Prevention
‘Alcohol is Not Your Friend:’ BCBSM Medical Director of Behavioral Health Digs into His Passion for Advocating Against Alcohol Abuse
Dr. William T. Beecroft has advocated against alcohol abuse for much of his 40-plus-year health care career. Here, he reflects and shares some candid thoughts.
3 Ways to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays
Holidays can mean overeating to the point of stretchy pants and undoing some waistband buttons. But they don’t have to.
5 Everyday Ways to Live Healthier with Diabetes
Having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t make choices for a healthier lifestyle.
Parents: The Flu Shot Is For You, Too
The more members of your family who receive the flu shot, the greater the effect the vaccine has on your household. Here's how you protecting yourself can actually help protect others.
Are You Washing Your Hands the Right Way?
Germs are spread when you touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, so it's important to wash them the right way. Especially during flu season.
Fighting Breast Cancer With Food
Healthy eating cannot completely prevent every kind of disease and illness. However, a balanced diet featuring these five foods can help fight against breast cancer.
Preventing Falls at Home: Ways to Reduce the Risk for Seniors
Understanding why seniors are at risk of falling can help individuals, caregivers, friends and families prevent them from happening in the first place.
The Flu Shot: Still Your Best Bet
It’s easy to assume that if you didn’t get the flu shot last year and didn’t get sick, there’s no need to get one this year. But that's one of a few common misconceptions surrounding the flu shot. We address those here.
Know this Acronym to Help Prevent Suicide
Learn about WAIT, which offers simple suicide prevention advice.
Sun Protection Needs by Age
Should our sun safety practices change as we get older? Here are sun protection tips by age.
What does SPF Mean?
Myths about sun safety and SPF are common. Here’s what SPF really means and how to use it to keep yourself safe in the sun.
5 Ways to Choose a Safer Sunscreen
The summer sun can do serious damage to your skin if you are not proactive. These five tips can keep you safe, healthy and unburnt.
Can You Support Hormone Health with Food?
A hormone imbalance can leave you feeling tired, moody or even a little heavier. Here’s how certain foods can help.
Biohacks to Boost Your Health
Ready to use biohacking to improve your mental and physical health? Here are some of the best biohacks to improve your health.
The Fuel, Fitness and Physicals Men Need for Good Health
Getting appropriate and timely preventive care is an important part of a well-rounded, overall health strategy for men.
Home Remedies for Migraines, Headaches
Headaches are a real pain. But before you reach for medication, try these time-tested home remedies to ease the symptoms.
Ways to Protect Your Brain Health Through a Healthy Lifestyle
Aging experts say diet, exercise, sleep and social habits play a big role in protecting brain health and preventing mental declines and dementia.
What to Know About Your Blood Type
Some people know more about their horoscope signs than what type of blood they have. Here are a few things you should know about your blood type.
Does Sunscreen Expire?
Sunscreen can lose its efficacy when improperly stored or owned for too long. Soak up this information so you can soak up the sun safely!
Best Skin Care Routine Essentials for Men
Cleanse, moisturize and protect are the basic steps, but not all men’s skin care routines are the same.
Best Exercises for Seniors at Home
Seniors looking for ways to get fit or maintain their health have plenty of at-home exercises to pick from.
Foods that Kill Nicotine Cravings
Some types of foods can be really helpful for people trying to curb a craving for nicotine.
Signs and Stages of Perimenopause and Menopause
It is important for women to get enough information about perimenopause and menopause symptoms and side effects.
Ways to Reduce Allergens at Home
Most indoor allergen sources can be combatted by taking certain measures around the house.
When You Should Talk to Your Doctor About Cramps
For most women, having cramps is part of having your period. But here are some signs to watch for that mean you might need to talk to your doctor.
Finding Relief: Who to Talk to When Allergies Strike
Learn how to spot the telltale signs of a new allergy’s development and where to go to receive qualified care and advice.
Why You Are More Likely to Get a Sunburn in Spring
In the spring, we can’t wait to get outside. But you are more likely to get a sunburn in the spring.
What’s All the Fuss About Cold Plunges?
Gracefully Greying health correspondent Lila Lazarus tries the cold plunge trend and reports back on results.
Everything You Need to Know About Stress
Did you know there are different types of stress? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Stiff-Person Syndrome?
Stiff-person syndrome is a rare, progressive autoimmune disorder that affects how a person’s muscles move. Here are the symptoms and treatments.
Never Mix These Cleaning Products
So many cleaning products are probably sitting in your home. Here is some helpful information about what cleaning products not to mix.
Boost Your Brain with These Healthy Foods and Habits
It’s never too early to think about your brain health. Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, these tips can help keep your mind young.
Benefits of Weighted Blankets for Sleep
Tired of tossing and turning? If you’re looking for more restful sleep, a weighted blanket might help.
Best Bedtime Stretches to Improve Sleep Quality
Going to sleep with tense muscles is not a recipe for good sleep. Here’s how stretching can improve your zzzz’s.
