On a frigid, historically cold morning on January 9, 2010, in Houston, Texas, Life Time Fitness held the “Ride of a Lifetime,” a two-hour long, high-energy outdoor stationary cycle ride. Participants won’t soon forget the day, which saw a low of 20-degrees Fahrenheit and topped out at just 43-degrees. Nor will they forget their role in setting the new World Record for the largest static cycling class in history, as was confirmed by Guinness World Records on February 12, 2010.

Complemented by the sounds of Life Time’s own renowned DJ, Roberto Costa, Life Time Fitness Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Bahram Akradi, led the record-setting 600 participants to secure their place in Guinness World Record history. The Ride of a Lifetime took place at Houston CityCentre, a new 37-acre, self-contained pedestrian community, which serves as home to the state-of-the-art sports, fitness, recreation and spa destination, Life Time Athletic, the Hotel Sorella and a range of retail, dining, office and residential spaces.

Life Time previously held the same record when, on March 23, 2009, 418 participants took part in an outdoor cycle ride at the Life Time Fitness center in Plano, Texas. That record was broken on September 18, 2009, when 450 cyclists participated in a static cycle class in Galway, Ireland.

When it comes to daily health activities such as diet and exercise, Americans and their doctors may not always see eye to eye. According to the new GE Better Health Study conducted with Cleveland Clinic and Ochsner Health System, 92 percent of healthcare professionals (HCPs) surprisingly give Americans far lower grades, “C” or lower, on managing their personal health than Americans give themselves. As the first in a series that will examine healthy living attitudes and behaviors, the study is part of GE’s healthymagination initiative, which seeks to provide better health for more people through technology and innovation.

The GE Better Health Study also asked Americans and HCPs about health and healthy living behaviors and the current state of patient-doctor relationships. The answers revealed that when it comes to daily health activities such as diet and exercise, Americans are not doing as much as they say they are to stay healthy.

For instance, 70 percent of Americans say they have at some point taken actions to avoid going to the doctor, including walking around in pain or asking a friend for medical advice, rather than addressing their health issues. When Americans do go for a checkup, 77 percent of HCPs say one-fourth or more of their patients omit facts or lie to them about their personal health.

“Lifestyle changes that include avoidance of tobacco, regular physical activity, food choices and portion size, and managing stress could decrease healthcare costs more than 40 percent,” said Michael F. Roizen, M.D. Chief Wellness Officer at Cleveland Clinic. As a starting point, get active!”

AMERICANS MORE GENEROUS THAN HCPs IN GRADING THEIR HEALTHY LIVING HABITS

A promising finding in the study is that eight of 10 respondents said eating healthy and exercising regularly are very important to healthy living, and 71 percent said they have a plan for living healthy. However, while one-third give themselves an “A” grade on daily health specifics including exercise (34 percent), eating healthy (33 percent) and managing stress (30 percent), more than 90 percent of HCPs give them a “C” or lower on these same health specifics.

“It’s crucial for people to take ownership of their health if they want to maintain it. This is not just a question of motivation; we’re seeing a significant doctor-patient communication gap,” said Dr. Joseph Bisordi, Chief Medical Officer, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans. “Health care professionals are eager to help people achieve better health.”

VITAL PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION NOT A TOP PRIORITY

Less than half of Americans know their current cholesterol levels, only one-third know their daily caloric intake, and just 29 percent know their blood glucose level. There is also uncertainty about preventive screenings that could prove life-saving down the road: Nearly half of men (42 percent) find it easier to answer how old residents need to be in their state for a driver’s license versus at what age they should get their first prostate exam, and 30 percent of women say the same about mammograms. In addition, respondents have an easier time answering non-health-related questions than facts about their own health:

• More people (49 percent) know when to change the oil in their car than their current cholesterol level (43 percent).
• More know how many vacation days they have left (47 percent) versus the number of calories they ate yesterday (43 percent).

