type 2 diabetes Archives

Millennials Health Is Declining, How EZ Can Help

Recent data from insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield shows that one-third of millennials have health conditions, with around 44% of older Millennials having at least one chronic health condition, putting them on track to be one of the unhealthiest generations in United States history. This means that millennials are shelling out more money in treatment costs than any other generation; if you’re in this boat, and if you don’t have sufficient health insurance, you’re probably paying a lot more than you should be for your health care, or you might not be getting the care that you need. EZ.Insure can help you find a great affordable plan that will make sure you’re fully covered and that you’re saving money.

Rising Health Issues

person's hand drawing an arrow going upward — *Millennials health has been steadily declining, making them the unhealthiest generation in American history.*

Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996, also known as Gen Y) suffer from higher rates of physical ailments and behavioral health problems when compared with the generation before them. For example, research shows that between 2014 and 2017, rates of depression among Millennials rose by 31%, rates of hyperactivity rose by 29%, and rates of hypertension rose by 16%. When compared to Gen-Xers, Millennials are especially experiencing greater rates of major depression and Type 2 diabetes.

The sad reality is that, if these trends continue, Millennials will have a shorter life expectancy than the generation before them – mortality rates could rise by 40% when compared to rates that Gen-Xers experienced at the same age. Not only that, but health spending because of these rising ailments could increase by 33%!

“This is going to be a very negative, self-reinforcing cycle, and we need to break it,” said Mark Zandi, a chief economist for Moody’s, speaking at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Health of America Forum at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The Causes

So what are some of the reasons behind Millennials’ health issues? Many experts blame economic worries; for example, many Millennials watched their parents lose their homes and jobs during the recession, ultimately increasing their risk for behavioral and psychological problems, which has made many turn to substance abuse. Millennials are also more likely to be financially unstable themselves, which could impact their physical and mental health: some have struggled to find jobs, others have been forced to take low-wage jobs, and most are entering the workforce with a lot of student loan debt. “Ten years in, many of the Millennials are struggling to catch up,” Zandi said.

In addition to student loans and low salaries, health care costs are also plaguing millennials. For example, in 1960 the average annual cost of healthcare per person was $146, but in 2016 that number rose to $10,345, a ninefold increase! These out-of-control costs mean that many millennials do not go to the doctor for any medical issues that come up, or they visit the emergency room, which is a less-than-ideal solution for everyone. In fact, a Blue Cross report found that 1 in 5 millennials diagnosed with major depression do not seek treatment, likely because they can’t afford to do so.

How EZ Can Help

silhouette of a person with a headset on and a network around — *EZ agents work with the top-rated companies in the country, and can compare plans instantly.*

If you’re a Millennial struggling financially, we get that it’s important to save as much money as possible, but it’s also important to take care of your physical and psychological well-being! We know that the rising cost of health care can make it seem like you can’t afford to do this, but EZ can help: we offer our services at no cost to you, because we want to help you find a great plan, without you having to worry about spending any extra money.

Depending on your circumstances, and with the extra Affordable Care Act subsidies that are currently on offer, we might be able to find you a great plan for as low as $0 a month! Come to us, and we’ll match you with your own agent, who will compare all available plans in your area, and find a plan that suits your needs – we’ll even sign you up for the plan for free. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890.

High Cholesterol Is More Common Than It Should Be

More likely than not, you know someone with high cholesterol, or maybe you have been diagnosed with it yourself: roughly 38% of American adults have been diagnosed with this condition – and even more might have it and not know, because there are no symptoms. It is important to get checked and to know your numbers, though, because high cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in America. In honor of September being National Cholesterol Education Month, we will discuss what different cholesterol levels mean, what is considered high, and how to help manage and lower your high cholesterol.

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that is produced naturally by your liver and found in your blood; it is also found in certain foods and animal products, and eating foods high in saturated fat and trans fat will raise the levels of cholesterol in your blood. While we might automatically think of all cholesterol as “bad,” it’s actually necessary for good health, because your body uses it for making hormones and digesting fatty foods; in addition, there are two types of cholesterol, one that is considered “good” and one that is considered “bad.” Having a higher “good” number is helpful, but having too much “bad” cholesterol in your blood is a problem, and puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke. There are no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol, so the only way to know if you have it is to get blood work done.

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins:

LDL (low density lipoprotein), also known as “bad” cholesterol, because it builds up on the walls of your blood vessels in the form of plaque; this plaque makes your blood vessels narrower, meaning blood will have a harder time flowing to and from your heart, which is what causes heart attacks. So, if your LDL number is high, you are at greater risk for heart disease and stroke.
HDL (High-density lipoprotein), also known as “ good” cholesterol. Your body will absorb this type of cholesterol, carry it back to the liver, and flush it from the body. Having a higher HDL will help lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.

When you have a blood test to check your cholesterol levels, you will be presented with 4 numbers:

Your bad cholesterol, or LDL, which should be less than 100 mg/dL
Your good cholesterol, or HDL, which should be at least 50 mg/dL in women and 40 mg/dL in men.
Your total cholesterol number, which should be between 125 mg/dL and 200 mg/dL.
Your triglycerides, which is a type of fat in the blood. Normal levels should be below 150 mg/dL.

According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 5 adolescents, and nearly 93 million U.S. adults aged 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Nearly 29 million adult Americans have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL.

deep fried chicken wings — *Eating deep fried foods can increase your cholesterol level.*

What Causes High Cholesterol?

