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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Starting Healthy Holiday Traditions

A group of skaters smiling on the ice rink
Photo credit: Matt Stanley for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. With two little ones, the holiday season is full of excitement. Everything is exciting to them, whether it’s spotting the first lights in the neighborhood, getting a toy catalog in the mail, pulling decorations out of the attic, or celebrations with family and friends....
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Lessons for the 2019 Flu Season

The 2017-2018 flu season was tough. So what can we do to keep ourselves healthy this year? Well, the same things we did last year. Here’s why.
The 2017 – 2018 flu season had a bad rap, but does it deserve it? Yes and no. Philadelphia County experienced 4,418 reported cases of flu. Mind you, these are the people who were able to drag themselves to the doctor to be tested — the actual number may be higher. In fact, according to IBX Medical Director Ellen Riccobene,...
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Game On: 6 Sports Safety Tips for Student-Athletes

Sports safety tips for student-athletes.
According to a National Council of Youth Sports survey, more than 40 million young athletes ages 6 – 18 participate in organized sports. And while there are countless benefits to organized sports, there are also the inevitable injuries that come with the territory. I recently spoke with Ron M. Hillian, MS, of EXOS, Human Performance about tips to keep student-athletes as healthy as possible....
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Changing the Conversation about Mental Health with Seniors

Tips to help seniors overcome the mental illness stigma.
It’s no surprise that for some of us, it’s easier to go to the doctor for a sore throat or an achy back than it is for a suffering spirit. It can be hard to admit when we feel down, even to those we’re closest to, and something about a visit to the doctor’s office can make us feel extra shy....
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Help Wanted: How to Get Better at Accepting Caregiving Support

How to get better at accepting caregiving support when dealing with illness.
For many of us, self-reliance is a badge of honor. 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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10 Tips for Tackling a Complex Medication Regimen

How to manage a complex medication regimen.
Like many adults, I didn’t take much medication when I was younger. My use was limited to over-the-counter cold remedies and the odd antihistamine or pain reliever. I didn’t have to keep track of any daily medications, and I didn’t really use a pharmacy consistently — it seemed I moved apartments more often than I filled prescriptions....
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Managing Congestive Heart Failure, Getting Back to Normal

While managing congestive heart failure isn’t easy, you can still live a full and healthy life if you’re willing to make some important lifestyle modifications.
Being diagnosed with a chronic disease is markedly different than being diagnosed with an acute illness.  What do I mean by this? An acute illness, such as pneumonia, appendicitis, a kidney stone, or a broken leg, has a fairly short duration of symptoms and is typically resolved within days to weeks. Certainly, it has the potential to evolve into a chronic,...
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