Though Americans say time is their biggest challenge to living healthier (33 percent), they spend more time each year cleaning their house or thinking about living in a cleaner house (50 percent) than taking care of their personal health (44 percent).

HEALTHYMAGINATION.COM OFFERS CONSUMER INNOVATIONS

In response to the study findings, GE’s healthymagination.com now offers a suite of solutions to help patients partner with physicians to improve their health.

• The Better Health Conversation, developed with WebMD, works to ensure that patients have both the personal information and questions needed to get more out of physician visits. An online “chat” walks users through a series of questions to ask their doctor about their health and identifies information patients should have before they arrive at their doctor’s office.
• The free mobile application “Morsel” provides consumers with a manageable and rewarding program that lets them take a simple step toward better health each day. The application, available for iPhone and Android, suggests easy-to-do health activities and explains why taking these steps is good for your health.
• The Sharing Healthy Ideas platform encourages users to share health news, features and blogs on a variety of sites with others via email, Twitter or by sending to their phone.

“We know Americans want to live healthier, but they are looking for a path to follow,” says Mike Barber, Vice President, healthymagination “Healthymagination is about better health for more people. We’re bringing innovations to consumers so they can refocus on their health and make healthy living activities part of their daily routine. Our goal is for consumers and physicians to be more effective partners through better communication, and a system that encourages continuous learning and improvement.”

OLYMPIANS JOIN GE TO LAUNCH HEALTHYMAGINATION: THE YEAR OF BETTER HEALTH FOR MORE PEOPLE

To promote the use of these tools and build awareness about ways Americans can take charge of their health, two-time Olympic champion and five-time World Champion figure skater Michelle Kwan will kick off the campaign in New York on Feb. 16. A strong advocate for Americans playing an active role in their own healthy lifestyles, Kwan will bring the study findings to life for consumers and encourage Americans to think about their health in new ways in 2010. In addition, Kwan will join Olympic Gold Medalists Scott Hamilton, Angela Ruggiero (current defenseman for U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team) and Martin Brodeur (current goalie for Team Canada Ice Hockey) will be in Vancouver talking to consumers about the importance of healthy living.

Bogus health plans are spreading rapidly around the U.S., defrauding vulnerable consumers anxious for affordable health coverage in a downturned economy, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

Bogus health plans likely are the largest and fastest-spreading insurance fraud against consumers to emerge from the troubled economy. Most states have been forced to issue emergency cease-and-desist orders, lawsuits or other actions.

Some consumers have faced tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills when their fraudulent health plans wouldn’t pay up. At least 12,000 consumers have been victimized nationally. The damage ranges from stolen premiums to large, unpaid medical bills.

Typically, bogus health plans promise full health benefits but deliver lesser products such as:

• Fake coverage that’s worthless;
• Limited-benefit policies that can be nearly useless;
• Medical discount cards that merely offer price breaks on medical services for which buyers pay themselves.

Fraudulent plans exploit a perfect storm of consumer vulnerability: As many as 50 million Americans have no health insurance, and unemployment runs at least 10 percent. With health premiums rising and layoffs continuing, many consumers and small businesses are struggling to find affordable health coverage. Many people thus believe scam sales pitches promising appealing insurance deals, the Coalition warns.

Individual consumers, families, small businesses, seniors and recent immigrants are targeted.

Typically, bogus plans promise full health coverage, affordable premiums, and easy signup despite preexisting conditions.

Victims often must join a fake trade association or union, which reinforces the illusion of affordable and legitimate group health coverage.

The scams pitch with telemarketing, blast faxes, insurance agents, TV ads, emails and event crudely printed signs stapled to telephone poles. Websites encourage easy online signup and enhance the appearance of legitimacy.

Consumers can take action to avoid being scammed:

Back off and do your homework before signing up, especially when pressured;

• Contact your state insurance department to see if the plan is licensed and how many complaints may have been filed against it;
• Insist on receiving the entire policy, not a summary, and understand it thoroughly before signing up;
• Be certain the plan is exactly as advertised: Full health coverage, limited-benefit or medical discount card.

