Preventing Heart Disease: Start Early for Good Heart Health

Girl holding big paper heart
Heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is a general term for plaque build-up in the heart’s arteries. Currently, the story about heart disease is a good news/bad news situation. Good news: Death from heart disease has declined over the past few decades. Bad news: Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women across most racial and ethnic groups in the U.S....
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Advocating for Accessibility

Close-up of a hand gripping the wheel of a wheelchair
As anyone who lives with a chronic health condition or disability knows, it’s easy to become isolated because of the body’s limitations. This is especially true for seniors. As the National Institute on Aging (NIH) has reported, social isolation and loneliness can worsen the physical health of seniors, leading to poor health outcomes. With as many as 13.8 million older adults living alone,...
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Winter Safety Tips

Looking down a quaint Philadelphia street in winter
Love it or hate it, winter’s here — and with the cold comes an increased risk of weather-related injuries. Make sure you’re ready for whatever the winter brings. Take these steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Stay Warm

Keep indoor temperatures at 65 degrees or warmer. If the expense is a problem,...
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Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Five Winter Wives’ Tales

A woman dries her young daughter's hair
As a full-time working mom, I am usually in a rush all the time, especially in the mornings. So it’s not uncommon for me to wash my hair and run out of the house while it’s still wet — even in the cold winter months. It’s a very defiant act considering that my mother scolded me my whole life for this (and still does)....
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Food vs. Food: Milk — To Dairy or Not to Dairy?

For years, if you wanted milk on your cereal or in your coffee, cow’s milk was your only option. But take a trip down the supermarket dairy aisle, and you’ll find a veritable herd of plant-based milk alternatives. There are options made from soybeans, nuts, rice, oats, and even peas! Udderly confused about whether to stick with traditional cow’s milk or switch to a plant-based milk alternative like soy or almond milk?...
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No Resolution Required: Tools for Better Health

If you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolutions, don’t stress about it — statistically, only eight percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals. Despite our best intentions, changing our lives for the better isn’t easy. But, there are resources that can help you be a healthier you. Have you considered your health plan?...
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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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The Importance of Getting Away from Stress

A woman stands before the ocean, with her arms outstretched
How was your summer vacation — great or non-existent? If you said non-existent, there’s a good chance you’re like most Americans and only use about half of your vacation days each year.1 And, while it may be a good thing for your bank account, it could be hurting your health and productivity. Before you let another summer slip by without a break,...
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Fellas, Invest in Yourself: Schedule a Checkup with a Doctor

Men's Checkup with a Doctor
A recent survey commissioned by the Orlando Health Hospital System found that when a man has a health issue, he is much less likely to visit a doctor than a woman. Reasons given for not visiting a doctor include being too busy, afraid, or ashamed. In addition, men are more likely to think that health problems will resolve without seeing a doctor....
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Repeat After Me: Self-Care is Not Selfish

Overhead photo of a woman practicing self-care by drinking coffee and reading in bed.
Like many women, I tend to put my health and well-being last on my list of priorities. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I went to see my specialist (yet I manage to schedule and attend many of my husband’s and parents’ appointments) or even worked out consistently (but I watch the baby so my husband can work out two to three times a week)....
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