The Real Scoop on Colonoscopies
It’s one of those topics people avoid talking about. But the fact is, colonoscopies save lives.
Hot Showers vs Cold Showers
Love showers hot? That packs a lot of body benefits - but so do showers that are downright cold.
Can You Out-Exercise a Bad Diet?
Think you can down a bag of potato chips, eat fries, snack on candy and just exercise away all the bad stuff? Think again.
What is the Best Bread for You?
If you’re looking to pick the healthiest bread for your daily toast, sandwiches or snacks, the good news is, you’ve got a lot of choices.
Best Proteins for Heart Health
You may love a double-stacked bacon burger, but it’s not the best choice when you’re trying to get the highest-quality proteins to boost heart health.
Self-Checks to Do at Home
Breast self-exams, temperature checks and even measuring heart rate are all things that can be indicators of how healthy a person is.
Tips for Long-Distance Caregiving
If you live at a distance, here are tips for maximizing your caregiver effectiveness – and maintaining your peace of mind.
Do I Need to See a Doctor if I Have a Cold?
Most bouts with a cold can be handled at home, but other times your body may send warning signs that professional medical help is needed.
Colon Broom Craze: The Health Effects of the Social Media Trend
Laxatives can cause short-term weight loss due to lost water. Overuse or improper use can lead to dehydration and ultimately put you at risk for colon cancer.
Disordered Eating vs. Feeding and Eating Disorders: Signs to Watch For
Learning the different types of eating disorders, as well as the signs of an eating problem, can help as a first step. Here’s what you need to know.
Easy Snacks for Heart Health
You’re going to munch on a handful of nibbles throughout the day, so make sure you’re getting heart-healthy snacks.
What is a Food Sensitivity Test?
Food sensitivity tests may give us clues about what causes certain digestive issues. But they are not FDA-approved. So how accurate are they?
How Much Water Do You Need?
Are you drinking enough water? Find out why staying hydrated goes far in keeping you healthy.
Preventing Cervical Cancer: Why Pap Test Rules Have Changed
Guidelines on when women should get Pap and HPV screenings for cervical cancer have changed recently. Women should talk to their doctor about options.
Surprising Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthy All Winter Long
Don’t let harsh winds and dry indoor heat ruin your skin. Give these five tips a try and you should stay radiant all winter long!
Stay Safe Michigan! How to Drive on Winter Roads
Preparing and knowing how to handle an emergency are two of the most important things you can do before getting behind the wheel in the winter.
Why Indoor Plants Are Good for Your Mental Health
Ready to lower your blood pressure and feel more relaxed? Invest in a few new indoor plants.
What is a Healthy Weight?
Determining a healthy weight depends on what is proportionate to a person’s size. BMI is not perfect, but it can help indicate future health risks.
Snow Shoveling Safety Tips
The dangers of snow shoveling are not limited to those who have poor health. Everyone should adhere to these safety tips.
What Sleep Tracking Can Tell You About Your Health
Sleep tracking technology can provide valuable information about sleeping patterns, but they’re not the end-all, be-all.
Dry January? Tips to be Successful
Ready to put away the beer and wine? Ditch the liquor? Here’s how to make a Dry January work for you.
How to Get Vitamin D Without Sunlight
It’s not always easy to get vitamin D during the winter. A few dietary tweaks can help make up for that lack of winter sunlight.
5 Unusual Health Tips for a Daily Better Life
Gracefully Greying health correspondent Lila Lazarus shares five unusual health tips that most people don’t know about.
How Restricted Eating During the Holidays Can Backfire
Putting limits on what you eat or when you eat during the holidays can backfire. Here’s why.
How to Clean Your Humidifier – and Why it’s Important
Humidifiers add moisture to the air to help care for our dry skin during winter. But know how to clean these machines to keep the mist healthy.
Be Your Own Health Advocate
Being an advocate for health is not only important on the field, on the track, in the arena, or on the court; it is even more important in our daily lives.
Why Binge Drinking Even Once a Week is Bad
If you make a habit out of binge drinking, you could expose yourself to these specific short and long-term health problems.
Shovel Snow Safely: 12 Tips
Physicians share tips on how to shovel snow safely, so it doesn’t become a pain in the neck or result in a more serious condition.
Best Foods to Prevent Diabetes
Food as preventative medicine? When it comes to preventing diabetes, certain foods can help lower your risk.
Make Your Skin Glow from the Inside Out
How much water people drink, how much sleep they get and other lifestyle choices all factor into making skin glow from the inside out.
Unexpected Side Effects of Having a High Fever
Fevers are a normal immune response to infection, but high fevers can be problematic and can have some unexpected side effects. Here's what you need to know.
Are You Doing These Things to Prevent Skin Infections at the Gym?
Read this list of five skin infections commonly caught at the gym and what you can do to prevent catching them.
