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  • Alcohol:
    Alcohol affects the central nervous system and every organ in the body. It slows down a person's reaction time, and impairs judgment and coordination. Alcohol is in beer, wine and liquor. Research reports some health benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease, for some people who drink small amounts of red wine each day.
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  • Alcoholism:
    The signs and symptoms of alcoholism include having a strong need to drink; not being able to stop drinking once drinking begins; nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking; and the need to drink more alcohol to feel its effects.
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  • Arthritis:
    There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis. Most kinds of arthritis cause swelling and pain in the joints of the body. The joints are where two bones meet, like the knee or elbow. Over time the swelling can cause damage to the joint.
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  • Asthma:
    A chronic disease that affects the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma causes the tubes to swell and narrow, and the lungs to get less air. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing.
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  • Blood pressure:
    The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries in the body. Blood pressure changes throughout the day. When it stays too high over time, it is called high blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension. Over time, if you do not treat and control high blood pressure it can be very dangerous to your health.
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  • Body mass index, BMI:
    A measure of a person's weight as it relates to their height. A way to measure body fat and detect overweight and obesity. A person with a BMI below 19.5 is underweight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight. A person with a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight, and a person with a BMI of 30.0 or more is obese.
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  • Borderline health condition:
    When referring to a health condition, borderline means showing signs of a problem but not quite of serious concern. For example, if your blood pressure numbers are borderline you should take action to lower your blood pressure, to avoid health problems.
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  • Cancer:
    A group of diseases that occur when abnormal or damaged cells in the body grow and multiply. Each cell in a person's body will grow, divide, and die when it becomes old or damaged. These cells are then replaced with new cells. This is the body's way of keeping itself healthy. Sometimes when a cell becomes so damaged that it does not die when it should, the damaged cells grow and multiply even though the body does not need them. This is how a tumor is formed. Not all tumors are harmful, but some tumors can spread to nearby tissues and even other organs. These tumors are malignant, which is another word for cancer.
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  • Cardiovascular disease:
    Diseases of the heart or blood vessels - arteries, capillaries, veins. Examples include heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease.
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  • Checkup, physical exam:
    A general physical exam. Not an exam for a specific injury, illness or condition.
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  • Cholesterol:
    Also called 'blood cholesterol'. The body makes and uses cholesterol as part of its normal and healthy functioning. But, when cholesterol levels are too high, some of it stays on the walls of the blood vessels. Over time, the blood vessels get narrow and the flow of blood slows. Some fats in food can raise blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol can increase your risk of getting heart disease and stroke. Total blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL and above are high. Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL could be better. Levels under 200 mg/dL are healthy.
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  • Chronic disease:
    An illness or medical condition that develops and lasts over a long period of time. Chronic diseases usually cannot be cured but can generally be treated. Examples of chronic diseases are cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis and stroke. While you cannot generally cure these diseases you can often prevent and manage them through early detection, improved diet, exercise, and regular medical treatment.
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  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD:
    A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it hard for a person to breathe. Examples include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These are the two main diseases that make up COPD. In all cases, the damage makes it hard for the body to get oxygen from the lungs.
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  • Co-pay, health insurance copayment:
    When you have health insurance, the co-pay is the amount of money you pay when you receive a medical service or supply. This amount covers part of the cost of the service or supply. For example, when you go to a doctor you may be asked to pay $15 as your 'co-pay'. Your health insurance will pay the rest of the costs.
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  • Colonoscopy:
    A medical exam in which a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum (anus) to view the entire colon, the longest part of the large intestine, for signs of cancer or other health problems. The doctor may take samples of tissue or cells during a colonoscopy.
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  • Deductible, health insurance:
    When you have health insurance, this is the amount of money you have to pay for your healthcare before the insurance company begins to pay.
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  • Dental care:
    Healthcare that helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. You go to a dentist for dental care. Dental care includes helping you keep your teeth clean, checking your teeth and gums for disease, and providing treatment.