For more information, visit www.InsuranceFraud.org.

As Americans look to keep their fitness resolutions and increase their physical activity, Dr. Bing Liem, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., is hoping to raise awareness of a critical but rare heart condition: congenital malformations of the heart or vascular system, which is to blame for the majority of sudden cardiac deaths in athletes under the age of 40.

“It’s always heart-wrenching to hear news of a young athlete, at the zenith of fitness, dying suddenly on the sports field,” said Dr. Liem, who estimates that up to one in 500 people have inherited heart disease that may predispose them to sudden death. “The fact that many athletes and their parents aren’t cognizant of potential warning signs speaks to the importance of raising awareness of this condition.”

Raise Awareness, Save a Life

According to Dr. Liem, there are seven top warning signs that indicate a patient may be at risk for sudden death from cardiac arrest and should see a doctor for screening:

1. Family history of sudden premature death: Patients with a family member or relative who died suddenly of cardiac arrest under the age of 40 have an increased chance of also carrying the defective genes that cause congenital malformations of the heart.

2. History of heart murmur: Frequent heart murmurs may indicate a possible heart muscle abnormality or damaged and overworked heart valve.

3. History of fainting or near-fainting: Fainting (syncope) or nearly fainting (pre-syncope) at any time could be due to the heart’s impaired ability to pump blood.

4. History of palpitations: The patient experiences noticeable heartbeats that are fast or irregular.

5. Feeling of discomfort in the chest during exertion: When active, the patient feels pressure, pain or discomfort in the chest, indicating a less than healthy heart.

6. Shortness of breath with exertion: The patient is unduly winded by physical activities, indicating also a less than healthy heart.

7. Light-headedness with or without exertion: The patient feels dizzy or faint during physical activity, which can be caused by structural or electrical abnormality in the heart.

Screening Options

If at risk, Dr. Liem recommends a simple screening process to determine risk. The screening involves discussing family history of cardiac arrest, having a cardiologist administer a focused cardiac examination and obtaining an EKG.

“These basic steps can provide a good insight into the young athlete’s heart condition. If any of these assessments raises concern, further tests for the heart will be recommended,” said Dr. Liem, who noted that he is also using newly available genetic tests offered at El Camino Hospital’s Genomic Medicine Institute to determine if patients are carriers of the defective genes that cause congenital malformations of the heart. If diagnosed, patients can use defibrillators and curtail their athleticism to manage the disease, according to Dr. Liem.

Cardiac screening tests are not a mandatory requirement in routine physical exams. In an effort to raise awareness of the condition and provide a potentially lifesaving service, El Camino Hospital has offered a series of free cardiac screening tests to young athletes in the communities of Los Gatos and Mountain View. For more information about Dr. Liem’s next free screening session, click here or go to El Camino Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute event page to see a full list of activities throughout the month.

According to Life University, Millennials (ages 15-27), are overly optimistic about their own health, despite admitting to the same unhealthy habits that have caused chronic illness in previous generations.

On a scale of 1-10, a vast majority (84%) rate their own health higher than a seven and more than a third (38%) rate their health as high as a nine or ten. Millennials also believe that they are healthier than other generations – one in four say they are healthier than their parents now and 61 percent think they will be healthier when they are their parents’ age than their parents are today.

However, even though Millennials think they are healthy, their actual habits predict otherwise. More than half (58%) say they eat junk food several times a week, 50 percent drink soda regularly, 50 percent do not get enough sleep, 44 percent do not exercise on a regular basis, 17 percent smoke cigarettes frequently, 13 percent have unhealthy relationships and six percent drink too much alcohol several times a week.

