Category: Brandpoint

2018-03-08T15:01:00

(BPT) – If you’re indulging in too many break room snacks or swinging by the drive-thru after work, you’re not alone. With such a busy life, it’s easy to grab something quick and unhealthy on the go. But, the good news is, it’s also easy to make changes in your diet that will reap powerful health benefits in no time.

Here are 10 easy ways to eat healthier:

Start small. You don’t have to completely overhaul your diet in a day. Start with small things, like taking your lunch to work instead of eating out, cutting down on soda or getting a new cookbook of healthy recipes to inspire you.

Plan your meals. On the weekend, plan your breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the upcoming week, and then head out to the grocery store, and do your shopping so you’ll have everything you need on hand.

Cook at home. When you eat out, even when opting for the “healthy” items on the menu, you could be getting hidden doses of salt, sugar and fat. When you cook at home, you can control exactly what you’re eating, down to the nutrient. It’s healthier for your pocketbook, too.

Explore your health insurance discounts. Many health plans offer resources, discounts and incentives for leading a healthier life. Participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies, for example, have the Blue365 program, which features a variety of health and wellness products and services. Members can save everyday on online deals, including discounts on Retrofit private weight-loss programs, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, healthy cookbooks by Holly Clegg, and more.

Eat the rainbow. Colorful foods are packed with nutrients. Red foods help heart health and improve memory. Orange foods are good for your eyes, yellow foods help with digestion and brain function, purple foods are powerful antioxidants and green foods are good for your eyes, musculature, bones and teeth. All fight cancers. And they’re pretty on the plate. Win-win!

Slash the sodium. Lowering your sodium intake can help lower your blood pressure and get rid of water weight. But it’s not as easy as putting down the salt shaker. Sodium lurks in places you’d least expect it. Some surprisingly high-sodium foods: raw chicken (if it’s been pumped up with a solution), pre-cooked frozen shrimp (usually processed with salt), condiments like ketchup and mustard, smoked anything and cottage cheese.

Watch your sugar. Too much sugar leads to weight gain, abdominal obesity, low HDL and high LDL, elevated blood sugar and a whole host of other problems. But like salt, sugar can hide in foods you might think are healthy, including instant oatmeal, jarred pasta sauce, smoothies, flavored yogurt and salad dressing. A good rule of thumb: Read the label, and if it has a double-digit sugar count, ditch it.

Meatless Mondays! Going vegetarian one day a week is a great way to get more veggies into your diet. Swap the burger for a plate of grilled or roasted veggies drizzled with balsamic vinegar or a big, colorful salad. Just don’t pack on the refined carbs like white bread, pasta or potatoes in place of the meat.

Eat anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich foods. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radicals, and eating foods rich in them slows aging, gives you healthier skin, a longer lifespan and reduces cancer risk. Berries, nuts and seeds, fish, olive oil, broccoli and green leafy veggies are antioxidant powerhouses.

Practice mindful eating. Go all Zen with your food. Focus on what you’re eating, how you’re nourishing your body, and how much you enjoy the taste of the food. Eating at your desk, in the car or in front of the TV makes it more likely you’ll overeat.

For more information about how Blue365 can help you get healthier, visit www.blue365deals.com.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index^sm. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit BCBS.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out our blog.

Blue365 offers access to savings on health and wellness products and services and other items that may be purchased from Blue365 Vendors, which are different from covered benefits under your policy(ies) with your local Blue Company, its contracts with Medicare, or any other federally-funded healthcare program. To find out what is covered under your policy(ies), contact your Blue Company. The products and services described on Blue365’s website are neither offered nor guaranteed under your Blue Company’s contract with the Medicare program. In addition, these products and services are not subject to the Medicare appeals process. Any disputes regarding your insurance products and services may be subject to your Blue Company’s grievance process. BCBSA may receive payments from Blue365 Vendors. Neither BCBSA nor any Blue Company recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees any specific Blue365 Vendor’s product or service available through the Site.

*Note to Editors: Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies participating in Blue365 are in the following states: AZ, AR, DC, DE, FL, IL,IA, KS, LA, MA,MD, MI, MO, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY,OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® also participates in Blue365.

