Live Well Blog

We’re all familiar with what we should do to improve our physical health. We know that it’s important to exercise, eat right and get enough sleep to keep our bodies healthy. But did you know that your mental health is just as critical for your

While there is no magic cure, there are steps women can take to reduce the risk of cancer. An estimated 18 percent of cancer cases and 16 percent of cancer deaths are attributable to the combined effects of excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and eating an unhealthy diet.

It’s That Time of Year! As cold and flu season approaches, how do you know if that throat tickle or cough is a cold, the flu or COVID-19?

It’s OK to have a bad day. When unexpected changes to our routine, work life and social life collide with concerns about our health, we are all vulnerable to stress and anxiety. As we focus on staying well, it might be easy to overlook our mental and emotional health.

There are a few numbers you know by heart: your birthday, your phone number and maybe even your childhood street address. But do you know your exact weight and current body mass index? These important numbers can reveal a great deal about your overall health.

Breathing is not something we often think about, because it happens even if we aren’t aware of it. But breathing doesn’t come easily to everyone. The air isn’t always as pure or clean as it seems, and it’s filled with invisible particles that can affect our breathing.

We all want to avoid eating, drinking or breathing in poisons, germs and other things that are bad for us. But did you know there are other dangers lurking in your mouth? Believe it or not, bacteria from your mouth can easily get into your bloodstream. When it does, it can cause infection and inflammation wherever it spreads, which sometimes leads to serious health problems. You can also transfer germs from touching your face or mouth.

Your back supports your body in every activity you do throughout the day and night. All those activities, even sleeping, pose risks to the health and alignment of your spine that can compromise the strength of both your back and your health overall.

Early screenings aren’t just for the movies! When it comes to cancer, early screenings save lives. If you have a family history of cancer — especially breast, colon or cervical cancer — you should consider preventive cancer screenings. Mammograms, colonoscopies and Pap tests look for abnormalities that may be cancer or precancerous cells. When these cells are found early, your health care team can begin treatment before serious symptoms appear.

It all starts with the heart. Your heart keeps blood moving through your body, which is essential to keeping you alive. You can’t see it, so you may not think of it often. Perhaps it’s time you did.