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  • Depression:
    A medical illness that is very common and can be treated. Everyone feels sad sometimes, but when it lasts a long time, or if a person loses interest or pleasure in things, it may be depression. Not treated, depression can affect your relationships at work or school, or with family and friends. Depression can be treated with medicine, counseling, or both.
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  • Diabetes, Type 1, juvenile diabetes:
    Also called 'juvenile diabetes'. Type 1 diabetes is a life-long condition in which the body stops making insulin. Without insulin, the body is not able to use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. To treat type 1 diabetes, a person must take insulin, test their blood sugar, and follow an eating plan and exercise plan. Type 1 diabetes usually begins, but not always, before the age of 30.
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  • Diabetes, Type 2, adult-onset diabetes:
    Also called adult-onset diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes do not make enough insulin or their bodies do not use the insulin they make. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and may be able to control their diabetes by losing weight through diet and exercise. They may also need to take pills or insulin. More children and teens that are overweight are getting type 2 diabetes.
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  • Diastolic blood pressure:
    The second or bottom number of a blood pressure reading. This number is the blood pressure between heartbeats when the heart relaxes.
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  • Diet:
    What a person eats and drinks. Any type of eating plan.
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  • DirigoChoice:
    A health insurance plan created as part of the Dirigo Health Reform law of 2003. DirigoChoice provides health insurance to small businesses, self-employed, and certain groups of people buying coverage outside of a workplace.
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  • Disease:
    A sickness or illness that affects parts of the body and a person's health. A disease can affect cells, organs, function, part or system of the body. Examples of common diseases include diabetes, which affects a function of the body, and cancer, which affects the cells of the body.
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  • Drink, alcohol:
    A 'drink' in the United States is any drink that contains about 1/2 ounce (1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. This includes 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler; 8 ounces of malt liquor; 5 ounces of wine; or, 1.5 ounces (a 'shot') of brandy or 'hard liquor' such as gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey.
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  • Endurance:
    Having the ability to continue. When it comes to exercise, endurance means having enough muscle and heart strength to continue physical activity for a longer amount of time.
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  • Exercise:
    Physical activity that is planned to improve or maintain physical fitness, flexibility and muscle strength. Walking and running are examples of exercise. Activities like cleaning the house and raking leaves will also provide exercise.
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  • Family health history:
    Shows the patterns of health and disease in a family from one generation to the next. Immediate family includes your biological mother, father, full siblings, and children. Extended family includes grandparents, aunts and uncles, and grandchildren. A family health history does not include relatives by marriage or adoption.
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  • Fasting blood glucose, glucose screen:
    A blood test used to look at blood sugar levels and to screen for diabetes. Also called a glucose screen, or a blood sugar or blood glucose test.
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  • Fats:
    A major source of energy in the diet. Fats help the body take in vitamins A, D, E and K. Some kinds of fats, especially saturated fats and trans fats may raise blood cholesterol and increase the risk for heart disease. Other fats, such as unsaturated fats, do not raise blood cholesterol.
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  • Free/donation health services:
    In KeepMEWell, free/donation health services are services you do not have to pay for (free) or you pay any amount of money you can (donation).
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  • Fruits:
    Any fruit or 100% fruit juice. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried. Some common fruits include apples, apricots, avocado, bananas, berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, etc.), grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears, papaya, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins and tangerines.
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  • Grains:
    Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain. Examples of food made from grains include bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas and grits. There are two subgroups of grains - whole grains and refined grains. Whole grain foods are good for your health.
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  • H1N1 influenza, swine flu:
    An infection caused by a virus, sometimes called swine flu. The virus spreads from human to human. Symptoms of H1N1 are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu (influenza) and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
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  • HDL cholesterol:
    High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or 'good' cholesterol helps remove cholesterol from the blood, helping to keep cholesterol from building up in the walls of the arteries. Normal HDL cholesterol level for men is greater than 40 mg/dL. For women the normal level is greater than 50 mg/dL.