2018-03-16T12:01:01

(BPT) – As millennials become more conscious of how their diets affect their daily well-being, they’re driving demand across all generations for greater transparency in the food supply chain. They want to know how their foods were raised, sourced, processed and prepared.

“Sometimes, food is more than food,” report authors of a Nielsen study, indicating 75 percent of adults worldwide think they “are what they eat” and nearly 80 percent use foods to forestall health and medical issues.

Cargill recently conducted a Feed4Thought survey related to how these millennial-driven trends are shaping values related to food — and buying behaviors — for people of all ages.

1. Buying food based on how animals were raised

Consumers report being three times more likely to purchase protein if they know it was raised with natural health supplements. And 58 percent of U.S. consumers are more concerned about food animal welfare now than they were just a few years ago, according to a recent report by researcher Packaged Facts.

2. More emphasis on gut health

Nutritionists are increasingly learning about the role of the stomach and its microorganisms in maintaining our health. The foods we digest reportedly have a profound effect on our balance of “good and bad bacteria,” the soundness of our immune systems and our brain’s release of feel-good chemical serotonin, according to the NCBI. And supplements can be effective as well. In the Cargill survey, 80 percent of respondents report adjusting or supplementing their diets to achieve better gut health.

3. A desire for animals to use the same health supplements humans do

Millennials want to know the origins of their food, and that includes understanding what their meat sources have been fed. A December survey found 62 percent of millennials prefer their animal proteins to have been raised with the same supplements ingested by humans — like probiotics, plant extracts and essential oils. “People want natural, wholesome and sustainable ingredients,” notes Chuck Warta, president of Cargill Premix and Nutrition. “We’ve seen a rise in the popularity of digestive health supplements for humans, echoed in the demand for protein raised with natural supplements.”

4. Bigger emphasis on protein

Eighty-seven percent of U.S. millennials (and 99 percent of those who are college grads) consider protein important to their diets, says one study. And worldwide, a Nielsen report found 34 percent of millennials rate high amounts of protein a very important element in their decisions of which foods to buy. Nutritionists are finding new ways to meet the increased demand for proteins to address the growing world population and their desire for protein-rich diets.

While millennials have been the forerunners in driving new and healthier dietary trends in recent years, their initiatives have spread across all generations to improve awareness and make us all more conscious of exactly what we’re eating.

“It’s important for the animal agriculture community to remain in touch with food trends so we can continue to provide the choices consumers demand,” concludes Hannah Thompson-Weeman of the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

Cargill, a longtime leader in producing sustainable and wholesome foods, recently acquired two companies that specialize in natural, research-proven animal feed products. Read more about the company’s “Feed4Thought” survey at Cargill.com.

2018-03-08T08:01:00

(BPT) – From work to working out, kids’ activities to household tasks and so much more, modern life has never been busier. The problem is hectic schedules can lead to unnecessary stress.

If you’re one of the many people who feel frazzled on a regular basis, you’re probably longing for a vacation or a day at the spa. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to cut stress that you can sneak into everyday life. From mealtime to bedtime, if you start embracing small moments to be more mindful, you’ll be surprised how fast you can cut down on overall stress.

Here are five simple examples of how you can find your own moments of Zen today:

1. Take a 5-minute walk.

Whether it’s getting fresh air or just getting yourself moving, a change of place and pace can reduce stress and give you a few moments to relax, especially during hectic times. For example, take a 5-minute break while dinner’s cooking to walk around the block. Weather not right for a walk? Give your body a quick stretch with an at-home yoga session.

2. Find quick-and-easy solutions.

If making dinner for your family seems like a daunting task, choose quick-and-easy options designed to take the hassle out of meal prep, like SeaPak’s Shrimp Scampi or Popcorn Shrimp. The frozen food aisle is a great place to begin your journey toward finding your happy place in the kitchen. Here, you can find a variety of products that taste great and require minimal prep work, so you can dedicate more time to doing the things you love, like spending quality time with your family.

