Date of birth, phone numbers, Social Security numbers — keeping these numbers top of mind can save you a lot of time. But when it comes to your health, knowing specific numbers may actually help save your life.
What health numbers do I need to know?
The basic numbers you need to know are your:
By keeping track of these numbers, it’s easier to tell if you’re at risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
The good news is that you can discuss your blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other numbers at your annual visit with a primary care doctor. Your doctor can check your blood pressure and weight/BMI during your visit. Then, with a prescription from your doctor, you can visit an in-network lab for blood work to check your cholesterol and blood sugar. Some primary care physicians can even do lab testing right in their office.
Haven’t visited the doctor in the last year? Now’s the time to schedule an appointment — an annual check-up is considered preventive care and may be covered in full by your health insurance. By working with your doctor to make sure your numbers are within the recommended ranges, you can prevent a lot of future health issues.
If you already have a chronic condition, that’s all the more reason to know your numbers. They can help you and your doctor tell whether your condition is under control and prevent costly complications.
How do I track my health numbers?
You don’t need to memorize them all!
If you’re an Independence Blue Cross member, you can log in to ibxpress.com and complete your Wellness Profile. If you do this at least once a year, you’ll have all of your important numbers in one place and it will be easy for you to see how you’re improving your health over time. Plus, it’s easy to print a copy to share with doctors when they ask if you’ve been checked recently.
Not an Independence member? Try the American Heart Association’s Heart360® which allows you to track the factors that affect your heart health.
Where can I get help to track my health numbers?
Here are a few places to go for more information on what your health levels mean for you:
Visit your primary care doctor. An annual wellness visit is typically covered by your health insurance. Find an in-network doctor.
Call a Health Coach. IBX members can speak with registered nurse Health Coaches by calling the number on the back of their ID card.
Brush up on the basics. There are plenty of educational tools and resources for IBX members available on ibxpress.com. But anyone can access the helpful information found on these sites:
You may be eligible to apply for an affordable health plan today.
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