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

BCBSIL Connect Team April 29, 2024

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...
- 57327 Views
Keep Back Pain from Being Such a Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team April 26, 2024

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.....
- 23547 Views
Living With High Blood Pressure

BCBSIL Connect Team April 18, 2024

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...
- 23658 Views
The Eyes Have It: Protect Them with Routine Eye Exams

BCBSIL Connect Team April 15, 2024

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...
- 11248 Views
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...
- 22263 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...
- 6147 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.....
- 7594 Views
Be Prepared for Tornado Season

BCBSIL Connect Team March 29, 2024

In minutes, violent weather can leave a trail of ruin. It’s important to be ready for tornado season. April through June is tornado season, but tornadoes can happen at any time. The best time to prepare is when you’re not under threat fro...
- 5540 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...
- 4708 Views
What Do We Know About Autism?

BCBSIL Connect Team March 25, 2024

Parenting means helping your children grow, develop and navigate the world. It’s no different for parents of children with autism. Yet, they face a unique set of challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that o...
- 9230 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...
- 3329 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 ....
- 15656 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....
- 18780 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.....
- 10426 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...
- 10865 Views

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