3. Choose quality over quantity.

Make the most of your time each day by being intentional with your activities. Whether it’s playing a new board game with the kids after dinner or watching a TV show with your spouse, small quality moments can help you relax and enjoy yourself and your family when at home.

4. Take time to reflect.

When using great-tasting, low-hassle products like SeaPak to make dinner, you’ll be spending way less time in the kitchen. Take those extra moments to reflect on everything you accomplished during your day or week. This will help give you a sense of pride and is a real confidence-booster.

5. Break from technology.

Take a break from technology, even if it’s only for 5 minutes. Set down your phone, turn off the television and step away from all electronics. Just giving your mind a break from the active world of technology can reduce stress and help you mentally reset, especially during mealtimes, where being present is particularly important.

These are just five simple examples, but moments of Zen can be found anywhere if you take the time to look for them. Remember, the little moments are what make the biggest impact in life, and by embracing mindfulness, you’re setting the stage to be able to focus on what really matters.

2018-03-15T14:01:00

(BPT) – Most of us who are aging hope to live comfortably and self-sufficiently at home well into our golden years. And, of course, we wish the same for our parents.

The good news is advancements in healthcare and other technology are increasingly allowing aging Americans to live longer at home. The bad news is many are unable to continue to do so once they take a serious fall at home, injuring their hips, heads or other body parts. That’s an all-too-common problem: One in four Americans age 65 and older fall each year, and falling once doubles their chances of falling again, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Falls also are the number one cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.

“We treat many older patients who lived happily and productively at home until they tripped and broke a hip,” notes orthopaedic trauma surgeon and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) spokesperson Lisa Cannada, MD. “A broken hip or other fall-related injuries make it difficult for people to live at home again without assistance of some kind and loss of independence. With a little foresight and planning, many of these injuries could be prevented.”

Several steps can be taken to prevent debilitating falls from ever taking place. Consider how the following tips may help you or your loved ones hold on to the comforts of home for a longer period of time:

* Recognize your risk. A number of health issues can make you or your parents more prone to falling, ranging from arthritis to neurological conditions to vision or hearing loss. Various medications, the use of alcohol or simple dehydration may also affect your ability to safely navigate your surroundings. But the more you’re aware of such possible hindrances, the more you can plan for them.

* Optimize your health. Take responsibility for staying as healthy and fit as possible by remaining active, drinking enough water, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking and eating a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Annual physicals, eye exams and bone density tests are recommended. Make exercise a priority, and choose something that you enjoy to maintain your bone health and coordination.

* Fall-proof your home. Walk through your home and that of your parents to identify and fix possible hindrances such as slippery surfaces, inadequate lighting, cluttered pathways, unsecured rugs, electric cords, loose flooring, etc. Consider installing grab bars in the shower, securing loose rugs with slip-resistant backings and installing bright motion-detector lights. You also might move clothes, kitchenware and other everyday gear within easier reach. The AAOS and Orthopaedic Trauma Association offer additional tips in this Falls Awareness and Prevention Guide.

* Wear the right shoes. Limit footwear to well-fitting, low-heeled shoes or slippers with rubber or other non-skid soles. Also watch for untied shoelaces.

* Maintain an action plan. If you live alone, have someone check on you daily. If you do fall, you may avoid further injury by using your arms to protect your head instead of trying to break your fall. If possible, fall on your side or buttocks and roll slightly. If you can’t get up after bracing yourself on a wall or furniture, call a friend, relative or 911 for help. Finally, consider wearing a medical alert device 24-7; you never know where and when you’ll need emergency help, and your cell phone may not always be available.

Many aging Americans are able to enjoy long, productive lives in their own homes instead of turning to other accommodations. Increase your chances of making that happen for you and your parents by taking steps to plan for and avoid an injury-producing fall. Find more tips at orthoinfo.org/falls.

2018-03-07T16:01:00

(BPT) – There’s no denying that prescription drug coverage and medications can be complex territory.

Enter UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement’s Chief Pharmacy Officer Mike Anderson, PharmD, who has spent his career navigating the ins and outs of the Rx world.