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  • Health:
    A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Not just the absence of disease.
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  • Health insurance:
    The best way to pay for healthcare is to have quality, affordable health insurance. Some people have insurance through their workplace, and others buy insurance outside of workplaces. The quality and affordability of health insurance can vary greatly, both in workplaces and outside of workplaces. The health insurance company then pays for a certain amount of your health care, depending on the plan. Some plans pay for most of your health care, and other plans pay for very little.
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  • Healthcare provider:
    Someone who is trained to help care for your health. For example, doctors and nurses are healthcare providers.
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  • Healthy Maine Partnerships:
    A statewide system of comprehensive community health coalitions across Maine. There are 28 Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMPs). HMPs promote good health in their community by partnering with local schools, healthcare sites, worksites, and others to promote access to healthy foods, physical activity and tobacco-free living.
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  • Healthy weight:
    A body weight that is less likely to cause any weight-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. A body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9 is a healthy weight.
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  • Heart attack:
    Heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery.
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  • Heart disease:
    A disorder of the blood vessels of the heart. This can occur when the buildup of cholesterol and fat in the arteries causes them to become too narrow and blocks the flow of blood. If you do not treat heart disease it can lead to a heart attack.
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  • Heavy drinking, alcohol:
    Heavy drinking is defined as having more than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 per week for women, and more than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 per week for men. Heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure, problems sleeping, depression, stroke, disease of the liver, and some cancers.
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  • High blood pressure, hypertension:
    Also called 'hypertension'. In adults, high blood pressure is when the systolic pressure (the top number) is 140 mmHg or higher, or the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is 90 mmHg or higher. High blood pressure increases your risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney problems.
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  • High blood sugar:
    When the glucose (sugar) level in the blood is higher than normal. High blood sugar is often a sign of diabetes.
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  • High cholesterol:
    A risk factor for heart disease. Too much cholesterol in the blood can form plaque (a thick, hard deposit) in the artery walls. The cholesterol or plaque build-up causes arteries to become thicker, harder and less flexible, slowing down and sometimes blocking blood flow to the heart.
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  • High deductible, private health insurance:
    A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay for your healthcare before the insurance company begins to pay. A high deductible is when your total healthcare deductibles are greater than 5% of your annual income.
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  • High fat foods:
    Food that contain large amounts of fat. For example butter, whole milk and fatty meats. Foods that are high in fat are not recommended for good health.
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  • Immunization, vaccines:
    Immunizations are usually given as shots (vaccines) and help the body fight off disease. For example, infants and young children get immunizations that help protect them from measles, mumps, polio, chickenpox, and other disease. The flu shot is an immunization that helps protect people from the seasonal flu.
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  • LDL cholesterol:
    Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad' cholesterol increases the build-up of fat and cholesterol on artery walls. This blocks the flow of blood to the heart or brain and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. LDL levels below 100 mg/dL are healthy.
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  • Low cost health services:
    For KeepMEWell, low cost health services is defined as healthcare services that are offered at a cost that is less than the total cost of the services.
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  • Low fat foods:
    Foods that contain small amounts of fat. Some foods have almost no fat, like fruits and vegetables. Other foods like butter, whole milk and beef have a lot of fat. Foods that are low in fat are recommended for health and to help people lose weight.
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  • MaineCare, Medicaid:
    A health insurance program available to Maine residents who meet income and other guidelines This program is either free, or low cost for enrollees, depending on your income and other factors.
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  • Mammogram:
    An X-ray of the breast tissue. Used most often as a screening test to detect breast cancer at an early stage.
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  • Medical care:
    Healthcare services that offer care, treatment, and other services for people with a disease or injury. Hospitals, health centers and clinics offer medical care.
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  • Medicare:
    A health insurance program offered by the federal government for adults aged 65 years and older, and under age 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease.
