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Phoebe Putney chief Joel Wernick was named in the 25th Anniversary edition of Georgia Trend magazine as one of the top 25 state leaders.
At least part of the blame for childhood obesity might be traced to a unexpected cause -- a certain strain of the virus that causes the common cold.
A new antibiotic-resistant germ that apparently has it origins in India has sickened a handful of people in North America, with three of the cases reported in the United States, health officials said Tuesday.
Seventy-five percent of U.S. newborns delivered in 2007 started life breast-feeding -- a figure that meets federal goals -- but that rate plummeted to 43 percent at six months and 22 percent at one year, a federal government...
We simply don't have the time to sit in a chair primping and prepping, so here is a round-up of beauty tricks from the pros to take you from drab to fab in less than a minute each.
They're the ultimate creepy crawler. Creatures that truly give people the willies. And they're apt to make you feel unclean, or maybe even a bad parent (neither of which, experts say, is valid).
Americans who have health insurance through large, employer-sponsored health plans will see a number of plan design changes in 2011, and they'll be paying more for that coverage, employers and benefits consultants say.
Many Americans have skewed perceptions when it comes to their weight, often believing they are thinner than they really are, even when the scales are shouting otherwise, a new poll finds.
The fillings and sealants that many dentists use can expose children to the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a new analysis indicates, but such exposure is short-lived and it remains unclear whether or not it poses...
Seniors depend on their pets for company and love in ways we may not always understand. Yet sometimes the pet can be a safety hazard or pose a health risk.
Women who carry genetic mutations that boost their odds of breast and ovarian cancer can live longer and reduce their cancer risk by having preventive surgery, a new study suggests.
Scientists who discovered a gene mutation that causes a fatal neurodegenerative disease in American Staffordshire (Pit Bull) terriers say the same gene may also be linked to a similar, rare fatal brain disease in humans.
All children and adolescents 6 months of age and older should receive the annual trivalent influenza vaccine this flu season, according to updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Having a particular variation of a gene on chromosome 8 may raise the risk of getting migraines, new research shows.
Type 2 diabetes can cause serious complications, including heart disease, kidney damage and vision loss. Learn how to prevent these problems.
If you have concerns about the accuracy of a hospital bill, hiring a medical accountant might help you resolve the matter.
from the Dougherty County Health Department's Environmental Health Section...
Phoebe Putney Hospital introduces its newest surgeon to South Georgia, it's robotic and designed to be minimally invasive.
The FDA has approved the ella (ulipristal acetate) emergency contraceptive pill, which prevents pregnancy if taken within five days of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.
Menstrual cramps are often dismissed as a mere nuisance, but new research suggests the monthly misery may be altering women's brains.
Increased antibiotic use by American seniors appears to be associated with improved Medicare drug coverage, a new study suggests.
Pinpointing your hunger signals can help you determine when you should eat -- and also when you should stop. Learn how a "hunger scale" can help.
Amidst the largest outbreak of whooping cough in decades, public health officials in California are urging residents, particularly pregnant women and those who come into contact with infants, to make sure they're...
As Americans' average weight keeps rising, their quality of life is falling, according to new research.
Will the new health-reform legislation mean higher taxes for the middle class? Will panels decide what care very sick, older people should receive?
Worried about whether the weight you just lost will stay lost? Seeking out the right Web site might help, a new study suggests.
Physicians say more people will come from farther away to take advantage of the Gamma Knife and Trilogy machines.
Recent reports questioning the safety of many sunscreens have experts worried that some people may shun the very products that could save their lives, not to mention their skin.
In an effort to improve patient-doctor communication, researchers are launching a pilot program in which approximately 25,000 patients will have access to notes their doctors have made in their medical records.
By Madonna Behen HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- A small study suggests that the illicit "club drug" Ecstasy may have one positive use: making psychotherapy more effective for people with...
Concerned about an overweight child? It's not too soon to promote exercise to improve your child's long-term health. The only question is, "How?"
Seniors whose drug costs push them into Medicare's "donut hole" and parents whose children are uninsurable due to pre-existing health conditions are among the first Americans to see tangible effects of the nation's...
Transplant recipients and people who need a transplant will have a wealth of resources available to them on Saturday.
Food for Thought - Restaurant inspections – July 9 – 16, 2010 from the Environmental health section of the Dougherty County health Department.
The controversial diabetes drug Avandia does raise the risk of heart attack more than other medications of its kind but should stay on the market with tightened controls, a U.S. government advisory panel recommended late...
American kids who suffer from anxiety or depression may not be getting the help they need.
A new clinical campus in Southwest Georgia will help produce more doctors in the state.
More older Americans are getting the colon screenings they need which could save their lives.
Postmenopausal women who take fish oil supplements may reduce their breast cancer risk, a new study suggests.
There are a dozen children and two adults with symptoms of pertussis, or whooping cough.