Below, Anderson answers some common questions people ask about drug coverage and prescriptions.

Q. What’s the difference between PDP and MA-PD plans?

A. Original Medicare doesn’t provide coverage for most prescription drugs, so for help paying for medications, you have two options: a standalone Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) in addition to Original Medicare or Original Medicare and a Medicare supplement plan; or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MAPD). Medicare Advantage plans can include additional benefits like dental, vision and hearing coverage, and combine your coverage into a single plan. Both plans are offered by private insurance companies contracted by Medicare.

Q. How do I know if my prescriptions are covered by my Medicare plan?

A. Whether you get coverage through Medicare Advantage or a standalone Part D plan, each has a formulary, a list of prescription drugs covered. You’ll want to look closely to make sure your medications are covered. Health insurers post plan formularies online, or you can call your plan to request a printed version. Keep in mind that plans can change from year to year, so don’t assume that prescription drugs covered this year will always carry over.

Q. How can I save money while remaining on my medications?

A. There are many ways to do that:

Home-delivery pharmacy benefits can save money and a trip to the pharmacy. Some mail-order pharmacies offer the convenience of ordering a three-month supply of drugs delivered to your home for less than purchasing at a retail location.

If you prefer to visit a pharmacy, check if your plan offers programs or preferred pharmacy networks to help you save on prescriptions.

Switching to generic drugs or drugs on a lower tier of the formulary is another step that could save money. If you are taking brand-name medications now, discuss generic alternatives with your doctor.

Q. Can I split my pills in half?

A. Talk to your doctor about whether pill-splitting for your medication is medically advised. Also, consult your pharmacist on whether the actual pill form presents risks. Some pills are dangerous when split, because splitting affects how quickly the drug is released into your body. Other pills become ineffective when split, because the pill contains a coating to protect it from stomach acid, and splitting the pill breaks that coating.

Q. I take a lot of pills daily. One I take three times a day. Some I just take once. I get busy and forget to take my pills. Can I just take them all in the morning?

A. It’s important to take your medicine as your doctor prescribed it. Some medications need to be taken at specific times to be effective. Plus, taking all your medications at one time can be dangerous as you run the risk of potential adverse interactions, side effects and even overdosing.

Q. I drink smoothies with supplements and take vitamins. Can these have a bad interaction with my prescriptions?

A. That’s a great question. If an iron supplement was added to the smoothie, for example, that could reduce the effectiveness of thyroid medication and medication for reflux disease. Talk to your pharmacist and doctor about vitamins and supplements to learn if they could cause a reaction or make your medications less effective.

Q. I just got my medication refilled. It used to be a different color and shape. Why does it look different?

A. More than likely, the pharmacy you use bought their supply from a different manufacturer. Drug companies that make the same medication must keep the chemical formula the same but may change the shape or color. As long as you verify it’s the same medication and dose, it should work just like before. If you have concerns, talk with your pharmacist.

For more information to help you navigate prescription drug coverage, visit MedicareMadeClear.com.

2018-03-15T09:21:01

(BPT) – –

2018-03-07T11:31:00

(BPT) – The majority of Americans wouldn’t think that walking to their car after work is a difficult task, but that wasn’t the case for Michele Norris. Before her heart failure diagnosis and treatment, Michele found herself leaning on a co-worker while walking to her vehicle, taking frequent breaks along the short route.

She knew something wasn’t right. Michele, a 62-year-old budget director, noticed shortness of breath and swelling in her legs, limiting her daily routines. She decided to take action and talk to her doctor. After a few conversations, Michele was eventually diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, or HFrEF, a chronic and progressive condition affecting millions of Americans, though few know much about it. After discussions with her cardiologist, Michele was prescribed ENTRESTO^® (sacubitril/valsartan), a heart failure medicine that helps improve the heart’s ability to pump blood to the body.

“Being diagnosed with heart failure was terrifying, but I learned how to trust my gut, and raise a flag when something feels off,” said Michele. “Taking steps to change my diet and stay active, and adding ENTRESTO to my regimen has helped me stay out of the hospital, although everyone’s experiences are different.”

