Blogs

COPD: When Lungs Break, the Heart Often Follows

BCBSIL Connect Team — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:04:00 GMT

If you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), every breath can be a struggle. COPD is a serious health condition. It is the result of damage to the lungs that narrows airways and makes it very hard to breathe. Over time, it can get...(read more)

Women: Be Healthy and Happy for a Better Life at Any Age

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:03:00 GMT

There’s a not-so-secret way to live better and longer: take care of yourself. But is being physically healthy the only path to living your best life? What about happiness? It turns out happiness improves health and vice versa. The two work toge...(read more)

Ghoulishly Good Tips for a Healthy and Safe Halloween

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:33:00 GMT

The words healthy and Halloween don’t usually go together — for obvious reasons. Halloween is the one time of year when kids let loose and eat as much candy as they can get their hands on. Still, it's possible to give your kids a fun...(read more)

Keep Your Brain Healthy at Any Age

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:48:00 GMT

It’s common to think that forgetfulness and other changes in our brain function are a part of getting older that we just have to accept. But studies show that there are simple steps you can take to help prevent cognitive decline and lower your ...(read more)

Find Out If a Low-Intensity Workout Is Right for You

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:04:00 GMT

There are benefits to stepping away from the “no pain, no gain” approach to exercise. Pushing hard isn’t always safe, and it isn’t necessary for health benefits. Low-intensity motion offers a good workout for most people, help...(read more)

Do You Know How to Outsmart Viruses?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:14:00 GMT

Your chances of catching a viral illness are higher at certain times of year: Back to school. When temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors. Before the fall and winter holidays. At the start of the new year. Now’s the time to find t...(read more)

Memory Changes? Learn When to Seek Help

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:48:00 GMT

You forget a new friend’s name. Forget a haircut date. Forget where you left your car keys. It happens. And it probably isn’t a sign of a serious health issue. But some types of memory loss may be a wake-up call to find out what’s g...(read more)

Is It Cold, Flu, Allergies or COVID-19?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:45:00 GMT

If you have sniffles, sneezes, coughing or sore throat, it can be hard to tell if your symptoms are from allergies, a cold, the flu, COVID-19 or RSV. Until you know for sure what’s causing your symptoms, it’s always good to err on the sid...(read more)

Ease Your Joint Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:17:00 GMT

Aches and pains happen. You sit too much and your back hurts. You get up and down a lot and your knees hurt. Or your neck or hips ache regularly. These aches and pains in your joints or back are common. A joint is the connection between two bones. It...(read more)

Get a Mammogram: Early Detection Saves Lives

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:48:00 GMT

Finding breast cancer early is the best way to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Getting regular screening tests is the best way to find breast cancer early. About 1 in 8 American women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives. Each year...(read more)

Have You Had Your Health Screenings This Year?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:33:00 GMT

Your annual wellness visit and health screenings play an important role in catching small health problems before they become big ones. Add your annual exam and health screenings to your to-do list to make sure they get done. If you still need some of...(read more)

Don’t Be Sidelined by Exercise-Induced Asthma

BCBSIL Connect Team — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:52:00 GMT

David Beckham is one of the best-known soccer players of all time. Roy Hibbert is a two-time NBA All-Star. Swimmer Amy Van Dyken is a six-time Olympic gold medalist. What do these athletes have in common? They all live with asthma. Beckha...(read more)

What Exactly Is Asthma?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:29:00 GMT

In the United States, more than 28 million people have asthma. Nearly 5 million of them are children under the age of 18. Why are children so vulnerable? Asthma is a disease of the lungs that causes airways to swell and narrow. Since children ...(read more)

Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Now What?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:05:00 GMT

About one in eight American women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. What happens when you or a loved one is among them? Breast cancer treatment is a journey. At times, it may seem overwhelming. Take comfort knowing we're here for you. H...(read more)

Looking for a Quick Way to Get Fit?

BCBSIL Connect Team — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:38:00 GMT

If you’re looking to shake up your fitness routine, you have a lot of choices. If you want to raise your fitness level but don’t have a lot of time, a shorter, more efficient workout may be the answer. The Centers for Disease Control and ...(read more)