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  • Mental health:
    The ability to cope with life's ups and downs and participate actively in work or school, or with family and friends. People often experience some problems with their mental health when there are many changes in their lives, but these ups and downs are not the same as mental health disorders or mental illnesses, which are medical conditions that can be long term and disabling if left untreated. Examples of mental health disorders include bipolar disorder and depression. Examples of mental health services include medicines and counseling.
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  • Moderate drinking, alcohol:
    No more than 1 alcoholic drink per day for women, and no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day for men. Moderate drinking may lower the risk of heart disease. However, it is hard to balance the risks and benefits of alcohol use. Most doctors do not recommend that patients who do not drink begin drinking to reduce their risk of heart disease.
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  • Moderate physical activity:
    Any activity that causes some increase in breathing or heart rate. Moderate physical activity is considered somewhat hard. You should be able to talk when doing moderate physical exercise. Examples include walking quickly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming or cycling.
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  • Nutrition:
    What your body needs from food and how it uses it to stay healthy. Nutrition includes the parts of foods (nutrients) such as the vitamins, proteins, fat, and more that your body needs to stay healthy.
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  • Obese, obesity:
    In adults, a person is considered obese if he or she has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Body weight comes from fat, muscle, bone and body water.
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  • Osteoporosis:
    A disease of the bones. Osteoporosis causes the bones to become weak and more likely to break. There are no signs or symptoms of osteoporosis. Anyone can get osteoporosis, but it is most common in older women. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
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  • Overweight:
    Being too heavy for one's height. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 to 29.9. Body weight comes from fat, muscle, bone and body water.
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  • Pap test, Pap smear:
    Also called a 'Pap smear'. A test for women to check for changes in the cells of the cervix. Changes in the cells of the cervix may be a sign of infection or a pre-cancerous condition.
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  • Physical activity:
    A type of body movement or exercise. Physical activity includes physical labor, athletics, recreation, housework, transport or occupational activities that require physical skills, strength, speed, endurance or flexibility.
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  • Pneumonia shot, vaccine:
    Also called 'pneumococcal vaccine'. Usually given only 1 or 2 times in a person's lifetime to protect against pneumonia, often for those aged 65 years and older.
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  • Prescription drug, medicine:
    Some medicines you can buy without a doctor's order. These are called 'over-the-counter drugs'. Other medicines you must buy from a pharmacy and you must have a doctor's order called a 'prescription'. These are called 'prescription drugs'.
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  • Prevention:
    Activities designed to protect patients or other members of the public from actual or potential health threats and their harmful consequences.
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  • Primary care provider:
    A doctor or medical practitioner that sees a patient over time to help him or her stay healthy, get well when sick, and manage chronic diseases. Primary care providers give checkups, treat symptoms, prescribe medicines, coordinate care, and refer patients to specialists when needed.
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  • Private health insurance:
    Health insurance can help protect people and families from high medical care costs. Some people get private health insurance through their workplaces. Others may buy private health insurance on their own. Still others may qualify for government health insurance, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid are not private health insurance.
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  • Reproductive health:
    Health and sickness of the male and female body parts and systems related to reproduction (having a baby). Examples of reproductive health problems include ovarian cancer in women, testicular cancer in men, and infertility (not being able to have a baby) in men and women. Examples of reproductive health services include the Pap test to screen for cervical cancer in women and the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer in men. Reproductive health also includes the prevention and treatment of diseases that are passed from one sexual partner to another.
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  • Risk factor:
    A person's behavior or lifestyle (like diet and activity level), or an environmental exposure (like lead or air pollution), that increases a person's chance of getting a disease or developing a health-related condition. Some risk factors are hereditary. A person may be born with or inherit a trait that increases their chance of getting a disease or condition.
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  • Risk of disease:
    An estimate of a person's chance of getting a disease over a certain period of time usually compared to an average person of the same age and gender.
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  • Screen time:
    The number of leisure hours a person spends watching television, DVDs, videos, movies, computers, and other electronic media per day, week, month, or year.