Michele is passionate about helping others with HF and encourages them to keep all of their doctor appointments, and to be an active partner with their doctors when choosing a treatment plan – which includes medication and lifestyle changes.

Learn more at www.entresto.com

What is ENTRESTO?

ENTRESTO (sacubitril/valsartan) tablets 24/26 mg, 49/51 mg, 97/103 mg is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with certain types of long-lasting (chronic) heart failure. ENTRESTO is usually used with other heart failure therapies, in place of an ACE inhibitor or other ARB therapy.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about ENTRESTO?

ENTRESTO can harm or cause death to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other ways to treat heart failure if you plan to become pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking ENTRESTO, tell your doctor right away.

Who should not take ENTRESTO?

Do not take ENTRESTO if you

• are allergic to sacubitril or valsartan or any of the ingredients in ENTRESTO
• have had an allergic reaction including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat (angioedema) or trouble breathing while taking a type of medicine called an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
• take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Do not take ENTRESTO for at least 36 hours before or after you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking ENTRESTO if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine
• have diabetes and take a medicine that contains aliskiren

What should I tell my doctor before taking ENTRESTO?

Before you take ENTRESTO, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have kidney or liver problems or a history of hereditary angioedema; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should either take ENTRESTO or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take potassium supplements or a salt substitute; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); lithium; or other medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems such as an ACE inhibitor, ARB, or aliskiren.

What are the possible side effects of ENTRESTO?

ENTRESTO may cause serious side effects including:

• angioedema that may cause trouble breathing and death. Get emergency medical help right away if you have symptoms of angioedema or trouble breathing. Do not take ENTRESTO again if you have had angioedema while taking ENTRESTO. People who are Black or who have had angioedema and take ENTRESTO may have a higher risk of having angioedema
• low blood pressure (hypotension). Call your doctor if you become dizzy or lightheaded, or you develop extreme fatigue
• kidney problems
• increased amount of potassium in your blood

The most common side effects were low blood pressure, high potassium, cough, dizziness, and kidney problems.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, available at: https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.pharma.us.novartis.com/files/entresto.pdf.

Patients are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

2018-03-14T16:09:00

2018-03-14T14:17:00

(BPT) – One in every four people is affected by anemia, a condition that occurs when the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells.^1,2 Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen throughout the body, ensuring the body has energy and can function properly.³ Symptoms may vary in severity and can be acute or chronic. Further, many patients present with chronic anemia as a result of other health conditions — cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, or blood or bone marrow disorders — which each come with their own challenges.^2,4,5 For those with chronic anemia associated with other diseases, life after diagnosis often means adjusting to a new “normal.” Dizziness, trouble breathing and overall tiredness experienced by many with anemia may mean adjusting work schedules, changing exercise regimens, limiting social activities and generally slowing down.²

Kathleen Weis, chief executive officer of The Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness International Foundation, calls it the “elephant in the room.”⁶

“Chronic anemia impacts a person’s daily activities. For many, it means not being able to do the things they used to — like going to work or helping around the house. Symptoms, fatigue in particular, can be debilitating,” Weis explained.⁶

For patients, this may necessitate relinquishing aspects of independence. An increasing reliance on caregivers is one of the hardest transitions people living with chronic anemia face. It’s an entirely new learning process and is often coupled with the guilt of knowing there’s an added burden on family members and caregivers. Patients may even experience depression at one point or another.⁷

“It’s a double whammy in terms of emotions. Both patients and caregivers are learning how to deal with the changes,” Weis said. “We put a lot of focus on mindfulness and positivity to help patients and their families through these challenges, in addition to educating about treatment. We believe in treating the body and mind together.”⁶

This March marks the first ever Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Month, an extension from the weeklong observance The Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness International Foundation has organized in previous years. Webinars and conferences throughout the month will offer learning opportunities on a wide variety of topics for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.

Research is another core focus for the Foundation. Treatment options for patients with chronic anemia are limited, and the organization is trying to make sure researching new approaches is seen as a priority. One of the most common treatments is red blood cell transfusions; a process by which donated blood is infused into a patient’s bloodstream.² Frequency of transfusions depends on disease severity, but some patients may need to be transfused as often as every two weeks.^2,8 This is challenging as transfusions are cumbersome, costly and associated with risks.

