Prevention

White alarm clock in the morning. Young man sleeps in the background.
Prevention

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.

Doctor prepares for colonoscopy holding endoscope
Prevention

The Real Scoop on Colonoscopies

It’s one of those topics people avoid talking about. But the fact is, colonoscopies save lives and it's important to debunk these four common misconceptions surrounding them.

Senior African Male Measuring Arterial Blood Pressure Having Hypertension Indoor
Prevention

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.

Prevention

Leading Causes of Cavities in Children

Limiting certain foods and teaching dental hygiene habits at a young age can lead to a lifetime of healthy behaviors while preventing cavities in the process. 

Prevention

PPO vs. HMO: What is the Difference?

The right healthcare plan varies from family to family and person to person. As with any big decision, knowledge is power. Whether you receive insurance through your employer or you’re self-insured, you typically have a choice between the two most common types of managed care plans – health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs).

Shot of a happy young couple playing with cut out red hearts in bed at home
Prevention

4 Reasons Valentine’s Day is Good for Your Heart 

Chocolate, wine and a trip around the dance floor are hallmarks of Valentine’s Day. But they can also be good for your heart.

Friends having a snowball fight
Prevention

Melting Away Winter Health Myths

Not everything you hear about how the winter affects your health is true. As the dead of winter approaches, it's important to be as informed as possible.

Prevention

Winterize Your Home for a Healthy Season Indoors

As you cozy up at home during the long winter months, take these simple precautions to keep the flu bug and other illnesses at bay.

Prevention

Shovel Snow Safely: 12 Tips

You shouldn't dive right into snow shoveling without first taking your health into consideration, especially if you have preexisting conditions. These tips should help.

Prevention

What is a Disney Rash?

What is a Disney Rash? It looks like a rash, but it’s really not. 

Prevention

Healthy New Year: Take Baby Steps to Improve Your Health

This year, trade your big New Year's resolutions for small goals that will make you healthier.

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.

Prevention

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.

Prevention

5 Everyday Ways to Live Healthier with Diabetes

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t make choices for a healthier lifestyle.

Prevention

Foods to Avoid with a UTI

Can the foods you eat make urinary tract infections worse? 

Prevention

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.

Little boy showing off his handwashing technique
Prevention

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.

Prevention

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.

Prevention

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.

Prevention

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.

Prevention

Know this Acronym to Help Prevent Suicide

Learn about WAIT, which offers simple suicide prevention advice.

Prevention

Sun Protection Needs by Age

Should our sun safety practices change as we get older? Here are sun protection tips by age.

Sunscreen on the beachS
Prevention

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.

Cropped shot of three friends applying suntan lotion
Prevention

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.

Young caucasian plump plus size woman cooking making salad, healthy food, dieting, counting calories, preparing dinner lunch at home kitchen
Prevention

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.

Interpretation Of The Electrocardiogram Of Young Athletes
Prevention

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.

Mature Hispanic Man Jogging in Central Park
Prevention

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.

Woman with a headache
Prevention

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.  

Senior couple hikes to protect their brain health through a healthy lifestyle
Prevention

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.

Preparation for blood test by female doctor medical uniform in white bright room
Prevention

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.

A woman examines sunscreen brands at the store.
Prevention

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!

Closeup portrait of handsome beautiful asian boy with mirror makeup routine with copy space. Beauty influencer guy with perfect glow skin dress up. Healthcare man lifestyle cosmetic blogger concept
Prevention

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.

couple of two happy and fitess seniors doing exercise in the gym together running on the tapis roulant - active lifestyle
Prevention

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.

Working at home
Prevention

Foods that Kill Nicotine Cravings 

Some types of foods can be really helpful for people trying to curb a craving for nicotine.

Older woman suffers from high temperature at home
Prevention

Signs and Stages of Perimenopause and Menopause 

It is important for women to get enough information about perimenopause and menopause symptoms and side effects.

Man suffering sinusitis sitting on couch at home having headache
Prevention

Ways to Reduce Allergens at Home 

Most indoor allergen sources can be combatted by taking certain measures around the house.

Chinese Girl Having Lower Abdominal Pain Sitting In Bed Indoors
Prevention

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.

A young adult man going for a walk outdoors stops to apply eyedrops.
Prevention

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.

Pretty young teenage girl relaxing on a grass
Prevention

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.

Woman takes a cold plunge in a frozen outdoor lake.
Prevention

What’s All the Fuss About Cold Plunges?

Gracefully Greying health correspondent Lila Lazarus tries the cold plunge trend and reports back on results.

Young family managing budget and paying bills and taxes.
Prevention

Everything You Need to Know About Stress 

Did you know there are different types of stress? Here’s what you need to know.

A young woman got severe cramps in her foot at night while sleeping.
Prevention

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.

The super disinfecting son and dad duo
Prevention

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.

A heart-shaped bowl full of healthy foods like avocado, berries, fish and more.
Prevention

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.

Woman relaxing on couch with weighted blanket
Prevention

Benefits of Weighted Blankets for Sleep 

Tired of tossing and turning? If you’re looking for more restful sleep, a weighted blanket might help.

Young Asia lady in sportswear doing yoga exercise working out in living room at home at night.
Prevention

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.

Handsome asian guy Taking a shower in the bathroom
Prevention

Hot Showers vs Cold Showers 

Love showers hot? That packs a lot of body benefits - but so do showers that are downright cold.