How to Talk to a Loved One About Dementia, Alzheimer’s Concerns
Talking to a family member or close friend about your concerns related to changes in mental health and cognition as they age is not always an easy discussion.
How Daylight Saving Time Can Affect Your Body
It might seem as simple as updating a few clocks in your home, but Daylight Saving Time can take a toll on some people’s overall health.
10 Ways to Protect Your Bones Today
As you get older, it becomes more and more important to keep your bones strong and healthy. Here are simple steps you can take to make a difference.
What’s New About This Year’s Flu Shot – and Why
Each year, the ingredients in seasonal flu shots change. Learn about what’s new with this year’s flu shot – and why it’s different.
Five Foods to Help You Fight Off a Cold
A healthy diet can help you maneuver through flu season. These five foods are chockful of proven immune-boosting power.
Your Roadmap to Conquering Flu Season
An annual flu shot is the best way to protect against the flu, but it’s only the first step. This guide should help you conquer flu season.
Four Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
Good sleep, proper nutrition and these other tips should help keep your immune system performing optimally.
Gracefully Greying: Why Dental Health Matters As You Age
Gracefully Greying correspondent Lila Lazarus talks with a dentist about the importance of regular dental checkups during the aging process.
Can You Lower Cholesterol Fast?
High cholesterol affects nearly 40% of U.S. adults. Are there ways to lower it quickly?
How to Care for Your Interstitium, Which May Be Your Newest Organ
A large network connecting tissues and fluid under your skin? Meet the interstitium.
Obesity Now Affects Children Earlier in Life
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., and it’s impacting children at an earlier age than ever before.
5 Things to Stock Up on For Cold and Flu Season
Chances are, you’ll catch a cold or the flu this year. Here are some things to stock up on before the symptoms start.
Fall Allergies: Does Local Honey Help?
Itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. Fall allergies are a pain, but can eating local honey help alleviate those symptoms?
8 Things You Should Know About the Flu Shot
The flu vaccine is effective, does not cause the flu, and affects children and adults differently. Here are some other facts to know in order to stay protected.
Benefits of a Morning Ritual
Having a morning ritual can get your whole day off to a positive start.
5 Easy Hacks for a Healthier Life
When you focus on implementing healthy behavior and changing habits instead of worrying about numbers on a scale, the results will follow.
What to Expect During an Annual Eye Exam
An eye exam is an important part of an overall health assessment and supports the recognition of more than 270 health conditions. Here's what you can expect.
Are You Using Your Non-Stick Cookware Safely?
Pots and pans made with a non-stick coating are the standard option for most American households – but recent research has raised concerns about their safety.
How to Care for Contact Lenses
Millions of people wear contact lenses, but most don’t follow proper care instructions, leaving them at risk for eye infections.
Effects of Staying Up All Night for Adults and Teens
Skipping sleep in favor of staying up all night can feel fun at first, but it can come with some serious side effects.
Calamine Lotion as Makeup Primer: Does the Viral Trend Really Work?
Some TikTok users claim calamine lotion works well as a makeup primer for people with oily skin. However, health experts have their concerns.
5 Sun Safety Myths Debunked
These common sun safety misconceptions and facts can reduce your family’s risk of skin damage and other sun-related health hazards.
Sun Safety 101: Sunscreen and Exposure Tips
Want to enjoy the sun but stay protected? Learn about when to put on sunscreen, the difference between SPF and “broad spectrum” and more.
Gracefully Greying: The Power of Breakfast
Gracefully Greying health correspondent Lila Lazarus joins Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan registered dietitian Shanthi Appelo for a virtual breakfast.
9 Places You’re Forgetting to Put Sunscreen
We cover our arms, legs and face in sunscreen, but stopping there and forgetting these nine places could result in some unsuspecting burns.
How to Get Mosquitos to Bug Off this Summer
In Michigan, peak mosquito season typically starts in July. But it’s important to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones all year.
Shopping Smarter: How Women Can Avoid Marketing Traps
So much of the marketing around hair, skin and personal care products is aimed at women. Here’s how to make smarter choices.
Male Life Expectancy: How Men Can Add Years to Their Lives
There are many social, behavioral, and biological factors that impact life expectancy. For men, a few of those factors are particularly key.
What is Aphasia? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
This brain disorder causes loss of speech and comprehension. Here’s what else you should know about aphasia.
Lactose Intolerant? Here’s How to Get Calcium Without Dairy Products
The RDA for calcium in adults is about 1,000 daily milligrams. If you are lactose intolerant, these non-dairy foods can help you get there:
What You Need to Know About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Ten percent of women in their childbearing years develop PCOS, which is why talking to your doctor about the symptoms is so important.
Signs of a Colon Problem
For some cancers, there are obvious warning signs to pay attention to – like lumps in the breast, or an irregular mole. However, colon cancer is different.
Cold Water Therapy and Cold Water Immersion: Do They Work?
Is cold water therapy effective? In some circles it is thought to reduce swelling and inflammation, which is why athletes take to it. But it's not for everyone.