(BPT) - By definition, the term “rare” implies something uncommon. When applied to diseases, it means a condition that impacts a small number of patients, usually fewer than 1 in 2,000. However, to have a rare disease, and the challenges it brings, is more common than many people may realize.

(BPT) - The Social Security Administration implemented their highest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four decades earlier this year. This annual COLA is based on increases in the Consumer Price Index as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means former workers receiving …

(BPT) - You have smoke alarms in your home, you check them regularly and you practice your emergency escape plan with your family — but are you overlooking an essential component of home fire safety as you check your spring to-do list? Having fire extinguishers can give you peace of mind and…

(BPT) - Of all the things to love about spring — coming out of winter blues, seeing trees start to bud and flowers begin to bloom — another one is how it can help us re-focus on our health.

(BPT) - If you’ve ever purchased a home, you’ve probably at least considered a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. It’s the most popular type of mortgage loan in the U.S. But this wasn’t always the case. The 30-year mortgage was a product of the Great Depression — and the Federal Home Loan Bank Sys…

(BPT) - Did you know that your garage door is typically the biggest moving object in your home? Inspecting your garage door to identify any potential issues can go a long way toward ensuring a safe environment for your family. Garage doors are subject to normal wear and tear, and regular mai…

(BPT) - There’s cleaning, and then there’s spring cleaning. One is basic maintenance — vacuuming, dusting, general tidying — while the other is an intensive overhaul. As seasons shift and temperatures thaw, spring cleaning is a chance to start fresh.

(BPT) - Sponsored by GSK — Thomas, an African American man, shares his multiple myeloma story: from diagnosis at a young age to continued treatment to his role in clinical trials and as an advocate. This is his personal story, and others may be different. Thomas is a paid spokesperson for GSK.

(BPT) - The transition to spring means the beginning of daylight saving time, warmer and longer days, and the emergence of spring allergies while we begin the annual ritual of spring cleaning. This variable weather and increasing daylight can be disruptive to your daily routine and nighttime…

(BPT) - Many people resolve to be better about their finances at the beginning of the year, but following through can be challenging, especially when you want to celebrate the people you love and have fun throughout the year.

(BPT) - As the weather warms, the desire to go fishing is undeniable. And if you love fishing, there’s only one thing more enjoyable than catching a big fish — watching a kid catch a fish.

(BPT) - Living with a chronic and incurable disease like ulcerative colitis (UC) can be difficult. According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), this inflammatory bowel disease can cause chronic diarrhea with blood and mucus, abdominal pain and cramping, and weight loss. While…

(BPT) - Are you having trouble driving at night? According to the National Safety Council, your depth perception and peripheral vision can be compromised when driving in the dark. Even with high beams, visibility is limited to 500 feet ahead of you, giving you less time to react if you see s…

(BPT) - Emma Frommeyer is a typical teenager in so many ways. She loves music, makeup and hanging out with friends. She’s also an incredibly smart honor roll student, however, there is one thing that sets her apart from most teenagers … Emma has a brain tumor and is fighting for her life.

(BPT) - Did you know that if you have a chronic heart condition, you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia? It’s a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can put you in the hospital or even be life-threatening.

(BPT) - Physician anesthesiologist Dr. Bonnie Milas provides life-saving treatment every day, so when she found her 21-year-old son unresponsive on the kitchen floor, his lips blue, she knew what to do. He was suffering an opioid overdose only hours after being discharged from an inpatient t…

(BPT) - How well do you know your health coverage? Now is the perfect time to review your Medicare Advantage (MA) plan and make sure you're getting the most from your benefits.

(BPT) - Have you ever bought something, tried it out and realized it just wasn’t “the one”? Well, how about choosing a Medicare plan and then after using it for about a month, you realize you chose the wrong plan. Enter the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

(BPT) - Reading opens the door to a lifelong love of learning, imagination and adventure. When parents instill a love of reading in their children from an early age, it increases their oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge, which helps to build a solid foundation for later reading ability.

(BPT) - If you’re going meatless on Fridays or you just want fun, convenient ways to add flavorful seafood to your meal plans, you’re in luck. You can create effortless, affordable dinners and snacks featuring these delicious SeaPak selections: Popcorn Shrimp, Butterfly Shrimp and Shrimp Sca…

(BPT) - Spring isn’t just the start to a new season. It signals sunshine, longer days and the chance to renew your plates with fresh flavors — like the juicy goodness of seasonal citrus.

