Fashionably Fit with Wearable Technology

New tools helping older adults stay active, informed, and rewarded

Wearable technology. Have you heard this term? At face value one might take it to mean that you can now use your new laptop as a dinner jacket. Quite the vision, but hardly practical, and certainly not very warm.

Wearable technology is actually something that is, dare I say, pretty cool. And useful, too. Especially for older adults.

Instead of a laptop computer, think about much smaller everyday accessories, like a watch, bracelet, or belt. Savvy companies are infusing these common accessories with new technology so that while your watch can still reliably tell you the time, it can also measure your heart rate, count the amount of calories you burn over time, or track your movements and range of motion.

Short Workouts Can Be Good for Your Heart

What’s not to love about that?

Most people know that exercise is important for heart health. However, not everyone knows just how much exercise is enough. Is it 15 minutes a day? 30 minutes? 1 hour? Time to set the record straight.

The recommendation is that all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. At a minimum, aim for at least 10 minutes at a time. After that, it’s your choice. You could do 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Or two 15-minute sessions a day, five days a week. Or three 10-minute sessions a day for five days.

Be sure to do activities that will strengthen your muscles, too. Look for moderate- or high-intensity activities that work all your major muscle groups at least two days a week. The major muscle groups are: legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms.

Let’s stay connected!

Optum Medical Network now offers email communications that allows you to receive updates on OMN via email. We will email information on upcoming events at the Optum Community Center in Phoenix, articles and tips on healthy living and updates on important Medicare news and deadlines.

What to Know About Sleep Apnea

Poor sleep and groggy days might mean you have sleep apnea. Learn about symptoms and why it’s important to diagnose and treat sleep apnea.

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea — loud snoring, snorting and gasping for air — are more likely to trouble your bed partner than you. Other symptoms, like daytime sleepiness, may go on for years without you realizing the cause. But the dangers of sleep apnea are real. If left untreated, it may raise your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Daytime drowsiness can also affect your quality of life and your work performance.

10 ways to simplify your life and dial down stress levels

Stress may be inevitable. But how you deal with it is largely up to you. Here are some tools to help you manage the stress in your life.

It seems like everyone is stressed out these days — from your co-workers, to your friends, to the person standing next to you in line.

Stress, by itself, isn’t necessarily bad. Low or even moderate amounts of stress can be good for us, provided we manage it in healthy ways. But poorly managed stress can take a toll. Heart disease, fatigue and obesity are just a few of the potential consequences.

Thursday, April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)

Have you shared your health care preferences with family, friends and health care providers?

Read our article below on The Basics of Advance Directives These legal documents spell out your end-of-life medical preferences when you can’t speak for yourself.
 

The Basics of Advance Directives

Every person has a right to make decisions about his or her medical care. But in a time of crisis, you may not be able to speak for yourself. A sudden illness, accident or serious injury can strike at anytime. It could render you unconscious or even near death for an extended period of time.