Managing What Matters Most – Your Health
Managing your health can be different for everyone. We’re here to support you. The more you and your care team know about what matters to you, the better we can work together to make the best decisions about your health.
Need a referral?
If you or a family member are interested in any of the programs below, please fill out our online Wellness Programs Referral Form to get started. For assistance, contact your care manager or call our Member and Recipient Service line at 1-800-962-9003.
Chronic Conditions
A chronic condition is a health condition that lasts for a year or more and requires ongoing care. These conditions can be illnesses like diabetes or asthma. Or they can be conditions like high blood pressure (hypertension). Intellectual/ developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries are also considered chronic conditions. Chronic conditions can’t usually be cured but they can be managed with treatment and care. People with some chronic conditions may need to take medication regularly and change their lifestyle. Changes with eating or exercise habits can also make a positive difference for some chronic conditions.
Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Many people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
Take the online 60-second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test from the American Diabetes Association to see if you are at risk. 60-second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test
The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed. We can help connect you to programs that work on healthy eating habits, ways to reduce stress, and how to increase your physical activity. Talk to your care manager or care coordinator about ways we can help.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It means that your body does not use insulin properly. Some people may manage type 2 diabetes with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, while others may need medication.
Learning how to manage diabetes is key to staying healthy. Your care manager or care coordinator can help you learn how to monitor your blood sugar, understand symptoms, and use medications as prescribed. Your care team can work with you to create a plan to lower your blood sugar levels. The plan may also include tips for healthy food choices, setting physical activity goals, and learning coping skills for when you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
There isn’t a cure for asthma yet, but there are strategies and treatments for managing it. Vaya Total Care’s asthma management program helps you learn how to control your asthma and prevent future attacks.
An asthma action plan is a document that helps you understand how to control your asthma. It can include information to help you identify your asthma triggers, steps to take if your symptoms get worse, medicines to take based on your signs, and more.
Your care manager and doctor can work with you to develop an asthma action plan. Talk to your care manager or care coordinator to learn more.
If you have high blood pressure (HBP), you’re not alone. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have HBP or are taking medication to treat it.
Vaya can help you understand more about high blood pressure and steps you can take to lower yours. From managing your medications as prescribed to adding exercise to your daily routine, we can provide support for lifestyle changes that keep you healthy.
The American Heart Association provides interactive resources and helpful tools on their website, like a blood pressure tracker.
Intellectual/developmental disabilities are chronic conditions that can impact learning and daily living. Most of these conditions begin at birth or during childhood but some can happen because of injury, infection, or other causes.
Vaya supports individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to live where they choose, spend their day the way they want, be part of their community, and be more independent. Learn more about the services and supports available through Vaya Total Care.
Traumatic brain injuries are chronic conditions that affect how the brain works. They can be caused by bumps or blows to the head or other blunt force trauma. People with traumatic brain injuries may experience physical or mental challenges.
Vaya offers services and supports for individuals with traumatic brain injuries through Vaya Total Care, a Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plan. Learn more about Vaya Total Care and what services and supports may be available.
Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases (illnesses) are caused by germs like viruses or bacteria. Some infectious diseases spread when someone coughs or sneezes. Infectious diseases can lead to serious health problems. The more we know about infectious diseases, the better we can understand how to prevent getting and spreading them.
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. People with COVID-19 usually experience symptoms like a cold or the flu such as fever, chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, congestion, and body aches. The disease spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets that contain the virus and those particles are breathed in by another person or land on their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The CDC provides guidance to lower your risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 and to lower the risk of severe illness if you get sick.
Influenza (flu) is an illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. People who have flu often experience feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and tiredness. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Influenza is different from the “stomach flu,” also known as viral gastroenteritis, which affects the intestines and causes symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and sometimes a low-grade fever. It is usually not as serious as the flu and usually resolves on its own.
The CDC offers up-to-date information about seasonal influenza activity, as well as guidance for lowering your risk for getting flu.
HCV is the virus that causes hepatitis C, a liver infection. HCV spreads through contact with infected blood. Contact can happen in several ways, including sharing injection needles and passing from an infected pregnant person to their unborn child. Hepatitis C often becomes chronic (long-term) and requires treatment. Without treatment it can lead to serious health problems such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Many people with HCV have no symptoms. Those with symptoms may experience fatigue (tiredness), sore muscles, joint or stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice). Since not everyone will have symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone age 18 and older get tested at least once in their lifetime. People who currently inject drugs or medication should get tested regularly. People who are pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.
Although there is no vaccine to prevent getting the virus, there are treatments that can cure most people infected with HCV.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, making it harder to fight infections. HIV is passed from person to person through certain bodily fluids. It is most commonly transmitted through sex or by sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment used to inject drugs or medications. HIV cannot spread through saliva, sweat, or tears, or through sexual activity that doesn’t involve the exchange of bodily fluids.
HIV may begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, or muscle aches, but sometimes infected people have no symptoms at all. Medication can be taken to stop HIV progression. People who do not receive treatment for HIV may develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
There is no cure for HIV today. However, with proper treatment the virus can be managed and allow a person with HIV to live a long, healthy life and reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
HIV can affect anyone, but certain factors can put some people at higher risk than others. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. The CDC recommends testing at least once for everyone between the ages of 13 and 64. People at higher risk should get tested at least once a year.
If you think you may be infected, talk to your health provider or care team about getting tested. For information on the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program or other programs and local supports available to you, contact your care manager or care coordinator.
Learn more information about HIV.
HIV/AIDS Hotlines
North Carolina Hotline: 1-919-361-8488
National Hotline: 1-800-232-4636
