prolonged periods of time,  can develop a great variety of physical and emotional disorders.

An exercised dog will rest better at home and be less nervous when left alone.  Exercise can improve dogs bone and joint health, heart, and lung function. Exercise can make show dogs look and feel better to a judge’s exploring hands.  A happy dog looks more gorgeous.  When its cold outside and you can’t get your dog out for their walks, teach them to walk on a treadmill, believe it or not, its really easy and they love it.

The best exercise channels the activity of both mind and body. Some people believe that dogs need a big yard so they can get plenty of exercise. The truth is that most dogs do not exercise when they are outdoors by themselves; they spend most of their time laying in the shadow and waiting for “their human family” to play with them.  You do not need to take up running to adequately exercise your dog.

Make your walks interesting and fun. Let your dog carry a favorite toy while walking, running, or hide his toys, play hide and seek with him, and most important – let him play with other dogs!  Socialization for dogs is very important, it teaches them good social manners as well as providing hours of fun, these social skills will help your dog interact with other animals for the rest of his life.  Teach your dog to retrieve, another great source of exercise.  But throw the toy far vs. high.  Jumping high in the air to chase it and landing awkwardly may lead to serious knee or hip injuries. 

Get Inspired

Once you’ve made the rational decision to start a workplace wellness program, it’s time to put your emotions behind it – and take everyone along with you. By building support at all levels of the organization and letting every employee feel ownership of the program, you’ll greatly enhance your chances of success.

Set the foundation

As with every other initiative, senior management sets the tone – by action and example. Make sure your company’s leaders model the behaviors you want from everyone by providing visible support and participation. Turn your employees into stakeholders by actively seeking and implementing their feedback.

Share the facts

Establishing a successful workplace wellness program relies on two stages of communication. The first is to make sure that your company’s senior and middle management are fully aware of rising medical and health insurance costs and the role unhealthy lifestyles play – not only to each individual, but to the company as a whole. Knowing about the problem will help them buy into the solution, and their support is critical if the program is to work.

Next, you and management need to work together to communicate with the company’s workforce. When employees know the facts about health costs and lifestyle impacts, they’ll better understand that the workplace wellness program isn’t about dictating a certain way of living. It’s about promoting the success of the company and showing that the company cares for their well-being.

When people at every level understand why this program is necessary and what’s at stake, people will be pulling in the same direction.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

2007 Blue Cross and Blue Shield® Internal Association Data.

There’s a lot of discussion these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit.  Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity, and has a healthy weight. If you’re fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.  Some steps only parents can take — such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike. But kids can take charge, too, when it comes to health.  (more…)

“Why?”  That is the question some of my family and friends asked me when I told them I was going to participate in the Nelson Bay Challenge, a local sprint triathlon.  “Aren’t you getting a little old to push yourself so hard?”  That was another question, with concerns that I might actually kill myself during the training process or the race itself.  I only had one answer – why not?  I have always liked setting specific physical fitness goals for myself and I thought a sprint triathlon could help add some spark to my workout routine.  Another perk………the training program could also help me win some prizes through Blue Points, the health and wellness program offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to promote physical fitness activities.
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For more information on North Carolina health insurance, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional authorized agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health, call all our office for details.