Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Wed, December 15, 2010
Tue, December 14, 2010
Health Net Joins National Campaign to Raise Awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the Workplace
LOS ANGELES--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Health Net, Inc. ] (NYSE: HNT) today announced that it has joined DRIVE4COPD to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and help the campaign reach its goal to screen one million people who may be at risk.
"We urge our members to take the DRIVE4COPD screener and talk with their physicians about the results. Early detection is vital for the best treatment."
COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, and is the fourth leading cause of death and the second leading cause of disability in the U.S. An estimated half of the 24 million people in the U.S. who may have COPD remain undiagnosed, according to the COPD Foundation. Many people are not diagnosed until they have lost half their lung function. When COPD is found early, there is much that can be done to treat and help manage the disease, say groups like the American Lung Association.
To help reach the amissing millions,a Health Net will promote DRIVE4COPD on its website, [ www.healthnet.com ], at its Community Solutions Centers, as well as with its extensive network of health care providers and numerous community organization partners.
Common Symptoms of COPD
According to the COPD Foundation, symptoms of COPD can include coughing, with or without mucus, and/or shortness of breath. As COPD progresses, symptoms tend to get worse and more damage occurs in the lungs. Breathing gradually becomes more difficult until people with COPD feel like they are inhaling and exhaling through a small straw.
aUnfortunately, these symptoms can often be confused with normal signs of aging, and patients may misunderstand or minimize the symptoms and neglect to mention them to their health care provider,a said Jonathan Scheff, M.D., chief medical officer for Health Net. aWe urge our members to take the DRIVE4COPD screener and talk with their physicians about the results. Early detection is vital for the best treatment.a
Who is at Risk?
The DRIVE4COPD campaign encourages everyone over the age of 35 who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes to take a brief, [ five-question screener ] to identify his or her COPD risk.
aCOPD kills one person every four minutes and more people each year than breast cancer and diabetes in the U.S.,a said John Walsh, president of the [ COPD Foundation ]. aWorking with Health Net to screen millions of people across the country where they work will increase our chances of encouraging people who are at risk to talk to their doctors so they can take action for their health management.a
Since launching in February 2010, the DRIVE4COPD campaign has screened more than 525,000 people, using the scientifically validated screener. With the support of Health Net, DRIVE4COPD has the potential to reach more than 3.1 million people.
Founding sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is working with a cross-section of organizations to help elevate awareness of COPD on a national scale, including the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American Lung Association, and the COPD Foundation. DRIVE4COPD is the official health initiative of NASCAR®.
The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider for any questions you may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health care providera™s instructions.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. is among the nationa™s largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The companya™s health plans and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.0million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Neta™s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health benefits to approximately 5.4 million individuals in all 50 states. The companya™s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs. For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the companya™s website at [ www.healthnet.com ].