“The national healthcare debate has triggered endless discussions about cost and access, but very little dialogue about whether the system promotes sustainable health,” said Dr. Guy Riekeman, co-author of the Millennial survey and President of Life University. “Millennials believe they are the healthiest generation, but the reality is that they are no different from their parents. Both age groups have a quick-fix mentality towards health that’s been reinforced by our country’s policies. If Millennials want to avoid the same diseases that are beginning to harm their parents, they must adopt habits that support prevention and wellness. Perhaps then their children will understand what it really means to be healthy.”

These findings are from the first annual edition of Millennial Myopia: What Young Americans Don’t Know About Healthcare, a survey examining the opinions of 1,000 Millennials, defined as ages 15-27, spread evenly across the country, on health, wellness and healthcare reform.

Below are some of the major findings from Millennial Myopia: What Young Americans Don’t Know About Healthcare:

• The Depressed Generation? Nearly one third (28%) of Millennials take medication on a regular basis and 23 percent of those that take medication regularly are on anti-depressants, which was the third most popular drug behind allergy medications and birth control. Twenty percent of Millennials, and 40 percent of Millennials taking medication regularly, think that their life is moving in the wrong direction.
• Millennials Accountable on Healthcare. Thirty-nine percent of Millennials blame insurance companies for the problems with the U.S. healthcare system, while 32 percent blame the federal government. Regardless, 50 percent believe that it is the government’s responsibility to fix the system and only 20 percent look to the insurance industry. The vast majority (85%) of Millennials agree that individual U.S. citizens have a responsibility to improve healthcare by practicing healthier habits. Half (50%) agree strongly with this statement.
• Bad Relationships Coincide with Poor Health. Thirteen percent of Millennials regularly spend time in unhealthy relationships. Those that do are more likely to rate their health below a seven, have a higher incidence of unhealthy behaviors and are more likely to take medication. More than half (57%) of Millennials who are in unhealthy relationships and who take medication on a regular basis, believe that they are overmedicated.
• Women Are Hard on Themselves. Women place a higher level of importance on factors for good health than men do: nutrition (84% v. 74%), regular exercise (71% v. 67%), positive personal relationships (68% v. 57%), and preventative care (65% v. 51% percent). Despite knowing what it takes to be healthy, fewer women rate their health a 9 or 10 and they are more likely to let outside factors, such as financial pressure, family commitments and time restraints impact their decisions.
• Primary Care Doctors, Parents Greatly Influence Millennial Health. Most (64%) say primary care doctors have the most influence on their heath decisions, followed closely by their parents (60%).
• Prevalence of Chiropractic. Twelve percent of Millennials say that they have visited a chiropractor within the last year. Older respondents, those who rate their health a 9-10 and women are more likely to see a chiropractor. Of those who see a chiropractor, most (75%) do so for back pain, but a sizable group (40%) see a chiropractor for preventative care. Sixty percent say that alternative care practitioners have some influence over their health decisions, 18% of which say that impact is a major one.

A new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds that reducing unemployment and creating new jobs are clearly considered the top immediate priorities for President Obama and Congress, but healthcare reform is still important. Half of U.S. adults say it will be a “bad thing” if there is no major reform of the healthcare system in the next two years.

These are some of the results a Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll of 2,075 adults surveyed online February 3-5, 2010 by Harris Interactive.

This survey was conducted on the heels of Scott Brown’s election into the Massachusetts Senate –which some say sent a loud message against the current healthcare reform efforts, followed by the President’s State of the Union address, where he reiterated the importance of this initiative.

Although a substantial 50% to 27% plurality want to see health reform in the next two years, the public is split on whether the reform proposed by the President and the Democrats should be passed.

The Republicans in Congress and the healthcare industry are seen as mainly to blame for failure to pass a healthcare reform bill now – not President Obama. Obviously, this is less true for Republicans, who blame the Democrats in Congress. There are very large differences between Republicans and Democrats on all these issues, with Democrats much more strongly in favor of pushing hard for major reforms.

“The public is clearly split, with Republicans on one side and Democrats on the other, as to how hard the president should push for health care reform,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll. “The president’s stated intention to push ahead is likely to be popular with most Democrats, but will probably remain so only if he and Congress can deliver significant legislation. Failure to do so could be very damaging.”

