WYhealth – Health Center

Choice Rewards is an incentive program designed to support your diabetes management efforts. Participants enrolled in Choice Rewards can earn a $25 gift card each quarter, up to $100. To earn a gift card, you will track these items monthly:

• your blood sugar using your glucometer;
• your blood pressure;
• your weight; and,
• check in with your Nurse Care Manager

Every three months, you will:

• answer basic questions about your diabetes over the phone with your Nurse Care Manager;
• keep a Diabetes Health Log;
• check your blood pressure, A1C, and cholesterol;
• schedule doctor visits as needed;
• continue to check in with your Nurse Care Manager; and,
• continue your current program with a Diabetes Educator (if you have one)

To qualify, you must be 18 years old or older and have an A1C of 7 or greater. Your Nurse Care Manager will track the items above to see if you’re successfully participating in Choice Rewards each month in order to know if you’re eligible to receive the quarterly gift card.

Keep track of your medical information! There are several diabetic exams that you will need to “check off” during each doctor visit as well as exams that need to be done each year. This handy Diabetes Health Log will help you track what you’ve done and what is still outstanding. Be sure to bring it with you to all your doctor appointments. Don’t have a printer? Request a paper copy!

Learn more about Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association website.

Learn what causes diabetes and how your family history and lineage plays into it from the American Diabetes Association website.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that someone can develop during pregnancy. When you have diabetes, your body can’t use the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) it takes in as food to make energy. As a result, your body collects extra sugar in your blood. 

To learn more about gestational diabetes while pregnant, there are a couple of resources you might find helpful – please check out Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy from the Centers for Disease Control and Managing Gestational Diabetes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

There are things you can control to prevent pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Learn more from the American Diabetes Association website.

Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing the complications of diabetes. Learn what symptoms to watch for by visiting the American Diabetes Association website.

Eating well is an important part of managing your diabetes. Learn more from the American Diabetes Association website.

Eating healthy to manage your diabetes doesn’t have to be boring or hard. Check out ideas and recipes at the American Diabetes Association website.

Staying active is one of the most important things you can do to manage your diabetes. Learn more at the American Diabetes Association website.

Please bring up these feelings with your doctor, counselor, or someone you are comfortable talking about your feelings with – they will help you! Sometimes we spin around in our heads and forget that there are people who love us, who need us, and who we matter to that would drop what they are doing in an instant if they knew we needed to talk.

A substance use treatment provider is a professional trained to help those using drugs and alcohol and can also help treat root causes of substance use. There are Community Substance Use Treatment Providers available to you, regardless of your ability to pay. These are the professionals who can help you to end dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances.

The link between depression and heart disease is complicated and is the subject of much research. Untreated depression in people with heart disease is associated with more complications and higher risks.

Getting treatment for your depression can help you improve your overall health and manage your heart disease.

Don’t know if you’re depressed? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I lost my zest for life? Am I no longer interested in the activities and hobbies I used to enjoy?
• Am I eating too much or not eating enough?
• Do I have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or am I sleeping all the time?
• Do I feel tired all the time?
• Do I feel guilty, helpless, hopeless, worthless, irritable or restless?
• Am I anxious and sad often?
• Do I have trouble concentrating, making decisions or remembering details?
• Have I had thoughts of death or suicide?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, tell your doctor. You may have depression. Treatment can help.

If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, call your health care professional, 911 or a suicide hotline such as 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), or have someone drive you to your nearest emergency department. If you feel that you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or others, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

If you feel you are in immediate danger of hurting yourself or someone else, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

How is depression treated in people with heart disease?

• Medications. Several antidepressant medications are considered to be safe for use in people with heart disease.
• Psychotherapy. Professional counseling (especially a type known as cognitive behavioral therapy) frequently helps people deal with depression. It may help change negative behaviors and thinking patterns that may contribute to depression.
• Exercise. An exercise program, recommended by your doctor, can help your heart and ease symptoms of depression. Your doctor can tell you what activities are right for you.
• Stress relief methods. Heart disease patients may learn ways to reduce stress, such as meditation and breathing exercises.

