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Heart Disease Resources

People of all ages need to keep their heart healthy. Eating well, exercising regularly, and seeing your health care provider can help you keep your heart healthy. Work with your healthcare provider and adopt good lifestyle habits to help lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease describes conditions related to plaque building up in the walls of the arteries. Other conditions include arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart failure, and heart valve problems.

What is your risk?

Heart disease can happen to anyone, including children. You can be born with it, and a family history of heart disease may increase your risk.

Most heart disease develops over time due to poor habits such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your provider about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.

What is a good resting heart rate?

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Remember, factors such as age, physical activity, and overall health can affect what is considered your normal resting heart rate.

Talk to your provider if you have concerns about your heart rate.

How does high blood pressure affect heart health?

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes for high blood pressure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • Not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Unhealthy diets, including high amounts of sodium and alcohol

Talk to your provider about how you can lower your blood pressure to help avoid heart disease and stroke.

How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish; avoid having too much salt or sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week
• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at a healthy level
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
Can heart disease be treated?
Yes. Talk to your provider about how to safely reduce the risk of heart disease. You can also talk about setting goals for a healthier heart. Your provider may also prescribe medication.
What are symptoms of a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Be aware of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulder, or back

Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

What can cause Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and meet your body's needs. The following factors may increase your risk of CHF:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor diet
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking and/or using tobacco
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Stress

Talk to your provider to learn more about CHF.

What can cause heart arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Factors that may cause arrhythmia include:

  • Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high
  • Caffeine, illegal drugs, and certain medications
  • Dehydration
  • Low levels of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium
  • Physical activity
  • Strong emotional stress or anxiety
  • Vomiting or coughing
  • Smoke
  • Use illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
  • Drink alcohol more often and more than is recommended (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women)
  • Take certain antibiotics and over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines

Talk to your provider about how to prevent arrhythmias.

Here are some resources to help you prevent or manage heart disease:

 

Managing Blood Pressure Flyer

American Heart Association

 High Blood Pressure Resources Page (CDC)

Heart Health Articles and Videos (Healthwise)

 

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Understanding the Essential Plan: Is It the Right Plan for You?
3/27/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care

 

The Essential Plan is a low-cost health insurance plan through NY State of Health, the Official Health Plan Marketplace. It has no monthly premium, no deductibles, and no or low out-of-pocket costs. The Essential Plan provides medical, dental, and vision coverage. Eligible individuals can include:

  • Lower-income individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Child Health Plus
  • Young adults who no longer qualify for Child Health Plus
  • Individuals who don’t have health coverage through their employer


Which Essential Plan is right for you?
 Your income will determine which plan you are eligible for. For example, the 2025 Income Guidelines for a single individual are:

  • Essential Plan 200-250: Annual income between $31,301 and $39,125
  • Essential Plan 1: Annual income between $23,476 and $31,300
  • Essential Plan 2: Annual income between $21,598 and $23,475

The Essential Plan also offers coverage to lawfully present immigrants in the first five years of their qualified status with incomes at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. These individuals may be ineligible for Medicaid due to non-citizen status. Guidelines for those individuals are:

  • Essential Plan 3: Annual income between $15,650 and $21,597
  • Essential Plan 4: Annual income below $15,650

If you meet eligibility requirements, you can apply for the Essential Plan at any time during the year through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace.
 
What are some of the benefits included in the Essential Plan?

  • Free preventive care, like checkups with your primary care provider (PCP) and routine screenings
  • Dental and vision coverage
  • Immunizations for flu and COVID-19
  • Diabetes coverage
  • Inpatient and outpatient hospital care
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Maternity and prenatal care, including Fidelis Care’s free BabyCare program
  • Fitness reimbursement of up to $400 each year
  • Convenient and cost-saving Mail Order Pharmacy Program
  • Lab tests, X-rays, and more

Visit fideliscare.org/Essential-Plan to learn more about the benefits.


How much does the Essential Plan cost?

The Essential Plan has no monthly premium. Depending on your eligibility, plans have either no or low cost sharing at the time of service.

If you have any questions about the Essential Plan, please contact Fidelis Care at 1-888-343-3547 (TTY: 711). A Fidelis Care representative can answer your questions and help you apply for the Essential Plan. You can also visit fideliscare.org/Essential-Plan.