Blogs

Lowering the Risk of Opioid Misuse

BCBSOK Connect Team — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:09:00 GMT

Opioids are helpful when taken the right way. When misused, they can lead to dependence. This can lead to overdose or even accidental death. In 2023, about 76% of all overdose deaths involved opioids. Opioid misuse and related deaths have been consi...(read more)

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables for Better Health – and Mood

BCBSOK Connect Team — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:31:00 GMT

We all know that eating fresh fruit and vegetables regularly is good for our physical health. It turns out eating plenty of them may also make us happier. A 2022 study found that people who ate a diet ric...(read more)

Digital Smarts: Basic Smartphone Terms Explained

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 01:42:34 GMT

Smartphones are more than just phones. These modern-day marvels can carry out a whole range of functions besides phone calls. With a smartphone, you can surf the web, send and receive emails and texts, record video, take photos, watch movies and much...(read more)

Smartphone Basics for Older Adults: Unlocking the Digital World

BCBSOK Connect Team — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:45:00 GMT

If you’re new to smartphones, they can seem scary and confusing. But they don’t have to be. Read on for a simple guide to the basics of using a smartphone. What are smartphone apps? A smartphone is a mobile phone with many of the same fun...(read more)

Calendars Fill Quickly, Schedule Your Mammogram Early

BCBSOK Connect Team — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:27:00 GMT

Do you book your doctors’ appointments in advance? A little planning now can help you keep up with important health checks that could save your life one day. Routine mammograms are one of those important checks. When breast cancer is fou...(read more)

Earn Rewards for Healthy Actions

BCBSOK Connect Team — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:44:00 GMT

Blue Cross Medicare AdvantageSM members can earn up to $100 in gift cards for Healthy Actions.* Whether it’s scheduling your annual wellness visit or getting your flu shot, now you can earn rewards while taking care of your health. Here are Hea...(read more)

Diabetes and the Risk for Kidney Disease

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:21:00 GMT

If you have diabetes, you may not know about an important measure to protect your kidneys. What do your kidneys have to do with diabetes? It turns out, people living with diabetes have a higher risk of kidney disease. More than 35 million adults in ...(read more)

Pneumonia: A Lung Infection Can Affect Heart Health

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:13:00 GMT

Every year, nearly one million people in the United States end up in the hospital with pneumonia. Along with making breathing difficult, the infection places stress on the heart. The added stress raises the risk for heart attack, stroke and dying of ...(read more)

How In-Home Test Kits Fit Into Your Schedule

BCBSOK Connect Team — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:47:00 GMT

There are things you love to do and things you have to do. Some health screenings fall into the latter. For example, you may not be eager to have a colonoscopy. You're not alone. There’s a way you can dial down the dread. W...(read more)

How to Prevent a Heart Attack

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:43:00 GMT

The best way to survive a heart attack is to never have one. How can you prevent becoming one of the millions of Americans who suffer a heart attack? There is actually a lot you can do to protect your heart. Knowing the risks and symptoms of heart d...(read more)

Take Care of Your Health After a Hospital Visit

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:14:00 GMT

You’re glad to be back home after a hospital stay. Now it’s the time to make sure you stay on track to heal. You can take an active role in your recovery by staying on top of details. Have you reviewed your p...(read more)

Are You Caring For Your Colon?

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:01:00 GMT

It’s not a topic most of us like to talk about — or even think about. Colon cancer screening isn't fun, but it's important for good reason. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Sc...(read more)

Stay on Top of Your Prescriptions

BCBSOK Connect Team — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 13:47:00 GMT

It’s not always easy to take medications on time. Life sometimes gets in the way of best-laid plans. One day you look at your pillbox and realize you’re a few doses behind. Taking your medicine as prescribed&nbsp...(read more)

Six Ways to Start Small and Make Big Changes

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Want an easy, effective and safe way to get healthy? Think small. Small changes can actually lead to greater well-being over time. "Thinking small" works because it eases you into healthy new habits. Old habits don't simply go away. As someone ...(read more)

Skip a Trip to the Doctor’s Office with an In-Home Assessment

BCBSOK Connect Team — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 09:43:00 GMT

A trip to the doctor’s office takes time away from your everyday life. You may have to find a ride or cancel other plans. For Medicare Advantage members, an in-home health assessment can let you get the health check you need. Plus, it saves you...(read more)