Your doctor may recommend one or more of these treatments.

If you have heart disease and think you might be depressed, make an appointment to see your doctor today.

What’s the stress and asthma connection?

Stress doesn’t cause asthma, but it can make it worse in some people. When a person is stressed, he or she may breathe faster and take shallower breaths. This can make asthma symptoms worse and harder to manage.

Recognize your triggers

Asthma is a disease that needs long-term management and medication. Knowing your triggers and having a plan can also help you control the symptoms.

Stress shows up in many ways and varies from person to person. You can learn ways to recognize high stress levels. This may help you better manage your asthma.

Lifestyle changes can help reduce stress

These healthy habits may also help you better cope with stress:

• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Get regular exercise.
• Get enough sleep.
• Have healthy relationships.
• Maintain a weight that’s right for you.

Take it slow

If you’re trying to improve your health habits, don’t try to change everything at once. Focus on one thing at a time. When you feel comfortable, move to another change you want to make.

Talking to family members and close friends about your stress may help, too. If your stress starts to overwhelm you, talk to your doctor or another medical professional for help.

How does stress affect blood sugar?

When you’re under acute stress, your body acts as if it’s being attacked. This fight-or-flight response raises the levels of many hormones in your body, including insulin. Insulin may not be able to let the extra energy into the cells. This can cause glucose to build up in the blood.

Stress management can help

Here are a few ways you can positively cope with stress:

• Get active! Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week and at least two days of strength training. Check with your doctor to find out what activities are safe for you.
• Relax. Breathing exercises, progressive relaxation therapy and mindfulness techniques are some ways to take a break from stress.
• Eat healthfully. These approaches include a Mediterranean-style eating plan, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), plant-based (vegan or vegetarian) and lower-carbohydrate pattern. Work with your doctor or registered dietitian to figure out the best eating plan for you.
• Get support or help. Joining a support group for people with diabetes may help you not feel so alone. Your diabetes care team may have referrals, too.

If your doctor tells you your blood pressure readings are higher than what is considered normal, there are steps you can take to protect your body.

Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly. This allows doctors to treat them early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others. Doctors also can talk to pregnant women about things they can do to give their unborn babies a healthy start to life. Take care of yourself and the life growing inside you:

• Get early and regular prenatal care. Whether this is your first pregnancy or third, health care is extremely important. Your doctor will check to make sure you and the baby are healthy at each visit. If there are any problems, early action will help you and the baby.
• Take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid every day. Folic acid is most important in the early stages of pregnancy, but you should continue taking folic acid throughout pregnancy.
• Ask your doctor before stopping any medicines or starting any new medicines. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. Keep in mind that even over-the-counter medicines and herbal products may cause side effects or other problems. But not using medicines you need could also be harmful.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods, and foods low in saturated fat. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
• Get all the nutrients you need each day, including iron. Getting enough iron prevents you from getting anemia, which is linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. Eating a variety of healthy foods will help you get the nutrients your baby needs. But ask your doctor if you need to take a daily prenatal vitamin or iron supplement to be sure you are getting enough.
• Gain a healthy amount of weight. Your doctor can tell you how much weight gain you should aim for during pregnancy.
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. These can cause long-term harm or death to your baby. Ask your doctor for help quitting. For help quitting tobacco products, visit the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program. They even have a pregnancy and postpartum quit program!
• Unless your doctor tells you not to, try to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. It’s best to spread out your workouts throughout the week. If you worked out regularly before pregnancy, you can keep up your activity level as long as your health doesn’t change and you talk to your doctor about your activity level throughout your pregnancy. Learn more about how to have a fit pregnancy.
• Don’t take very hot baths or use hot tubs or saunas.
• Get plenty of sleep and find ways to control stress.
• Get informed. Read books, watch videos, go to a childbirth class, and talk with moms you know.
• Ask your doctor about childbirth education classes for you and your partner. Classes can help you prepare for the birth of your baby.

