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Blogs: Wash the Rind to Leave Bacteria Behind

BCBSIL Connect Team

The peak of summer brings ripe, tasty melons, like cantaloupe and watermelon, from the farm to your table. Watermelons are not only refreshing, they’re also a great source of the antioxidant lycopene. What’s so special about lycopene? Lyc...
- August 15, 2023
Blogs: How to Make the Most of a Date with Your Doctor

BCBSIL Connect Team

Wouldn’t it be great to call your doctor and get in to see them when you need to? Waiting to see a care provider can be hard. Left to our own devices, we’re often tempted to self-diagnose. We call mom to get her advice about what to put ...
- August 14, 2023
Blogs: Back Pain Is Such a Pain

BCBSIL Connect Team

Its happens to many of us. We move or lift something the wrong way and our back protests. Sometimes it’s just a brief twinge of pain — a reminder to move more carefully. Other times, the pain may be intense and last a long time. The ...
- August 13, 2023
Blogs: From Headache to Heartache: NSAIDs Pose Heart Dangers

BCBSIL Connect Team

Read the fine print the next time you pick up a bottle of ibuprofen or naproxen. You’ll see a warning about the risk for potentially deadly heart attacks and strokes. These drugs are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. The U.S...
- August 12, 2023
Blogs: Mindful Eating with Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team

Learning to be more mindful can help us calmly think through situations. For people with diabetes, the values of mindfulness may even help them practice better self-care. What is mindfulness? It is being tuned in to your thoughts, feelings and body. ...
- August 11, 2023
Blogs: Career Wellness: It's Important to Your Health and Well-Being

BCBSIL Connect Team

It doesn’t seem like a crazy aspiration. We spend so much time of our time working, wouldn’t it be nice to actually enjoy what we do? Who doesn’t want to spend their time doing something interesting, rewarding and personally fulfill...
- August 10, 2023
Blogs: Buying Health Insurance: It’s a Good Idea

BCBSIL Connect Team

You may think, "I never go to the doctor, so I don’t need health insurance." Think again. Health Insurance protects your physical and financial wellbeing. Let’s see what might happen if you have to take your kid to the ER, but don’t...
- August 9, 2023
Blogs: Good Gum Care May Help Manage Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team

If you have diabetes, it affects your whole body — even your mouth. Don’t skip regular dental checkups. Along with managing your blood sugar levels, dental care helps you keep both your body and mouth healthy. Gum Disease and Blood Sugar ...
- August 8, 2023
Blogs: Stay Active and Healthy with Workout to Go

BCBSIL Connect Team

Do you want to start exercising? Are you looking for a new workout routine? We’ve got just the tools to make it simple. The NIH National Institute on Aging has a handy Workout to Go booklet that you can download. You'll find e...
- August 4, 2023
Blogs: Get Ready for School with an Asthma Action Plan

BCBSIL Connect Team

Each new school year, you take steps to get your child ready to go back to the classroom. But if your child has asthma, back-to-school prep has one more layer. Nearly 4.8 million children under 18 in the U.S. struggle with asthma, says the Asthma an...
- August 3, 2023

Supporting Someone with a Mental Health Condition

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2024

Anyone can experience a mental health condition. And if they do, friends and family can make a big difference in their recovery. Mental health conditions are common — more than 1 in 5 adults are affected. Mental health conditions are health is.....
- 36310 Views
When Is the Right Time to Use Antibiotics?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2024

When we feel bad, we want to get better quickly. And antibiotics may seem like the answer when you have symptoms like a cough, sore throat or sinus pain. Antibiotics can save lives, but they aren’t always the answer. They are important tools fo....
- 12977 Views
Choosing Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2024

Regular medical, dental and vision care are all important for your total health. That’s why it’s good to have all three kinds of insurance. Today, many people buy health coverage on their own. What “comes with” medical coverag...
- 17204 Views
¿Necesitas ver a un especialista?

EquipoConnect October 28, 2024

Cuando no te sientes bien, puedes llamar a tu médico de cabecera (PCP en inglés). Con un poco de cuidado, tu doctor puede te pude ayudar a recuperarte en muy poco tiempo. ¿Pero qué pasa si tu problema de sa...
- 2240 Views
How Does a Drug Become a Generic: Facts vs. Myths

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2024

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 bran...
- 18090 Views
Follow 4 Simple Steps to Put Your Family on a Healthy Path

BCBSIL Connect Team October 24, 2024

It’s never too early to teach kids about healthy habits. Setting good habits when they’re young puts them on the path toward a healthier life. Many children are not off to a good start. About 1 in 5 American children are obese, says the C...
- 11745 Views
More than Muscle: How Men Can Exercise Their Way to Better Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 24, 2024

Men face some serious health risks. Heart disease and cancer account for nearly 40 percent of deaths among American men. Unintentional injuries like falls are also a common cause of death for men. Lung disease and stroke account for another 10 percen...
- 27463 Views
Consejos tenebrosamente buenos para tener un Halloween saludable y seguro

EquipoConnect October 23, 2024

Por lo general, las palabras “saludable” y “Halloween” no van juntas, por razones obvias. Halloween es la única época del año en que los niños se sienten libres de comer tantas golosinas como puedan...
- 382 Views
Bienestar social: ¿el ajetreo conduce a la soledad?

EquipoConnect October 23, 2024

A los estadounidenses les encanta estar ocupados. Por desgracia, hacer malabares para mantener el trabajo, la familia y las tareas domésticas implica que la persona promedio “trabaja” 60 horas o más por semana. No es de...
- 3588 Views
Social Well-Being: Is Your Busyness Leading to Loneliness?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 23, 2024

Americans love to be busy. Unfortunately, juggling our jobs, families and home chores means the average person “works” 60 or more hours each week. No wonder people just want to plop down on the sofa and binge watch their favorite TV show ...
- 5025 Views
What Can Your Heart Rate Tell You About Your Health?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

Your heart rate is always changing. It’s up when you’re walking. Down when you’re sitting still. But what can it tell you about your overall health? Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your heart rate...
- 6432 Views
How Do I Buy an Individual Health Insurance Plan?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

There are two times when you can buy health insurance — during open enrollment and special enrollment. Open enrollment starts on Nov. 1 each year. Any other sign-up time falls under special enrollment . To buy health insurance during speci...
- 18185 Views
Living With Diabetes? Find Big Eats on a Small Grocery Budget

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

Food choices are so important when diabetes is part of your day-to-day life. Here’s something to keep in mind: The best healthy meal plan for those living with diabetes isn’t very different from one for people without diabetes. Our bodies...
- 7202 Views
Postpartum Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 19, 2024

The days and weeks after giving birth are often a happy time. They're also a period of adjustment and healing for mothers. While you bond with your baby, make time for a post-delivery checkup with your provider. Your doctor plays an important role...
- 2900 Views
How to Get the Most Out of Your Medicare Advantage Plan

BCBSIL Connect Team October 18, 2024

Welcome to Medicare Advantage . We’re glad you’re a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage member. Ready to make the most of your health care plan? Start with these steps: Plan your Annual Wellness Visit. With no copay and no cost to you...
- 11699 Views

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