(BPT) - Building savings for retirement isn't easy, and it's only become more difficult with rising inflation and public market volatility. According to a report by Vanguard,1 retirement account balances decreased by 20% in 2022 alone due to economic challenges. This news may sound grim, but…

(BPT) - Nineteen-year-old Meredith Cowden was nearly through her first year of art school when she started feeling sick. She visited her school’s clinic and received a diagnosis of mono, along with antibiotics, and looked forward to feeling better soon. Instead, her symptoms worsened, leadin…

(BPT) - It's the sweet sounds of your favorite music and your loved one’s voice. It's the morning alarm nudging you awake or the car alerting you that it's low on gas. It's the oven buzzing that your food is done or the fire alarm blaring that dinner is overdone.

(BPT) - If you're a caregiver for a spouse or other family member at home, you already know how emotionally and physically challenging it can be. When you need to lift, turn or transfer a loved one to or from a wheelchair or bed, it can put added strain on your bones and joints.

(BPT) - Do you want to adopt healthier habits this year? Improving your holistic wellness goes beyond improving your exercise and diet. There are many ways to invest in your health in 2023. Not sure where to start? Check out these five ways to set yourself up for a healthier you this year.

(BPT) - According to a recent Forbes Health poll, improving mental health was cited as one of the top New Year’s resolutions for 2023. For those seeking a mental healthcare provider, finding the right one can feel much like dating — overwhelming to find someone who shares the same values, me…

(BPT) - Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, affects more than 6 million adults in the United States according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It is a condition that develops when the heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs — which can ha…

(BPT) - Holiday gatherings may make the season jolly and bright, but they can also leave your house in need of a deep clean and de-cluttering. The new year is a great time to bring back order and cleanliness to your home and tick off some home maintenance chores you may have neglected last year.

(BPT) - Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has been vocal about the importance of getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia — a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks and, in severe cases, put you in the hospital and even be life-threatening.

(BPT) - As you age, it’s perfectly normal to notice changes in your body. You may not be able to move as fast or hear as well. Age also increases your risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in seniors.

(BPT) - Nine out of 10 Americans agree: the nation’s Veterans deserve nothing less than the highest-quality health care. Yet a proposal by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) risks lowering their standard of care by replacing highly trained physician anesthesiologists with nurses in…

(BPT) - Taking care of ourselves and each other is critical at any age. A 2022 survey of members by AARP Services confirmed that adults 50-plus share that sentiment. Seventy-one percent agreed with the statement, "My health is my biggest concern," while 89% agreed with the statement, "Taking…

(StatePoint) You’ve selected your insurance plan for the year. Now, it’s time to start using your benefits, beginning with an annual wellness exam.

(BPT) - A urinary tract infection (also called a UTI) is one of the most common infections worldwide and can impact anyone of any age. For some people, infections are easily identified and cleared with treatment from a health care provider. However, for some people, UTIs are an ongoing probl…

(BPT) - By Bryan Baeumler, HGTV Personality & Professional Contractor

(BPT) - Big economic changes can, and should, prompt big changes in individuals’ personal financial habits. That can look different from household to household but changing economic conditions doesn’t mean depriving yourself of what makes life enjoyable — much less healthy — especially at th…

(BPT) - If you love exploring ingredients and new ways to cook old favorites, 2023’s cooking trends will delight and inspire you. GoodCook Culinary Chef Anthony Serrano shares trends he’s seeing in kitchens everywhere, along with helpful tools to help make your culinary adventures more successful.

(BPT) - While preparing to ring in the new year, many Americans make resolutions about their finances. Unfortunately, some are feeling less optimistic about the year ahead, according to Fidelity Investments' 2023 New Year’s Financial Resolutions Study. Over one-third say they're in worse fin…

(BPT) - Ready to kick off 2023 with new resolutions that will help improve and simplify your routine?

(BPT) - Especially in the winter months, most people spend the bulk of each day — up to 90%* — indoors, according to the U.S. EPA. Unfortunately, whether at home, in the car or at work, indoor air has been shown to be three times more polluted than outdoor air, posing a significant threat to…

(BPT) - Approaching retirement is an exciting prospect: transitioning into this phase of life gives everyone the chance to spend more time with their family and enjoy favorite hobbies. However, wider economic conditions, particularly those we have seen over the last year, can sometimes preve…

(BPT) - If you’re interested in getting started with investing but you’re not sure what your first steps should be, you’re not alone. A recent survey by Magnifi found that one-third of Americans are planning to invest by themselves in 2023, but even though they want to invest on their own, n…

(BPT) - While homeowners invest time and money to make their homes comfortable and energy efficient, one common denominator of comfort and energy efficiency is often overlooked — the air inside a home. The old saying “what’s out of sight is out of mind” applies not only to a home’s air, but …

(BPT) - Sal Ciresi (left) and his wife Carol at Arches National Park in Utah*