Blogs

You Have Options for Safely Managing Your Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:47:00 GMT

There are many ways to treat pain so that you can enjoy a better quality of life. Learning your options can help keep you safe while still allowing you to do what matters to you. Start by talking to your doctor about ways to manage your pain th...(read more)

Is Vaping Worse Than Smoking? Health Risks of E-Cigarettes Explained

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:19:00 GMT

One of the worst things you can do for your lungs and your overall health is to smoke. But many still don’t know that vaping is also dangerous. While experts expressed concern from the start, not everyone got the message. What Is Vaping? Vaping...(read more)

Let’s Clear the Air About Lung Cancer Screening

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:02:00 GMT

Every cigarette shaves 11 minutes off your lifespan. When you quit smoking, you give yourself more time to do the things you enjoy with the people you love. The minute you stop smoking, you start lowering your risk for lung cancer — the leading...(read more)

Diabetes Care Checklist: Important Tests, Exams and Screenings

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:57:00 GMT

No one likes to go get health screenings and tests. But if you have diabetes, there are some tests you really need to get done. It’s critical to follow your plan of care, but it can be a lot to keep track of. Is there anything you’r...(read more)

Do One Thing for a Longer, Healthier Life

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Better health can be yours at any age. And it may be easier than you think to make the changes that will have a positive effect on your health. We all know we should eat a healthy diet. But you may not know just how big an impact what you eat and dri...(read more)

Why Does My Stomach Hurt? Common Causes of Digestive Problems

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:29:00 GMT

Why does your stomach hurt? It’s a good question — and a common one. Millions of Americans have at least one type of digestive problem. Some problems come and go, while others can upset your whole life. There are many different kinds of d...(read more)

The Link Between Nutrition and Brain Health

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:38:00 GMT

You’ve likely heard the cliché a million times — “You are what you eat.” So you might nosh on foods reported to lower your blood pressure, strengthen your bones or burn belly fat. You might even load up on brain food t...(read more)

How Does a Drug Become a Generic: Facts vs. Myths

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:56:00 GMT

Taking a generic drug is not like buying a store-brand soap. With soap, you might notice a difference. It may smell different. You may need to use more than the brand-name product. That is not true with generic drugs. When companies make a new ...(read more)

Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Symptoms and Support Resources

BCBSIL Connect Team — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:22:00 GMT

Look around and you’re bound to see a lot of caregivers. In the U.S., 1 in 4 adults are family caregivers. They may be caring for elderly parents, a sick spouse or disabled child. Caregiving in the United States is on the rise. According to AA...(read more)

Review How to Inject Insulin with Your Doctor

BCBSIL Connect Team — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:25:00 GMT

When, where and how you inject your insulin affects your blood sugar levels. Whether you’re new to injecting insulin or have been doing it for many years, it’s crucial that you do it properly. To help you stay on top of your condition, ta...(read more)

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)