4 Reasons to Get a Flu Shot

A sick woman is having soup to recover.
In true 2020 style, the upcoming flu season has the potential to be a doozy. Coinciding with a peak in COVID-19 infections, the possibility of contracting both the flu and COVID-19 is real. (Remember, it’s 2020.) This is why, this year, it’s more important than ever to prevent and reduce the spread of the flu....
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Help Wanted: How to Get Better at Accepting Caregiving Support

Adult daughter visits senior father
Why is accepting help so difficult? As someone who lives with a chronic illness, I know it certainly is for me. I cling to my independence fiercely, often refusing to let my partner order dinner in when I’m too sick to cook or pushing myself to go to the office on days when my pain is debilitating....
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Fellas, Invest in Yourself: Schedule a Checkup with a Doctor

A senior patient and a female doctor meet in a medical clinic while wearing protective face masks to avoid the transfer of germs.
According to the World Health Organization, the average life span for women is about six to eight years longer than that of men, hinting that men’s hesitance to seek medical care can be dangerous. But many of the diseases that commonly plague men can be prevented or at least detected through one simple action: scheduling a checkup with a doctor....
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The Advantages of Telemedicine, Both as a Patient and Caregiver

Peter Panageas helps his mother set up telemedicine on a tablet
Peter Panageas joins his mother Esther Panageas for a virtual doctor’s visit using telemedicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many industries have altered the way they do business. Health care is no exception. We’ve made a lot of changes to ensure that our members have safe and convenient access to the care they need....
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The Health Challenges Facing Millennials

Sonia Cordner stays connected with her friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic via video chats. As a millennial, I’m one of the 73 million people who was born between 1981 and 1996. That’s why I was curious when the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) published their Health of America Report on Millennial Health....
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Do This, Not That: Debunking Myths to Make Running More Efficient

A woman takes a break from running to have some water in front of a concrete wall
You may have seen the episode of The Office, “Fun Run,” when Michael Scott carbo-loads minutes before a charity 5k with a container of fettuccine alfredo. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t end well for him. The beloved manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company fell for one of the biggest myths in the running world....
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Mental Health and the Silver Tsunami

An older woman sits on a sofa, hands on her legs, looking away with an air of sadness
Over the past few years, I’ve been pleased to see mental health getting more of the attention it deserves as a factor in overall health. But as a physician who specialized in geriatrics, I feel more awareness is needed of the mental health of older adults. There’s no better time than now, after we’ve been social distancing for months through the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic....
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Repeat After Me: Self-Care is Not Selfish

A young woman relaxes with a book and a cup of coffee.
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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Tips to Protect Your Skin in the Sun

A woman reads in a shady garden
For the past few months, everything in my life seems to revolve around COVID-19. When I’m not working from home, I’m foraging for food, making sure I have my prescriptions filled, adjusting to telemedicine visits with my doctor, and remembering how to take care of myself. Taking care of yourself while being socially isolated can be quite challenging....
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The Power of the Brain Break: Balancing Your News Intake with Mental Breathers

A young man tends a garden
The COVID-19 global pandemic has nearly everyone glued to the news 24/7. With things changing by the minute, the news can seemingly provide a sense of control because knowledge is power, right? Sometimes. The problem with the constant newsfeed is that it often does the opposite — leaving us feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, and powerless. Our brains were not designed to handle this information overload....
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