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  • Screening:
    Any test or procedure used to detect disease in people. Some diseases may not show signs or symptoms in the early stages. Finding disease in the early stages may make it easier to treat.
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  • Seasonal flu shot, influenza vaccine:
    Also called the 'influenza vaccine.' Usually given in the fall to protect against the seasonal flu (influenza).
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  • Secondhand smoke:
    The smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Also called environmental tobacco smoke. Can cause health problems in non-smoking adults and children who breathe in secondhand smoke. Research shows that there are no safe levels of second hand smoke.
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  • Self-pay, healthcare costs:
    When you pay for all your healthcare yourself. You do not have health insurance.
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  • Serving, fruits and vegetables:
    One serving of fruit is equal to 1/2 cup fresh, frozen or canned fruit; 1/2 cup 100% fruit juice, 1 medium fruit, or 1/4 cup dried fruit. One serving of vegetables is equal to 1/2 cup raw or cooked vegetables, 1/2 cup 100% vegetable juice, or 1 cup raw leafy vegetables.
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  • Serving, grains:
    One serving of grains is equal to 1 slice bread, 1 cup dry cereal, or 1/2 cup cooked rice, pasta or cereal.
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  • Sliding fee, healthcare costs:
    In KeepMEWell, sliding fee health services are services that are offered for less than the total cost of providing these services. How much you pay may depend on your income. Those with higher incomes may pay more of these costs than those with lower incomes.
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  • Strength-building exercise:
    Physical activity can help prevent injuries, reduce stress and fight osteoporosis. Helps to prevent muscle loss with age, maintain the bones, and improve balance and coordination. Examples include push-ups, lifting weights, and chores around the house that require lifting.
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  • Stroke:
    When the blood stops flowing to any part of the brain and damages brain tissue. The most common symptoms of a stroke are sudden numbness, of the face, arm or leg; trouble talking or understanding what is said; and, blurred vision, loss of balance, or very bad headache. Any ONE of these symptoms is a reason to take action. At the first sign of a stroke, call 911 right away.
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  • Substance abuse:
    The misuse or over use of drugs and alcohol.
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  • Systolic blood pressure:
    The first or upper number of a blood pressure reading. The pressure of blood in the vessels of the body when the heart beats.
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  • Tobacco products:
    Cigarettes, cigars, pipe, snuff, chew and snus are types of tobacco products.
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  • Total cholesterol:
    Total cholesterol is all the cholesterol in your blood. High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease and death from heart attack. A person whose total blood cholesterol is 240 mg/dL or higher is more likely to develop heart disease than a person whose cholesterol level is under 200 mg/dL.
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  • Treatment plan:
    The action you and your doctor discuss and agree on that will help you get better from a sickness or manage a chronic health condition. For example, the treatment plan for someone with high blood pressure may include taking medicine along with changes in diet and physical activity.
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  • Triglycerides:
    A type of fat your body makes. Triglycerides also come from the foods you eat. A lab test can measure the level of triglycerides in your blood. A healthy triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dL.
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  • Underinsured, health insurance:
    You are underinsured if your income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level and medical expenses are greater than 5% of your annual income.
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  • Vegetables:
    Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the vegetable group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut up or mashed. There are five subgroups of vegetables: dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, dry beans and peas, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables.
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  • Vigorous physical activity:
    Any activity that is challenging and causes a real increase in breathing or heart rate. Vigorous physical activity is considered hard and carrying on a conversation is difficult. Examples include jogging, mowing the lawn with a push mower, chopping wood, high-impact aerobic dancing, swimming laps, or bicycling uphill.
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  • Wellness:
    An approach to health and staying healthy that takes into account a person's physical, social and emotional needs.
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  • Whole grain foods:
    Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel: the bran, germ and endosperm. Examples include whole-wheat flour, buckwheat, bulgur (cracked wheat), oatmeal, popcorn, whole cornmeal, whole oats, whole rye, brown rice and wild rice. Be sure to look for the word 'whole' before the name of the grain on the list of ingredients.
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