Your doctor will give you a schedule of all the doctor’s visits you should have while pregnant. Most experts suggest you see your doctor:

• About once each month for weeks 4 through 28
• Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36
• Weekly for weeks 36 to birth

If you are older than 35 or your pregnancy is high risk, you’ll probably see your doctor more often.

During the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor to:

• Ask about your health history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnancies
• Ask about your family’s health history
• Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test
• Take your blood and urine for lab work
• Check your blood pressure, height, and weight
• Calculate your due date
• Answer your questions

At the first visit, you should ask questions and discuss any issues related to your pregnancy. Find out all you can about how to stay healthy.

Later prenatal visits will probably be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected.  Most prenatal visits will include:

• Checking your blood pressure
• Measuring your weight gain
• Measuring your abdomen to check your baby’s growth (once you begin to show)
• Checking the baby’s heart rate

While you’re pregnant, you also will have some routine tests. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV, and other factors. Other tests might be offered based on your age, personal or family health history, your ethnic background, or the results of routine tests you have had. Visit the pregnancy section of our website for more details on prenatal care and tests.

There’s breast pumps, and spit up, and diapers – oh my! While there are so many adjustments to life with Baby, the most important thing is YOUR and BABY’S health.

Your doctor needs to monitor you as you heal and if you don’t already have your postpartum checkup(s) scheduled, please call your doctor and get that on the calendar.

WYhealth has a webpage full of helpful information to support your postpartum health – after baby and beyond!

Among those who use marijuana/cannabis, most believe it is “natural” and “plant medicine” and that it’s “inherently safe.” Many professional organizations such as: the Food and Drug Administration, American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advise that pregnant people avoid marijuana/cannabis use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding your newborn. Studies have shown that there are risks and complications to Baby that include: fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, small for gestational age, risk for stillbirth, higher admission rates for neo-natal intensive care, neonatal withdrawal symptoms, disruption in brain development, reduction in verbal and visual reasoning, memory and attention deficits…

Learn more about pregnancy and marijuana use. Or, find out more about the affects of cannabis on a developing brain.

“No matter how marijuana/cannabis is consumed (smoking, vaping, or ingesting), its byproducts can be found in the breast milk.” Learn more about cannabis and breastfeeding.

If you are interested in decreasing/stopping your marijuana use, please talk to your doctor at your next appointment.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that someone can develop during pregnancy. When you have diabetes, your body can’t use the sugars and starches (carbohydrates) it takes in as food to make energy. As a result, your body collects extra sugar in your blood. 

To learn more about gestational diabetes while pregnant, there are a couple of resources you might find helpful – please check out Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy from the Centers for Disease Control and Managing Gestational Diabetes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

You have a choice when it comes to planning a family. You can decide how much space you want between children and the size of your family – or if this is your only pregnancy! Family planning can help you and your family have a better life!

• Mothers and babies have a better chance of being healthy
• Parents can better provide for their family, both financially and emotionally
• Children receive more time and attention

It’s important to talk to your doctor about future family planning. The Wyoming Department of Health offers the Pregnant by Choice Program for women transitioning off of the Pregnant Women Program. For more information, visit Pregnant by Choice.

Wyoming Hand in Hand is sponsored through the Public Health Division as a home visitation program where a nurse comes to your home and visits with you about your pregnancy and then after delivery – how things are going after bringing Baby home. The nurse will support you and your family through Baby’s 2nd birthday! The goal of the program is to help Wyoming families raise healthy babies in a healthy home!

The nurse will help you with understanding Baby to promote bonding and attachment and work through healthy topics like: nutrition, social support, and physical activity for you and Baby. The program can help you develop a budget, support you to solve problems that come up in your life, screen you for postpartum depression, and intimate partner harm in order to connect you with additional support and resources that you may need.

You can visit the Wyoming Hand in Hand website for more information. Or, if you know you’re ready to be a part of the FREE program, please complete the referral questions, and Wyoming Hand in Hand will reach out to you!