Home workout routine. Black man doing suspension straps exercises
Prevention

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. 

Mid adult man looking at bread in bakery section of supermarket
Prevention

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.

Smiling Woman Having Breakfast In The Morning At Home
Prevention

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.

Older woman talks with a younger family member
Prevention

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 the Doctor if I Have a Cold?
Prevention

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.

Woman talks with a nutritionist about colon broom
Prevention

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.

Caucasian woman has a problem with bulimic and sitting at the couch at home
Prevention

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.

Shot of a carefree young boy and his father watching a movie together while being seated on the floor and eating popcorn at home during the day
Prevention

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.

A food sensitivity test tube is pictured above a table full of food.
Prevention

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?

A woman stands at a kitchen sink filling her teal water bottle.
Prevention

How Much Water Do You Need?

Are you drinking enough water? Find out why staying hydrated goes far in keeping you healthy.

Close up of a doctor doing a medical exam while both him and the patient are wearing protective masks
Prevention

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
Prevention

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!

how to drive in winter weather
Prevention

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.

Portrait of a young African American woman watering plants and enjoying
Prevention

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.

A woman steps on a scale.
Prevention

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.

Shoveling with dog
Prevention

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.

Indoor shot of young woman with dark wavy hair looking at her smartwatch.
Prevention

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.

Reminder on a calendar for January that it is Dry January, an alcohol-free month of sobriety
Prevention

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.

Close up shot of a woman eating pan-fried salmon with a knife and fork in a cafe.
Prevention

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.

Happy senior couple making dinner
Prevention

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.

Family gathering around the table discussing restrictive eating during the holidays
Prevention

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.

Young woman in living room setting up home air purifier.
Prevention

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.

Angela Moore acts as her own health advocate
Prevention

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.

A woman drinks a glass of wine while looking at a smart device.
Prevention

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.

Plus size , caucasian woman learning to make salad and healthy food from social media,Social distancing, stay at home concept
Prevention

Best Foods to Prevent Diabetes  

Food as preventative medicine? When it comes to preventing diabetes, certain foods can help lower your risk. 

Woman at home having skin care routine
Prevention

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.

Man lying on the couch with a high fever checks a thermometer
Prevention

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.

Man disinfecting workout equipment at the gym.
Prevention

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.

Asian daughter spending time with her elderly mother at home
Prevention

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.

A Black man smiles at the camera holding a basketball as his friends look on from the park behind him.
Prevention

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.

Close up shot of healthcare worker injecting black female patient with COVID-19 vaccine. The woman is wearing a face mask and looking in the opposite direction of the needle.
Prevention

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.

A bowl of chicken noodle soup.
Prevention

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.

Prevention

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.

immune system
Prevention

Four Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System

Good sleep, proper nutrition and these other tips should help keep your immune system performing optimally.

Dental checkup and examination
Prevention

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.

lab report for cholesterol with pencil
Prevention

Can You Lower Cholesterol Fast? 

High cholesterol affects nearly 40% of U.S. adults. Are there ways to lower it quickly?

Interstitium
Prevention

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.

Overweight Brother and Sister Sitting on a Sofa Eating Takeaway Food and Watching the TV
Prevention

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.

Shot of a young businesswoman blowing her nose while texting on a cellphone in an office
Prevention

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.

Itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. Fall allergies are a pain, but can eating local honey help alleviate those symptoms? 
Prevention

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?

Flu shot during Covid
Prevention

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.

Young Woman drinking her winter tea and welcoming new day
Prevention

Benefits of a Morning Ritual 

Having a morning ritual can get your whole day off to a positive start.

Changing your daily routine is easier said than done. It can be difficult to adjust a routine once you’re comfortable with it. But sometimes our routines aren’t the healthiest because of our hectic schedules and convenience.  
Prevention

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.

Senior woman has an annual eye exam
Prevention

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.

Woman cooks on a non-stick pain on the stove at home
Prevention

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.

A woman using contact lenses for a better vision
Prevention

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.

Young man using desktop pc at desk in home office
Prevention

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
Prevention

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.

Sun in the sky
Prevention

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.

Want to enjoy the sun but stay protected? Learn about when to put on sunscreen, the difference between SPF and "broad spectrum" and more.
Prevention

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.

Woman making healthy breakfast in kitchen
Prevention

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.

We cover our arms, legs and face in sunscreen, but stopping there and forgetting these nine places could result in some unsuspecting burns.
Prevention

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.

Young woman mother applying insect repellent to her two son before forest hike beautiful summer day or evening. Protecting children from biting insects at summer. Active leisure with kids
Prevention

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.

A Healthier Michigan is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
No Personal Healthcare Advice or Other Advice
This Web site provides general educational information on health-related issues and provides access to health-related resources for the convenience of our users. This site and its health-related information and resources are not a substitute for professional medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians or other health care providers.
This site and its health-related information resources are not meant to be the practice of medicine, the practice of nursing, or to carry out any professional health care advice or service in the state where you live. Nothing in this Web site is to be used for medical or nursing diagnosis or professional treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed health care provider. Always consult your health care provider before beginning any new treatment, or if you have any questions regarding a health condition. You should not disregard medical advice, or delay seeking medical advice, because of something you read in this site.