“Frequent blood transfusions require numerous visits to the doctors, which can be inconvenient for both patients and their caregivers. We would like to see new treatments that not only improve patient outcomes, but may also address current burdens,” said Weis.⁶

Despite the challenges they face, Weis notes that the patients she meets are resilient. “They want you to know they are still very much moving forward and this thing — this disease — is just something they are dealing with each day.”⁶

For more information about The Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness International Foundation or Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Month, visit http://www.aamds.org/.

REFERENCES:

1. Pasricha, SR. Anemia: A Comprehensive Global Estimate. Blood. 2014;123(5).
2. American Cancer Society. Anemia in People With Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/anemia.html. Accessed March 2018.
3. American Cancer Society. Blood Transfusions for People with Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/blood-transfusion-and-donation/what-are-transfusions.html. Accessed March 2018.
4. Smith, Jr., R,E. The Clinical and Economic Burden of Anemia. Am J Manag Care. 2010; 16:S59-S66.
5. Gunnar Birgegård. Managing Anemia in Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2008;4(2):527–539.
6. Interview with Kathleen Weis. Conducted by Marissa Vitha and Danielle Kroft for the Celgene Newsroom, January 2018.
7. Korkmaz S, Yildiz, S, et al. Frequency of anemia in chronic psychiatry patients. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:2737–2741. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S91581.
8. Langhi, Jr., D., et.al. Guidelines on Beta-thalassemia major – regular blood transfusion therapy: Associac¸ão Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular: project guidelines: Associac¸ão Médica Brasileira – 2016. Brazilian Journal of Hematology and Hemotherapy. 2016;3:8(4):341–345.

2018-03-14T11:31:01

(BPT) – More than 20 years ago, as Jennifer Digmann focused on completing her coursework and graduating from college, she began experiencing numbness in her hands and feet and eventually double vision.

After several visits to her primary care doctor, an ophthalmologist and finally a neurologist, she received the diagnosis: multiple sclerosis (MS).

Today, Jennifer lives with a progressive form of MS, a chronic disease that often strikes in the prime of life, has no cure and is the leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults. Progressive forms of MS are the most debilitating. Like others who are affected, Jennifer’s symptoms have continued to worsen over time and her level of disability has increased.

Approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. are living with MS, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Up to 15 percent are diagnosed with a progressive form of the disease (called Primary Progressive MS), and the majority of those diagnosed with Relapsing MS will transition to a progressive form later in life, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

For Jennifer, handling her sadness and fear and accepting her diagnosis was almost as challenging as her symptoms. People living with progressive forms of MS tend to experience more difficulties with walking and remaining in the workforce, and they require more assistance with everyday activities, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Progressive forms of MS remain frustratingly difficult to treat, primarily because doctors do not fully understand why the disease progresses. Also, many clinical trials for new medicines have been unsuccessful. More research is needed to better understand the underlying biology driving this condition, as well as to develop additional treatment options.

On March 28, 2018, the first ever Progressive MS Day was celebrated by several MS advocacy groups and state governments around the country. This annual day of awareness was created with the goal of recognizing people living with progressive forms of MS, offering support, highlighting resources, programs and services, and, most importantly, calling for further research to advance their care and reduce disability.

Jennifer and her husband, Dan, who himself lives with Relapsing MS, count themselves among the most enthusiastic supporters of Progressive MS Day. As a couple, the Digmanns have dedicated their lives to inspiring and helping others living with MS by sharing their own experiences and perspectives through their blog and radio show.

“My life is not perfect always, but it’s pretty darn good. This disease, my multiple sclerosis, doesn’t hold me back,” says Jennifer.

Seeing the challenges that Jennifer faces with her condition made Dan excited about Progressive MS Day. “Finally, there’s something for people with the progressive forms of MS. Now, hopefully, that opens the door for more awareness and resources, and that’s why a day like this is pivotal,” says Dan.