Health Watch

The Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) wants you to be aware of current health topics and trends so that you and your family remain in good health and lead fulfilling lives. Just click on any of the "Health Watch" links below for more information.

GAPA Offers Tips to Avoid Heat-Related Illness
The summer of 2010 may end up being one of the hottest summers on record. With that in mind… Read More »

Avoid Unnecessary Pediatric Trips to the ER – Advice from Georgia PAs
It´s the middle of the night and your baby wakes up, crying. She feels hot, and when you check her temperature, it measures 101.… Read More »

Keep Spring Cleaning Safe this Year with Advice from Georgia Physician Assistants
With warmer weather finally in Georgia to stay, many people are turning their thoughts to "spring cleaning." However, some cleaning practices can be harmful… Read More »

Take Two Aspirin and Call in the Morning: Georgia PAs Prescribe Prescription Advice
Almost everyone has to have a medical prescription filled out from time to time – whether we need constant medication to regulate a chronic condition or an antibiotic to treat a temporary illness... Read More »

Georgia Physician Assistants Join the Fight Against Obesity In Georgia
Members of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants are seeking to spread the knowledge of the importance of healthy eating to all state residents, particularly citizens making up our future generations... Read More »

Protect Your Heart – Knowledge of Symptoms Can Mean the Difference Between Life and Death
February is American Heart Month, and the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants wants you to be aware and knowledgeable when it comes to your heart health... Read More »

Georgia Physician Assistants Strive To Educate Public on Breast Cancer Awareness
Members of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants are ready to educate patients on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October... Read More »

Boost Your Brain Power With These Tips From GAPA
Patients experiencing the early symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's, or a form of memory loss can now take specific steps to slow and possibly reverse, these symptoms... Read More »

GAPA Warns Georgians of the Dangers Behind MRSA
With sports seasons getting underway, parents are preparing for their child athlete's bumps and bruises. But physician assistants across the state of Georgia are informing their patients to be aware of how a little bump or scrape can turn into something more serious... Read More »

Detecting and Preventing Food-Borne Illnesses
The recent salmonella outbreaks have scared many people into wondering what will be next on the list of food that is contaminated in some way. After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 76 million cases of food poisoning in America each year... Read More »

Love Your Heart This February
We all know that we need to watch our weight, what we eat, how often we exercise and keep tabs on our stress levels. So we know what to do … but how many of us actually know the inner workings of one of our most important muscles — our heart?... Read More »

Listen to GAPA's radio message as heard on the Georgia News Network

Five Things You Should Know About Your Health
Americans consider health care as one of the most critical "kitchen-table" issues that they face today. They are concerned about the cost of health care, but also about the value of service they receive from their health care provider... Read More »

Put Immunization on Your Back-to-School Checklist
The school year is almost here, but will your child be ready? Besides shopping for supplies, your back-to-school checklist should include making sure your child has an up-to-date health record... Read More »

Stay Cool, Stay Healthy
School's out and summer is in full swing filled with hot days lounging by the pool and running around outdoors, but not everything is fun in the sun - a hot summer day can quickly go from enjoyable to harmful... Read More »

Pack Your Bags For Summer Sting Relief
Whether it's a day at the beach, hiking in the mountains or a backyard barbecue, a chance encounter can turn an enjoyable summer outing into a miserable, and sometimes life-threatening, event... Read More »

Preparing for the Flu Season
Influenza, more commonly known as "the flu", affects millions of people each year. On average, it puts 226,000 people in the hospital and it kills 36,000. Children are most susceptible, but many elderly die from this contagious disease... Read More »

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, nearly 30% of the women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer disease in the United States die each year as a result of the disease. However, woman who are regularly screened significantly reduce their chances of developing cervical cancer by 70%... Read More »

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and affects one in six Americans, and women are more commonly affected than are men. By the year 2020, 60 million people are expected to suffer from problems related to osteoarthritis, as reported by the National Institute of Health... Read More »

Skin Cancer
It is projected that nearly 60,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, this year, and over 8,000 people will die from it... Read More »