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.

Don’t Be Fooled: 6 “Health Foods” That Are Really Junk Foods in Disguise

A woman checks the label on an item at the supermarket
We are lucky to live during a time when there’s an abundance of information available about the food we eat. The tricky thing is, sometimes there’s almost too much information available, so it can be hard to decide what’s healthy and what isn’t. You’ll see dozens of products in the grocery store aisles that lead you to believe they’re healthy....
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Staying Healthy on Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Someone getting hand sanitizer from a dispenser
December is a month of heavy travel for many people. Whether you’re heading south to someplace warmer, visiting the in-laws for a holiday celebration, or embarking on international travel, you may be spending time on public transportation, surrounded by crowds of people, or in public venues such as rest stops, train stations, or airports. Unfortunately, this travel also coincides with cold and flu season,...
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Make This the Year You Quit Smoking

A nicotine patch being applied to an arm
Chris Guerrieri, a graphic designer at Independence Blue Cross, had been a two-pack-a-day smoker for ten years. He felt exhausted, sick, and older than his 33 years. He was tired of using nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine as a crutch, and was ready to change his life. Chris had tried to quit before — the gum, the patch — but nothing worked....
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Flu Season is Here: Why the Flu Shot is Your Best Defense

Close up of a young African woman consulting with her doctor over her phone
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: Celebrate 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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