The record-breaking heat wave scorching many parts of the United States is likely to last through the weekend, taxing people's health and utility companies' ability to keep the lights and air conditioning and fans up...
You can give blood, and enter a drawing to win a $1,000 gas card.
When it comes to treating eating disorders and addictions, the path to recovery may be even harder -- and less straightforward -- for children and teens than it is for adults, experts say.
Research into Alzheimer's disease has reached a point of significant potential, even as the disease's looming impact on society grows more and more dire, experts say.
After countless efforts to lose weight over close to 30 years, this time is completely different. Because no matter how difficult or frustrating it's become, I refuse to get to the point where I just throw my hands up and say I won't bother trying anymore.
The Willson Hospice House in Albany is the first healthcare facility in the world to obtain Audubon certification.
The continued use of antimicrobial drugs to promote growth in chickens, cattle and other livestock is tied to antibiotic resistance and should be phased out for that purpose, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.
A study in a leading medical journal says CT scans are being used far more frequently than necessary and posing a growing danger to patients.
All those wild and crazy nights may be catching up with swingers as they age, new research found.
While all blood types are needed, Type O negative is especially in high demand because it is a universal type that we can all use.
It's a 53 year old Dougherty County man and only the second confirmed case in the state. Last year Georgia had four cases, and two of those people died.
Inducing labor more than doubles the risk of having a cesarean delivery, according to a new study that puts some hard-and-fast numbers to a link that experts have long suspected.
A 53-year-old Dougherty County man with underlying health conditions has had the first confirmed case of West Nile Virus in Southwest Health District this year.
A large international study has found that 10 risk factors account for 90 percent of all the risk of stroke, with high blood pressure playing the most potent role.
Millions of Americans with a history of cancer, particularly people under age 65, are delaying or skimping on medical care because of worries about the cost of treatment, a new study suggests.
The current policy -- put into effect in 1985 during the early days of the AIDS crisis -- prevents any man who since 1977 has had sex with another man from donating blood.
Having an emotionally healthy outlook may provide long-lasting benefits for women with breast cancer.
Sexsomnia -- having sex while asleep -- is a common complaint of patients seeking treatment for sleep disorders, new research shows.
Two new tests promise to cut down on the number of biopsies now taken from men suspected of having prostate cancer, researchers report.
For half a century, women have had access to birth control pills. Men? Still waiting.
Here's another reason to brush your teeth regularly: People who don't perform this essential of oral hygiene seem to have a greater risk of heart disease compared to their more diligent peers.
Continuing education is an important component in any career field, but especially in medicine. Nurses and physicians at Phoebe Putney frequently
People who use tanning beds to keep that year-round glow are dramatically increasing their risk for developing melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers, a new study finds.
Blockbuster heartburn medications such as Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium will now carry a warning on their labels linking the drugs to a heightened risk for fractures, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced late...
Walk a little, and your body will thank you. Walk a lot, and it will really thank you.
New research suggests that exposure to high levels of organophosphate pesticides, commonly found on berries, celery and other produce, could raise the odds for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
A doctor from India is visiting Phoebe Putney Hospital to learn new operating room procedures.
Determined to lose weight? Check out these common dieting pitfalls before you embark on your next weight loss plan.
Choosing good child care for your little one makes a difference not only in the preschool years but also when your child reaches adolescence, new research suggests.
On Thursday we spent part of the afternoon with the Phoebe Putney Hospital's 2010 nurse of the year, Rebecca Lamb.
Women who use hormonal contraception such as birth control pills may be at higher risk for having sexual problems than women who use no contraception or non-hormonal contraception, a new study suggests.
The Southwest Georgia Health District still has more than 1,400 doses of the H1-N1 vaccine available that have a shelf life of about a year.
A woman who smokes while pregnant increases her baby's risk of developing psychiatric problems in childhood and young adulthood, a new Finnish study suggests.
New research could change the way scientists view the causes -- and potential prevention and treatment -- of Alzheimer's disease.
Feel like you never have time to exercise? Not anymore! Check out this easy routine you can do in short spurts throughout the day, at home and while doing other things. It takes multitasking to a whole new level.
Having dense breasts has long been known to increase a woman's risk for breast cancer, and new research confirms that a decline in breast density over time does, in fact, decrease that risk.
Can indoor tanning be addictive? According to new research, the answer is "yes," with a proportion of people who repeatedly bask under sun lamps meeting standard criteria for addiction, while also reporting higher levels of anxiety and substance use.
Record details about your headaches in a diary to pinpoint headache triggers and help your doctor make a diagnosis. Here's how to keep your headache diary.
Click here for restaurant scores, updated weekly from Dougherty Co., and to see other scores in the SW Georgia Health District...
The Southwest Health District is a 14 county public health region, serving over 300,000 citizens.
Here is the state's official immunization schedule in a .PDF file, which opens in a new browser.
