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If you have high blood pressure, it is important to manage
it. The best strategy may be to make lifestyle changes
--eating healthfully, exercising regularly, controlling your
weight and managing stress. If you have elevated cholesterol,
the good news is that you can lower you cholesterol by
reducing the fat in your diet, increasing you physical
activity and managing the stress in your life. It is
recommended that, beginning at age 20, you have your
cholesterol measured at least once every five years. Here are
programs and resources to help you manage your blood pressure
and cholesterol
Pathways to Change
Pathways To Change ("PTC") is a 9 to 12-month targeted healthy life-style program for individuals deemed to be
at risk for heart disease and/or stroke due to the presence of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, a Body
Mass Index >30 or pre-diabetic conditions. The PTC program is a stage based program and works with the participant
at their level of readiness to change in order to lower relevant risk factors. The PTC program is operated by
Duke's Life for Life Program.
Who can join?
Any Duke employee who is eligible for full health benefits and who:
- Has high blood pressure (Top 140 or above, and/or Bottom 90 or above)
- Has high blood cholesterol (240 or over)
- Has high blood sugar (160 and above non-fasting)
- Overweight/Obese (A Body Mass Index >30)
How do I join Pathways To Change?
You join after attending a HealthCheck (a thirty minute health assessment). If your blood pressure and/or cholesterol
meet the above criteria when you are seen at HealthCheck, you are offered to the PTC program. When space is available a
PTC leader will contact you about the program. Employees who have not had a recent HealthCheck and learn that they have
high blood pressure or high cholesterol at a blood pressure or cholesterol screening, fitness evaluation, Doctor's office,
Employee Health Office or by self-testing can arrange to have a HealthCheck. To schedule your personal HealthCheck call
LIVE FOR LIFE at 684-3136 option 1 or stop by our office located in Duke Clinic, Red Zone - Room 04290, Monday - Friday,
7:30 am - 5:15 pm.
How will the Pathways to Change leader help me with risk factor(s)?
The PTC leaders are experts in your risk factor(s). They are trained to help you in a brief ten minute contact every
month for one year. Once a month your leader will call you for a ten minute phone counseling session. Four times a
year, your PTC leader will meet with you on your break at your worksite or they will meet you at the LIVE FOR LIFE office
in Duke Clinic — Red Zone, Room 04290. Your blood pressure or cholesterol will be checked four times during the year
to give you feed back about how you're doing.
Your leader has up-to-date information about how you can lower your risk factor. He/she will support you in your efforts
to change what is within your control.
Why would Pathways to Change be helpful to me if I've tried changing my lifestyle to be healthier in the past and failed?
Our leaders are specially trained to help you make behavior changes. At PTC we know how hard it is to let go of old
familiar habits even when it's clear that they are unhealthy. When changing a behavior, most people try and fail more
than once-- relapse is the rule rather than the exception. We can show you how to learn from and use these past experiences.
I see my doctor regularly. What else can Pathways to Change do for me?
PTC does not take the place of your medical provider. Each participant is highly encouraged to see a health care
provider regularly. Your PTC leader will work with you on changing behaviors related to your health risk factor.
You will receive up-to-date information and support to make realistic changes that can reduce your risk factor.
This program is designed to come to you in the work place.
What is expected of me when I join Pathways to Change?
- I will be available for quick, focused 10-minute conversations once a month for one year.
- Four times a year, I will meet one-on-one with my leader, either at my worksite or the LIVE FOR LIFE office at Duke Clinic
- I will work hard at improving my health.
- I will stay in touch with my personal physician or other health care provider
- I will take part in monthly/quarterly biometric measurement to track my progress
- At the conclusion of program, I will attend an end-of-program HealthCheck.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The PTC program does not take the place of a patient's physician or medical provider. Each participant
will be strongly encouraged to visit a qualified health care professional on a regular basis for ongoing medical maintenance
and/or regular check-ups. The PTC program goal is to work with the program participants to educate and motivate them with
the goal of lowering their health care risk factors through changing behaviors.
Brochures
Brochures
and handouts in Adobe PDF format*.
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