Overall, and specifically for Independents, controlling the out-of-pocket costs of healthcare and health insurance is now seen as the most important aspect of healthcare reform. Results vary for Democrats and Republicans individually:

For Democrats, the most important is to ensure more people have health insurance.

For Republicans, the most important is not increasing taxes to pay for health reform.

Independents have become the swing votes in America, and how they feel could be an important indicator of where things will go. “But, if the debate drags on without a clear outcome,” said Taylor, “the more ‘health reform fatigue’ will increase, which is likely to help Republican candidates in the November elections.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $119 million to states and U.S. territories to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking-the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. This money supports the one of several components in the Department’s comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, which is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Our goal through these statewide projects is to help make healthy choices the easier choices for all Americans, no matter where they live,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “When we improve obesity-related and tobacco policies, we make it that much easier for people to eat right, to get more physical activity, and to avoid or stop smoking.”

The more than $119 million in funding — provided to 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six Pacific territories — will focus on efforts to help communities and schools support healthy choices through a variety of methods including using media to support healthy food and beverage choices and increased physical activity, and increasing access to healthy choices and safe places to be active.

Awards will also support efforts to increase tobacco cessation through quit-lines and media campaigns and additional funding was provided to 13 states to support special initiatives.

Awards to states and territories are in three major categories:

1. Statewide policy and environmental change. All 58 applicants will receive funding for efforts in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control. The state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico award amounts range from $335,801 to $2.2 million. Territory award amounts range from $99,980 to $100,000.

2. Competitive special policy and environmental change. Thirteen states were funded to implement 15 projects. The award amounts range from $1 million to $3 million per state.

3. Tobacco cessation through quitlines and media. CDC received applications-from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. 53 applicants will receive funding to expand tobacco quit-lines in concert with expanded cessation media campaigns. The award amounts range from $50,000 to $2.5 million. 53 applicants will receive funding to expand tobacco quit-lines in concert with expanded cessation media campaigns. The award amounts range from $50,000 to $2.5 million.

Awards for other Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiatives, including community-based health promotion initiatives, will be announced in the coming weeks.

To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery.

Diet Coke and Heidi Klum are joining forces once again. For the third consecutive year Diet Coke is partnering with Klum and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in a national heart health awareness campaign called The Heart Truth. To bring heart health into the spotlight during February, American Heart Month, Diet Coke will distribute special limited-edition packaging in support of the campaign. For her part, Klum will return to the runway for the Diet Coke sponsored Red Dress Collection Fashion Show on February 11, the popular kick-off to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

“The Heart Truth movement is near and dear to my heart, and I’m honored once again to join Diet Coke as their ambassador for the program,” said Klum. “This year I want to inspire even more women and their families to make choices that promote stronger, happier and healthier hearts.”

Diet Coke packaging will have a new look in February. The limited-edition packaging will graphically depict one person’s journey from heart health awareness to empowerment to advocacy. The Heart Truth’s Red Dress logo will also appear on more than 6 billion packages of Diet Coke throughout the year.

“The Heart Truth campaign celebrates healthy lifestyle choices, which have become increasingly important to Diet Coke consumers. In the third year of our partnership with the NHLBI, we are proud that we can continue to play an important role in this educational conversation,” said William White, Brand Director, Diet Coke North America. “One of the tips from NHLBI is to maintain a healthy weight. Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine is an essential approach to maintaining a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle. And with no calories and great taste, Diet Coke is not only an excellent choice for managing calorie intake, it also provides refreshment and hydration that helps our consumers be their best throughout the day.”

The Heart Truth campaign has helped raise awareness that heart disease is the #1 killer among women to nearly 70 percent compared with 34 percent in 2000 before the campaign was first introduced.

