Well, it's January.

Well, it's January.

That means that until February 1st, workout centers everywhere will be filled with people resolving to lose some weight, get back in shape, shed those added holiday pounds, etc. How many times has each of us planned on this being "the year" to change those behaviors? Even for me there are too many to count. This year, I would encourage all of you to take that resolution that we all know too well and turn it into something beneficial and realistic: be healthier.

Resolving to be healthier can mean that you change your diet, exercise more, even possibly lose weight; But it also encompasses becoming familiar with your own health and learning what exactly you need to do to be a healthier person. A very simple thing you can do to start on this path is to "Know Your Numbers."

The concept of knowing your "numbers" stems from the American Heart Association's risk assessment for heart disease. They outline some steps to take in order to prevent heart disease, which includes "know your numbers" as step one. The risk factors (or "numbers") to be aware of include: Total Cholesterol, LDL ("bad cholesterol"), HDL ("good cholesterol"), Triglycerides, Blood Pressure, Fasting Glucose, Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference. Some of these numbers can be found at your annual physical (if you haven't scheduled one, you should!), but some need to be discovered by blood work.

Recently included in the Compass SmartShopper program for State of NH, City of Manchester and Manchester School District employees and retirees is the option to shop for Lab Services. We encourage our members to visit free standing labs for their routine lab work. In the case of State of NH, City of Manchester and Manchester School District employees, they can earn $25/$15/$15 respectively for visiting a free standing lab to have their blood drawn. There is no limit on the amount of incentives they can earn, so each time they have a routine draw, they could be eligible for a check from Compass.

In addition to knowing your numbers and your annual physical, if you are at the magical age of 50, you should also be scheduling your colonoscopy and other preventative screenings. All Compass members can shop for preventative screenings and earn up to $150 in some cases for visiting a cost-effective location.

So if you want to live healthier, don't just diet or try and start a workout regimen that you might not stick with. Evaluate the current state of your health, know your numbers, and start living an overall better lifestyle.
As always, if you have questions or want to know more about Compass Healthcare Advisers and our healthcare cost transparency tools, please visit www.compassha.com.