Sarah Bishop
I’m a writer and bookworm who loves learning and writing about the latest health and wellness topics. Like a true Gemini, I’m a walking dichotomy. I like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, but I also like ice cream, fried chicken, and cheese. So, I’m always fighting the good fight. As the mom of two little girls, I strive to model healthy habits that my daughters will carry with them for life.

Flu Season is Here: Why the Flu Shot is Your Best Defense

A young woman receives a vaccination from a physician
Photo: SELF x American Academy of Pediatrics Flu season is upon us. So from now until April, I’ll be washing my hands a lot, avoiding sick people, and stocking my medicine cabinet. It’s also why I made sure to get my flu shot back in September. I have asthma, so I know it’s especially important for me to get the flu shot,...
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Facing Your (Health) Fears

A close up of a masked dentist holding her tool
Do you feel faint at the sight of a needle? Do you avoid hospitals at all costs? Do you have traumatic memories of a dental visit? If you have a medical fear, you’re in good company. Searching for “medical fears and phobias” yields a huge list of fears about medical situations. Sometimes, a fear becomes more disruptive to your life....
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5 Easy Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer

A man speaks with a doctor
Prostate cancer is a disease that affects one in nine men. But the good news is it’s 99 percent treatable if detected early.1 Plus, the recommendations for reducing your risk of prostate cancer are good for your overall health, too. So they’re things you should be doing anyways!

Maximize Your Chances

Educate yourself....
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Live Well at Every Age: A Guide to Healthy Aging by Decade

In many cultures around the world, aging is viewed as a positive — a natural part of life that creates a diverse community with people of all ages. Older adults are respected and consulted for their knowledge and experience. They often serve in positions of honor in families, communities, and businesses. In the United States, however,...
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Feeling Burnt Out? 5 Simple Ways to Beat Burnout Syndrome

A young woman looking very stressed in an office
If you’ve ever seen the movie Office Space, you’re familiar with Ron Livingston’s comedic turn as Peter Gibbons, a burnt-out office worker who has stopped caring about his job. Although the movie is a comedy, it’s clear the subject matter struck a chord with viewers who recognize that burnout is a very real phenomenon....
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Meet Cecilia Bermudez: Celebrating Caring Honoree

Photo of Cecilia Bermudez
Caring is in all of us, and nurses truly embody that spirit. Independence Blue Cross received nearly 700 submissions for its Celebrate Caring campaign. We are honored to share the stories of our top 10 finalists, including Cecilia Bermudez, oncology nurse at Reading Hospital-Tower Health.  Cecilia Bermudez used to be a chemistry tutor at a private liberal arts college....
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Meet Kate Gleason-Bachman, Celebrate Caring Honoree

Kate Gleason-Bachman, taking a patient's blood pressure.
Caring is in all of us, and nurses truly embody that spirit. Independence Blue Cross received nearly 700 submissions for its Celebrate Caring campaign. We are honored to share the stories of our top ten finalists, including Kate Gleason-Bachman, a nurse at Pathways to Housing PA.

A Team Devoted Exclusively to Opioid Use Disorder

Pathways to Housing PA (Pathways) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower people with disabilities to improve their housing stability,...
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Meet Micah Maxton, Celebrate Caring Honoree

Micah Maxton, leaning against a counter
Caring is in all of us, and nurses truly embody that spirit. Independence Blue Cross received nearly 700 submissions for its Celebrate Caring campaign. We are honored to share the stories of our top 10 finalists, including Micah Maxton, Emergency Department nurse at Roxborough Memorial Hospital.

Turning Tragedy into Triumph

Growing up in North Philly,...
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Understanding Invisible Illnesses

A woman holds her shoulder in pain
If you’re on social media, it may seem like every other day is an awareness day for a different disease. Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease, for example, get a lot of media coverage. There are awareness months, well-attended charity walks, ribbons, fundraising merchandise, perhaps a celebrity spokesperson. If you suffer from one of these diseases,...
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Find Your Zen: Identifying Your Stress Triggers and Coping Techniques

A young woman smells some small flowers while doing some gardening.
What’s stressing you out these days? Your endless to-do list? Bills? Your health or the health of a loved one? Your kids? The current state of the nation? If you’re a professional worrier like myself, it’s all of the above. And based on current statistics about Americans and stress, clearly I’m not alone. Although stress is a normal part of your body’s reaction to any demand or threat (and can be a powerful motivator),...
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