Blogs

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)

What Does Your Thyroid Do?

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

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck that makes and releases certain hormones. Its main job is to control your metabolism, which is how your body uses energy. Sometimes the thyroid doesn’t work as it should....(read more)

Learn About Different Levels of Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Would you know what to do if a friend or family member needed help with a mental health or substance use issue? What kind of help would they need? Who could help? Not knowing what to do can be scary and confusing. But there are many things you can d...(read more)

Are You Paralyzed by Social Anxiety? Learn the Best Ways to Manage It.

BCBSTX Connect Team — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:06:00 GMT

Do you have a friend who always bails when you make plans? They may not be trying to avoid you. Sometime this can happen when people have social anxiety. Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a long-term mental health issue. It af...(read more)

Be an Advocate for Your Own Care

BCBSTX Connect Team — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:53:00 GMT

Prevention is an important part of being healthy. That can mean having a yearly exam. It can mean having routine screening tests that can help spot many potential problems before they become serious health issues. Whether you’re making sure to ...(read more)

Colon Cancer: Know the Warning Signs

BCBSTX Connect Team — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:12:00 GMT

No one likes to talk about colon cancer. And that’s OK, as long as you take steps to protect yourself. After all, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. And, nearly one half (45%) of new colon canc...(read more)

How Does Stress Affect Your Body?

BCBSTX Connect Team — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:32:00 GMT

If you’re feeling stressed, join the party. The reasons behind that stressed-out feeling differ for each person. Some talk about it, others don’t. But there’s one thing people have in common: When you’re stressed, you’l...(read more)

Women: Make a Plan for a Long, Healthy Life

BCBSTX Connect Team — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:33:00 GMT

You can do a lot to stay healthy. Making sure you plan your preventive health care visits is at the top of the list. Getting those recommended screenings on time is an important part of living a long, healthy life. Don’t put it off. Listening ...(read more)