The doctor will want to also monitor Baby through regular checkups. The first checkup will likely happen within a week of birth and the doctor will ask questions about the first few days at home with Baby. Ongoing, these checkups will cover physical exams, immunizations, and tracking Baby’s growth and development – exciting! There is more information on what the doctor will cover during Baby’s checkups and how often these visits will be scheduled.

The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses Well Child Checkups because, “Regular checkups are an important way to keep track of your child’s health and physical, emotional, and social development. These visits are important for ALL children, including children and youth with special health care needs who may also be under the care of specialists. Your conversations can range from sharing your successes and milestones, to overall concerns about child development, to challenges in daily routines.

Think of these visits as your chance to learn as much as you can about the best ways to help your child grow. By focusing on your child’s growth and learning, both you and your health care professional make sure your child is developing as expected.”

At a glance, an exam might include: vision screening, dental screening, hearing screening, physical exam (height, weight, general exam), developmental and behavioral screening, healthy diet counseling, health education for parents and teens, substance abuse education, and more!

Immunizations are also an important part of a Well Child Checkup – the American Academy of Pediatrics has this handy Immunization Schedule that will let you know when your child should expect to receive them.

To learn more about how to prepare for the Well Child Checkup, what to expect during your checkup, and what happens after the checkup is over, please check out this Family Tip Sheet!

Visit our webpage for more information on Well Child Checkups!

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends certain vaccines based on age.

Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades recomienda vacunas para su hijo sugún su edad.

Learn more about asthma and some simple steps you can take to live better with it by visiting the American Lung Association.

Find out more about the signs of asthma, what causes it, and what puts you at risk.

Learn how doctors diagnose asthma and take care of it by visiting the American Lung Association.

Get the most out of your doctor visits and make sure you fully understand your asthma diagnosis. You might find these questions for your doctor as a helpful guide during your next visit!

Visit the American Lung Association for asthma support, resources, and videos!

Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, your doctor might recommend a lung test or procedure. Learn more by visiting the American Lung Association.

What is cholesterol and what does it do? Find out by visiting the American Heart Association.

When plaque clogs your arteries, it’s called atherosclerosis. Learn more about atherosclerosis.

The American Heart Association will help you understand what your cholesterol numbers mean.

There are some beliefs about cholesterol that aren’t true. Learn more by visiting the American Heart Association.

Cholesterol – the good and the bad. Find out more by vising the American Heart Association.

You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol numbers.

Your body naturally produces all the LDL (bad) cholesterol it needs. An unhealthy lifestyle makes your body produce more LDL cholesterol than it needs. This is the cause of high LDL cholesterol for most people.

Behaviors that can negatively affect your cholesterol levels include:

• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke
• Being overweight or obese

Learn more by visiting the American Heart Association.

A simple blood test will tell you your cholesterol numbers. Find out more by visiting the American Heart Association.

Eating a heart-healthy diet is one way to control cholesterol. Find out more ways to prevent and treat cholesterol by visiting the American Heart Association.

Learn ideas and tips on how to better manage your cholesterol by listening to a podcast! Listen as you walk through your neighborhood and get some exercise!

Learning about COPD and its treatments can help you feel more in control. Visit the American Lung Association to learn more.

Early detection of COPD is the key to successful treatment. Visit the American Lung Association to learn more.

Understand how doctors know you have COPD and how to take care of it. Visit the American Lung Association to learn more.

You can find support to help you make lifestyle changes and manage your COPD. Visit the American Lung Association to learn more!

Get the most out of your doctor visits and make sure you fully understand your COPD diagnosis. You might find these questions for your doctor as a helpful guide during your next visit!

Visit the American Lung Association for COPD support, resources, and videos!

Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, your doctor might recommend a lung test or procedure.

Doctors usually group patients according to their symptoms. Visit the American Heart Association to learn about the different types of heart failure and different classes of heart failure.

Learn about heart failure in children and adolescents by visiting the American Heart Association.

Who develops heart failure and why? Learn more by visiting the American Heart Association.

Think you or a loved one may have heart failure? Learn more about the signs by visiting the American Heart Association.

Learn how your doctor determines you have heart failure by visiting the American Heart Association.