On Tuesday, February 9, kidney patients from across the state of Georgia will join Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) – a national, non-profit, patient-led organization representing approximately 1,300 members in Georgia and 22,000 members nationwide – in holding a briefing at the State Capitol, followed by a series of meetings with lawmakers and staff, urging the passage of key legislation this year that would help thousands of Georgia’s kidney failure patients who are struggling to access health insurance for the medical care they need.

The legislation – S.B. 316, sponsored by State Senators Don Thomas (R-Dalton) and Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) – would provide the opportunity for approximately 2,000 Georgia end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and disabled patients under the age of 65 to access Medigap secondary coverage. Under current federal law, all Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65 are already able to purchase Medigap, which provides them with access to needed medical treatments, including kidney transplant, without cost being a barrier. Patients and kidney care advocates will ask lawmakers to extend the same coverage to Georgia’s ESRD and disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65.

If Georgia passes this important legislation, fewer people will be forced to “spend down” their assets to enter the state Medicaid program, resulting in Medicaid savings of up to $20 million over the next five years for Georgia and protecting taxpayers from higher program costs.

A significant majority of U.S. employers believe health care reform, if enacted, would lead to higher costs for both employer-sponsored benefit programs and health care services overall, according to initial results from an employer survey conducted by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health. A separate Towers Watson survey of U.S. employees found that a majority of workers think health reform will not only lead to higher costs, but decrease the quality of care and reduce the benefits available to them.

“Although the status of legislative health care reform is currently in limbo, it’s clear that employers and employees alike are concerned over the potential impact reform could have on health costs and their benefit programs,” said Ron Fontanetta, Towers Watson Health and Group Benefits practice leader for Intellectual Capital Development. “While health reform could ultimately provide greater access to health care to more Americans, there is a fair amount of skepticism over whether health reform will be able to curb rising health costs.”

The Towers Watson – National Business Group on Health survey found that nearly three-fourths (71%) of employers believe health reform will increase the overall cost of health care services in the United States, while 69% believe it will increase the cost of their benefit programs. Additionally, more than one-third (35%) say health reform will lead to fewer employers offering subsidized benefits. Nearly half (46%) of employers believe it will decrease employer-sponsored offering of retiree medical benefits, while very few — only 5% — say it will increase, and just 27% of employers say it will cause no change.

“These survey data confirm quantitatively what many people — employers, employees and policy pundits — have been talking about for the past four months. That is, whatever else a health care reform plan might do, it is unlikely to control health care costs, which has everyone worried,” said Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health.

On balance, there are some pluses and some minuses in employers’ views and expectations from health care reform. On the one hand, roughly one-fourth (27%) believe it will lower health care quality and decrease the value of benefits that employers offer, but 39% and 40%, respectively, say it will have no change in these areas. On the other hand, a majority (71%) believe health care reform will increase access to health benefit coverage. In other encouraging outcomes, 34% believe it will increase transparency of provider prices, and 30% say it will increase the transparency of provider quality. Additionally, just over one-third (34%) believe health care reform will increase adoption of total replacement consumer-driven health plans (CDHP) by large employers, while only 9% believe adoption will decrease, and 27% believe there will be no change.

The separate Towers Watson survey of approximately 1,000 workers at midsize and large U.S. companies found similar concerns over health reform. Two-thirds (67%) believe health reform would result in higher benefit costs, while more than one-half (54%) believe it would reduce their available benefits and lower the quality of health care (53%).

This survey also found that 40% of employees would not be comfortable purchasing their own insurance in the reformed markets as an alternative to getting coverage through their employer. The current legislation proposals include a mandate for all individuals to have health insurance coverage, which ultimately could impact employees who currently receive insurance from their employer — if the employer decides to terminate the company plan and pay into the system instead.

“All eyes remain on Congress, and there will likely be trade-offs in whatever final legislation emerges from their negotiation process,” said Steve Raetzman, senior consultant for Towers Watson. “However, with or without health care reform, employers will continue to look for ways to control rising health care costs and provide high-quality health care for their workers and families.”