Keys to Embracing Aging: Know Your Health Numbers

A person’s daily life is flooded with numbers: PIN numbers, phone numbers and various account numbers. But there are also certain health numbers that can save and even extend life. These numbers are associated with cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. A low stress lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, physical and social activity and regular visits to a health care provider can promote these numbers and contribute to healthy aging throughout the lifespan.

Muhlenberg County presented Keys to Embracing Aging: Health Numbers to 7 participants. Of these, 7 completed post lesson evaluations.  As a result of the program, 7 participants reported improved understanding regarding the impact of health numbers on overall health and well-being. 7 reported intentions to implement at least one strategy to improve their health numbers. 

While, 7 reported that they get their health numbers checked by a medical professional once per year, 7 participants reported that they would make an appointment or keep an existing appointment to get their health numbers checked as a result of the program. 7 reported the program influenced them to make lifestyle choices that will improve overall health numbers.         

A valuable program, participants learned to avoid using BMI for measurement and how to measure their waist circumference. All participants will be sent a 30-day follow-up evaluation.  

30-Day Follow-up Keys to Embracing Aging: Know Your Health Numbers Success Story

Keys to Embracing Aging is a Cooperative Extension educational health intervention aimed at improving overall health by focusing on ways in which individuals and families can be empowered to take control of their own lifestyle decisions and behaviors in terms of health and well-being. To demonstrate behavior change regarding health numbers, the program included a 30-day follow-up evaluation.  Of the 7 who were sent follow-up evaluations, 7 were returned. 7 reported that they implemented at least one strategy to maintain or improve health numbers.  Specifically, participants reported that they: lost weight, got current blood work done, and drank more water.

Participant Comments:

·      It has been a very enjoyable time. Mary Beth is a sweet girl and knows what she is doing. She is a very knowledgeable person and has a personality that makes you want to listen and try what she says to do. We all love her and consider her one of us. Thank you for sharing her with us every month.

·      It has been a pleasure to listen to Mary Beth give us great information to help us have a healthier lifestyle.

Participants of Keys to Embracing Aging program received the Blue Zone book to continue learning on how to live a healthy lifestyle.