Your doctor says you have heart failure. Learn more about the treatment by visiting the American Heart Association.

Learn more about living successfully with heart failure by visiting the American Heart Association.

Find downloadable and interactive resources by visiting the American Heart Association.

Real patients share their experiences. Visit the American Heart Association to learn more.

Everyone in Wyoming has access to the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program called Quit Wyoming. It offers Wyoming residents free access to online quit tools, support from other tobacco users who are trying to quit, and other info to help you quit tobacco for good.

Make sure your children are up-to-date on the recommended child and adolescent immunizations!

Make sure you’ve got all the recommended adult immunizations!

The Wyoming Outdoor Recreation webpage will give you lots of ideas of how to enjoy our beautiful state!

Guidance on COVID-19 changes rapidly. To get the most up-to-date information at a state-level, please visit the Wyoming Public Health website.

For updates at the national-level, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses Well Child Checkups because, “Regular checkups are an important way to keep track of your child’s health and physical, emotional, and social development. These visits are important for ALL children, including children and youth with special health care needs who may also be under the care of specialists. Your conversations can range from sharing your successes and milestones, to overall concerns about child development, to challenges in daily routines.

Think of these visits as your chance to learn as much as you can about the best ways to help your child grow. By focusing on your child’s growth and learning, both you and your health care professional make sure your child is developing as expected.”

At a glance, an exam might include: vision screening, dental screening, hearing screening, physical exam (height, weight, general exam), developmental and behavioral screening, healthy diet counseling, health education for parents and teens, substance abuse education, and more!

Immunizations are also an important part of a Well Child Checkup – the American Academy of Pediatrics has this handy Immunization Schedule that will let you know when your child should expect to receive them.

To learn more about how to prepare for the Well Child Checkup, what to expect during your checkup, and what happens after the checkup is over, please check out this Family Tip Sheet!

Visit our webpage for more information on Well Child Checkups!

Are you up-to-date on your health screenings? Health care providers recommend certain screenings at different times in your life. Keeping up with these screenings is important to your ongoing good health because finding problems early is one of the best ways to fight against diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart problems. Most preventive care, including some recommended screenings, is covered at 100% by Wyoming Medicaid benefits.

1. Below, you will find some recommended screenings based on your age and gender for breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening.
2. Confirm which screenings you and your family may need, such as annual checkups, immunizations or well child visits.
3. Call your doctor to schedule an appointment, if needed. It you don’t have a doctor, please use our “Find a Doctor” tool.

Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Once you turn 50, you should get a mammogram every 2 years. If your family has a history of breast or ovarian cancer, talk with your doctor.

Call your doctor to schedule an appointment, if needed. It you don’t have a doctor, please use our “Find a Doctor” tool.

A Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix which may turn into cancer. The HPV test looks for the virus (human papillomavirus) that can cause these cell changes. Pap tests also can find cervical cancer early, when the chance of being cured is very high. Get a Pap test (or Pap smear) every 3 years If you’re between 21 and 29 years old. If you’re 30 or over, you can get screened every 5 years if you get a combination Pap test and HPV test.

Call your doctor to schedule an appointment, if needed. It you don’t have a doctor, please use our “Find a Doctor” tool.

You should begin regular screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50. You may need to be tested earlier than 50, or more often than other people, if:

• You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
• You have an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
• You have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

If you think you are at increased risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor.

Call your doctor to schedule an appointment, if needed. It you don’t have a doctor, please use our “Find a Doctor” tool.

To learn more about what causes stroke and what happens during a stroke visit the Centers for Disease Control.

Learn about the three main types of stroke by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

Fast treatment can lessen the brain damage that stroke can cause. Learn more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

The key to stroke treatment and recovery is getting to the hospital quickly. Learn more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

The recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone. Learn more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

What puts men at risk for stroke? Find out by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

What puts women at risk for stroke? Find out more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

You can take steps to lower your chances of having a stroke. Learn more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

Look for ways to prevent stroke. Learn more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control.

Read real life stories from those who have survived stroke.