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How to Keep Your Hardworking Lungs Healthy

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

Your lungs help you breathe. But they do much more. They help you fight infections. They help your other organs work. They do so much for your overall health — and they need your protection. Your lungs are easily harmed. Anything you breathe in....
- 21527 Views
10 Ways Alcohol Affects Your Body

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

Even small amounts of alcohol can have a big effect on your body. From the very first sip, alcohol enters your bloodstream and quickly travels through your body. Based on your age, gender and health, it may stay there for two hours or longer. During...
- 72672 Views
Help Overcome Opioid Use Disorder with Medication-Assisted Treatment

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is an ongoing health crisis in the United States that can affect anyone, no matter your race, income level or gender. An estimated 6.1 million people in the U.S. age 12 and older have OUD. The good news is OUD is treatable...
- 3403 Views
Think You May Be Depressed? A Screening Can Help

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

If you feel down for weeks or longer, and it keeps you from doing your normal, everyday activities, it could be depression. You don’t have to just accept feeling that way. There are steps you can take that may help. What Is Depression? Depressi....
- 51863 Views
Learn About Different Levels of Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

Would you know what to do if a friend or family member needed help with a mental health or substance use issue? What kind of help would they need? Who could help? Not knowing what to do can be scary and confusing. But there are many things you can...
- 28166 Views
Early Detection Helps Prevent Deaths from Breast Cancer

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

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...
- 85201 Views
Prescription or Over the Counter: Follow Directions to Stay Safe

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2026

Medicine can help your health in many ways. From over-the-counter medicines to prescription medicines that treat life-threatening conditions, medicine can have a major positive impact. But only if it’s taken — and taken correctly. Over a ...
- 13823 Views
Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team February 24, 2026

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or...
- 19516 Views
How Fiber Helps Keep You and Your Heart Healthy

BCBSIL Connect Team February 20, 2026

Just about everyone knows eating fiber is a key in keeping you regular in the bathroom. But that's just one benefit of the foods in this essential category. It’s true. High fiber foods make you poop. They also have a role in preventing heart di....
- 9574 Views
Are Your Knees Telling You They Need Help?

BCBSIL Connect Team February 12, 2026

Millions of people deal with aching knees. It’s one of the most common health problems, and it affects people of all ages. Some hope the problem will just go away. And for a minor injury like a strain, time and rest may help. But some people ma....
- 17202 Views
Bipolar Disorder Explained

BCBSIL Connect Team February 9, 2026

About 6 million adults, teens and children have bipolar disorder (BD) in the U.S. It’s often diagnosed before the age of 25, and it is a lifelong condition. Not All BD Is the Same There are actually four types of BD. With bipola...
- 2327 Views
Make Your Child's Smiles Sparkle

BCBSIL Connect Team February 9, 2026

A child’s mouth is important for many parts of their life — eating, speaking, learning and even self-esteem. Starting healthy habits early sets kids up for a healthier adulthood. Here are a few ways kids can keep their smiles bright,...
- 75 Views
What Is an A1C Test, and Why Does It Matter?

BCBSIL Connect Team February 9, 2026

If you have diabetes, you know you need to check your blood sugar regularly. But do you know you also need an A1C test? Blood glucose numbers only give a quick snapshot of blood sugar control at certain times of day. You may think your blood sugar...
- 25190 Views
Keep Your Child Healthy with Regular Well-Child Visits

BCBSIL Connect Team February 9, 2026

Parents take their children to the doctor when they’re sick. But regular well-child visits to a pediatrician or other health provider are just as important. Getting those checkups and recommended vaccinations help keep children healthy. What Is....
- 14237 Views
Catch Colon Cancer Early with Screenings

BCBSIL Connect Team February 9, 2026

Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Americans and the second leading cause of death from cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. Screenings can catch it early when it’s trea....
- 61162 Views