Blogs

Quit Smoking for Good

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 23:39:00 GMT

One of the best things you can do for your health is to quit smoking or using any kind of tobacco. Quitting isn’t easy, but the rewards make it worth the effort. Quitting earlier in life is best, but it’s a big boost to your health at any...(read more)

Is Vaping as Bad for Your Health as Smoking?

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 20:19:00 GMT

One of the worst things you can do for your lungs and your overall health is to smoke. But many still don’t know that vaping is also dangerous. While experts expressed concern from the start, not everyone got the message. What Is Vaping? Vaping...(read more)

Taking Care of Your Kidneys Helps Keep You Healthy

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:35:00 GMT

Kidneys play a big part in your total health. They filter extra water and toxins from your body. They help control blood pressure. And they play a role in making red blood cells and in keeping bones healthy. When your kidneys aren’t working as...(read more)

Stop on Red: Reducing Exposure on High Pollution Days

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:45:00 GMT

When air pollution levels are high, a red alert warns the public of health dangers. Poor air quality is bad for us all. And it's an even greater risk for those with breathing issues. Poor air quality can trigger allergies and asthma attacks for milli...(read more)

Care for Your Mental Health Throughout Your Pregnancy

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:24:00 GMT

Health care is important before, during and after pregnancy. And that means caring for your mind as well as your body. Mental health challenges can affect you throughout the perinatal period. This period begins before you get pregnant and extends thr...(read more)

Kidneys: The Chemical Factories of the Human Body

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

The body is one complicated machine. Everything is connected. Everything works (or is supposed to, anyway) in harmony. Many times, when you're diagnosed with an illness, it’s important to address and treat it properly so other parts of your bo...(read more)

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Over the last two decades, the number of people with diabetes has increased by 20 percent in the U.S. All told, more than 40 million Americans have diabetes — and the numbers keep rising. The majority (over 90 percent) have Type 2 diabetes. Wit...(read more)

A Hug Only Takes 10 Seconds, Yet the Benefits Last Forever

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:26:00 GMT

Fun fact about hugs: They don’t just give you a warm, fuzzy sense of well-being — they can also be good for your health. It’s true. Hugging for just 10 seconds can boost feel-good hormones like oxytocin. Often called the “love...(read more)

Three Ways to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health

BCBSTX Connect Team — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:31:00 GMT

Teens are facing more challenges than ever. There’s pressure from school, friends and social media. No wonder their mental health can suffer. You don’t have to wait until your teen is in crisis to talk about it. Talk to your teen early an...(read more)

The Impact of Stress if You Have Diabetes

BCBSTX Connect Team — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:41:00 GMT

Traffic was a beast. You lost your phone. A few zeros seem to be missing from your bank balance. When you feel stressed, your body produces two hormones that raise your blood sugar — adrenaline and cortisol. Both are linked to the bod...(read more)

Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:50:00 GMT

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or yo...(read more)

Staying Healthy Before, During and After Pregnancy

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:37:00 GMT

Taking care of your health is always important. But it takes on a new level of importance when a baby enters the picture. It’s important to step up your self-care while you’re trying to get pregnant, during your pregnancy and after you g...(read more)

Minutes of Movement Add Up to a Better Life

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:33:00 GMT

Not being active can be dangerous for your health. Inactivity raises the chance of getting serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes. Yet 1 in 2 adults — and 77 percent of high school students — don’t get enough physic...(read more)

Is Your Blood Pressure Being Measured Correctly?

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:11:00 GMT

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a serious health problem that often has no symptoms. Often called "the silent killer" it doesn't always have symptoms. You can have high blood pressure for years and not even know it. It’s impor...(read more)

Checking Your Blood Pressure Could Save Your Life

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:05:00 GMT

Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range is one of the best things you can do for your health. That’s because high blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other health problems. Near...(read more)