Everyone is at risk for developing high cholesterol, although your risk does go up with age; it can be caused by multiple factors, including your lifestyle and a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol, known as familial hypercholesterolemia. In many cases, though, your diet is the culprit: your body naturally produces all the bad cholesterol it needs, so eating foods high in certain fats will cause your body to produce too much LDL cholesterol. The main dietary causes of high bad cholesterol include:

Not eating enough foods containing healthy fats– Healthy fats will help increase your good HDL cholesterol levels.
Eating foods containing unhealthy fats– Full-fat dairy products, butter, deep-fried foods, and baked goods such as biscuits and pastries are high in trans fats, which raise LDL levels.
Not eating enough foods containing fiber– Eating foods high in dietary fiber, like veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds can reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood.
Older age– The older you get, the harder it is for your body to clear cholesterol from your blood.

Conditions That Increase Your Risk

Certain health conditions can increase your risk of high cholesterol, such as:

Type 2 diabetes– lowers your good cholesterol levels and raises bad cholesterol levels
Obesity– linked to higher LDL cholesterol levels, and lower HDL cholesterol levels

Prevention & Treatment of High Cholesterol

Getting your cholesterol levels checked is extremely important for catching and managing high bad cholesterol, since there are no symptoms of this condition. Everyone aged 20 or older should get tested every 5 years; if you have cardiovascular disease risk factors, you should get tested more often.

If you do find out that your numbers are high, you can take steps to help lower your cholesterol levels, including:

Losing weight- Being overweight or obese raises bad cholesterol levels and lowers good cholesterol levels. Losing weight can help improve those numbers.
Eating a healthy diet– Limit foods high in saturated fat, such as full-fat dairy products, fatty meats like red meat, fried foods, butter, and coconut oil. Instead focus on eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, healthy protein sources such as fish, lentils, and nuts, avocados, low-fat milk, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and foods high in fiber.
Exercising- A sedentary lifestyle will lower your good cholesterol levels. You should aim to do about 2 ½ hours a week of some type of aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, or biking.
Quitting smoking– Using tobacco products, including vaping, lowers your HDL cholesterol. By quitting, you can lower your LDL cholesterol and increase your HDL cholesterol levels.

If you are unable to get your cholesterol numbers down through diet and exercise alone, you might need to take medications like statins to help manage your cholesterol, and lower your risk of heart disease. You will likely be prescribed medicine if:

You have already had a heart attack
Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher
You’re 40-75 years old and have diabetes

Be Prepared

Having the right health insurance plan means being able to get tested and treated for conditions like high cholesterol, without having to worry about forking out a lot of money for medical bills. If you do not have health insurance, or your current plan is not sufficient for your needs or is too expensive, EZ can help. One of our highly trained agents will work with you to compare available plans in your area and will find the right one for your medical and financial needs. All of our services are free, so your focus can be on finding a great plan, not worrying about spending extra money. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation and no hassle.

Type 2 Diabetes On The Rise In Children

Diabetes has been a growing concern over the past couple of years. Now with more focus on children, as the number of kids with type 2 diabetes has increased over the years. There are a number of factors that contribute to developing diabetes. It can run in the family, but what will actually bring it on is your lifestyle, mainly your weight. Kids that are

*Obesity attributes to a greater risk of developing diabetes.*

overweight are at the highest risk, and seem to be the ones who are getting this disease.

There are ways to prevent diabetes in children, mainly keeping a healthy diet and staying active. Learning about diabetes, and it’s symptoms can be of great help for your child’s health. Catching it early on, and learning how to treat it will help you make the necessary changes your child needs to control it. But it is possible we can make small changes to prevent it altogether.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which your body cannot properly use or produce enough insulin. Another word for type 2 diabetes is non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A person’s body cannot move blood sugar into cells, which is why their blood sugar drops or rises unexpectedly, especially a long time before eating, or after eating.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Anyone can develop diabetes, but it is more likely to develop in those who are overweight or obese. Being obese increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes because it causes insulin resistance. Once your body becomes insulin resistant, your sugar levels become high, and you have a lower tolerance for glucose (sugar). Other risk factors include family history of parents having diabetes. Being Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Native American, or of Latin descent increases your risk factors of developing the disease.

Symptoms

If you can catch the symptoms early on, then you can help prevent the disease from getting worse. Signs to look for are:

Frequent urination
Unusual thirst
Blurred vision
Weakness
Nausea
Wounds taking a long time to heal
Weight loss
Frequent bladder infections
Loss of feeling in hands or feet

Treatment

Lifestyle changes are very important in the treatment of diabetes. Weight management, changing your diet, and exercising are the best ways to treat type 2 diabetes, or any diabetes for that matter. It can help control the disease, and may even get rid of it. A doctor can prescribe insulin or medications that help your body with insulin balance. An important way to treat diabetes is knowing your glucose levels, which can be checked with a blood glucose monitor.

Prevention

A healthy weight is key to preventing a child from developing type 2 diabetes. As stated before, healthy meals are just as important, and exercising.

Over ten years ago, children having type 2 diabetes was almost unheard of. If we do not make changes, the number of kids developing diabetes will only continue to rise. Know the signs, and get your child treated as soona s possible if you suspect they have type 2 diabetes. Checkups are important especially if it runs in the family. Take the simple steps listed in order to prevent your child from getting diabetes. Give your children a healthy well balanced diet, and help them remain active. Go outside and enjoy a walk together, and promote physical activities to help them maintain ideal weight for their height. If your kid does have diabetes, knowing how to treat and control it is important for you and your child. Understanding the disease can help your kid recognize if their glucose levels are off before it worsens, take the necessary steps needed, and make better decisions for their health.