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  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/blood-glucose-levels.jpg

    Blood Glucose Levels: Get Curious

    Dinner is almost ready and it's that time again. You unzip your black pouch to take out a glucose meter. As you pull back the lever of the lancet, you think, "Gosh, I hope my blood sugar isn’t high again.” Blood glucose testing is vital f...
    • 10419 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/social_2D00_anxiety_5F00_680x320_5F00_connect.jpg

    Are You Paralyzed by Social Anxiety? Learn the Best Ways to Manage It.

    Do you have a friend who always bails when you make plans? They may not be trying to avoid you. That can happen when people have social anxiety. Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a long-term mental health issue. It affects...
    • 11624 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/5086.hiking.jpg

    Summer Heat Safety Reminders

    Staying safe during hot summer months isn’t hard. There are steps you can take to protect yourself. Drinking lots of water and wearing sunscreen isn’t enough. Here are three things to know to keep summer fun. UV Rays Can Hurt You Ultravi...
    • 10331 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/behavioral_2D00_health-depression.png

    Depression and Anxiety: Different and Similar

    One in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health issue. You likely know people who experience depression or anxiety. Some people have both. They are different health problems, but share some of the same warning signs. Help is available for...
    • 6481 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/skin_2D00_health.jpg

    Care for Your Skin in the Summer Sun

    Growing up, many of us skipped sunscreen. Decades ago, we weren't as savvy about the sun's dangers. It was normal for my dad to turn a darker shade of brown after playing soccer games in the intense summer heat. I followed suit. I also tanned nicely...
    • 12988 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/silent-heart-attack.jpg

    Men’s Health: Do You Know the Signs of a Silent Heart Attack?

    Think you know what you’d feel like if you were having a heart attack? Think again. Silent heart attacks, known as a silent myocardial infarction (SMI), account for 45 percent of heart attacks. And they are more likely to strike men than women.....
    • 42662 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/medicine_2D00_safety.jpg

    Prescription or Over the Counter: Follow Directions to Stay Safe

    Medicine can help your health in many ways. From over-the-counter (OTC) 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. O...
    • 12959 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/4-steps-whole-body-fitness.jpg

    4 Simple Steps for Better Whole-Body Fitness and Function

    Most people focus on one or two types of exercise and think they’re getting what their body needs. But there are four types of exercise you need to help your body function at its best: endurance, strength, balance and flexibility, says the Nati....
    • 11242 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/lung-health.jpg

    Inhale. Exhale. What Your Lungs Do for You.

    Breathe in. Breathe out. It’s something that we do every day, every waking minute. It relaxes us, wakes us, and keeps us alive. The lungs are part of the respiratory system — organs and tissues that work together to help you breathe, says...
    • 6231 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/3755.HugsValue.jpg

    A Hug Only Takes 10 Seconds, Yet the Benefits Last Forever

    Fun fact about hugs: They don’t just give you a warm, fuzzy sense of well-being — they can also be good for your health. It’s true. Hugging for just 10 seconds can boost feel-good hormones like oxytocin. Often called the &ldqu...
    • 60364 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/back-pain.jpg

    Keep Back Pain from Being Such a Pain

    You may have a dull ache in your back that just won’t go away. Or you may feel a sharp, sudden pain that stops you in your tracks. Either way, you want the pain to stop. Back pain can come from accidents, overuse and injuries like lifting some.....
    • 23664 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/1033.2050020_5F00_sep_5F00_social_5F00_media.jpg

    Living With High Blood Pressure

    Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure — also known as hypertension. Only about one in four adults with high blood pressure have it under control. Are you one of them? Learning to manage your blood pressure ca...
    • 23841 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/VisionExam.jpg

    The Eyes Have It: Protect Them with Routine Eye Exams

    Eye exams are a great way to keep an eye on your health. Along with making sure you get the right prescription for glasses or contact lenses, they can be a real ‘eye opener’ when it comes to your health. Your eyes aren’t just windo...
    • 11631 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/2475.stress.jpg

    The Impact of Stress if You Have Diabetes

    Traffic was a beast. You lost your phone. A few zeros seem to be missing from your bank balance. When you feel stressed, your body produces two hormones that raise your blood sugar — adrenaline and cortisol. Both are linked to the bod...
    • 22366 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/BrandS_2D00_family_2D00_farmersmarket.jpg

    Where You Live Matters to Your Health

    Does it matter how close you live to a grocery store? Can it affect how long you’ll live? What if you don’t have a way to get there? Sometimes it’s more than illness or injury that takes a toll on your health. Imagine this: It&rsquo...
    • 6246 Views

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