Connect Community

The Impact of Stress if You Have Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team April 12, 2024

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...
- 22669 Views
Where You Live Matters to Your Health

BCBSIL Connect Team April 9, 2024

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...
- 6496 Views
When the Heart’s Aflutter, AFib May Be the Reason

BCBSIL Connect Team April 5, 2024

Singers may croon that their love-struck hearts are all aflutter, but in real life, a fluttering heart can be a scary problem — atrial fibrillation, better known as AFib. In a healthy heart, electrical signals travel through the muscle and mak.....
- 8119 Views
Be Prepared for Any Emergency

BCBSIL Connect Team March 27, 2024

You never know when you may find yourself in an emergency at home or work. When the adrenaline starts pumping and panic threatens to creep in, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare in advance. Don’t wait. Make a plan now for the pla...
- 4914 Views
It’s Time To Take Your Medicine. Or Is It?

BCBSIL Connect Team March 25, 2024

If you’ve been taking prescription medicine for a while, you may not even glance at the instructions when you get it refilled. As time goes on, you may forget an important thing about taking your meds. When you take them matters — w...
- 3618 Views
You Can Keep Your Brain Healthy at Any Age

BCBSIL Connect Team March 22, 2024

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 ....
- 16165 Views
Is Your Blood Pressure Being Measured Correctly?

BCBSIL Connect Team March 22, 2024

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious health problem that often has no symptoms. Often called "the silent killer" it doesn't always have symptoms. You can have high blood pressure for years and not even know it. It’s impor....
- 19450 Views
Substance Misuse: Signs and Risks

BCBSIL Connect Team March 22, 2024

Millions of people are drinking too much or misusing drugs. And many don’t get help. But asking for help is a normal part of life, and people should never feel like they have to handle things on their own, says the Substance Abuse and Mental H.....
- 10935 Views
Memory Changes? Learn When to Seek Help

BCBSIL Connect Team March 22, 2024

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...
- 11580 Views
Kidneys: The Chemical Factories of the Human Body

BCBSIL Connect Team March 22, 2024

The body is one complicated machine. Everything is connected. Everything works (or is supposed to, anyway) in harmony. Many times, when you're diagnosed with an illness, it’s important to address and treat it properly so other parts of your bo.....
- 10990 Views
Lower Your Risk for Colorectal Cancer

BCBSIL Connect Team March 15, 2024

The most effective way to lower your risk for colorectal cancer is to be screened. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people at average risk start screening at age 45. Often, colorectal cancer starts with one or more polyp...
- 7739 Views
Why Should I Get Tested for Colon Cancer?

BCBSIL Connect Team March 7, 2024

Do you believe in the power of prevention? If you’re 45 years of age or older, one of those reasons is colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer. Besides skin cancer, colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer for both men an.....
- 17291 Views
What in the World Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

BCBSIL Connect Team March 4, 2024

Your kidneys perform many important functions. Located just below your rib cage, one kidney rests on each side of the spine. Together, they remove waste from the body and balance its fluid levels. They also release hormones that regulate blood press...
- 10493 Views
I-CARE: All Your Shot Records in One Secure Place

BCBSIL Connect Team March 1, 2024

Did you just enroll your kiddos in a new school or daycare? Is your college junior about to spend a semester studying abroad? Are you about to enlist in the military? Do you have a new primary care doctor you need to bring up to speed on your medical...
- 3249 Views
Looking for a Quick Way to Get Fit?

BCBSIL Connect Team February 27, 2024

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 ...
- 69279 Views