News from DHR: DHR urges Georgia women to "get checked" [May 11, 2006A]

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Department of Human Resources Office of Communications Dena J. Smith, Press Secretary

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Phone: 404-656-4937 Fax: 404-651-6815

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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May 11,2006 For information, contact:

Lee Tanenbaum 404-657-6637

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DHR URGES GEORGIA WOMEN TO "GET CHECKED"
Atlanta (GA) - In celebration of Mother's Day, which kicks off National Women's Health Week, and the fourth annual National Women's Check-Up Day on Monday, May 15,2006, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is urging women to live healthy by: getting a regular check-up at least once a year; being physically active, such as taking a walk every day; eating a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables; not smoking; and following general safety rules, like wearing your seat belt.
"These annual observances for women's health give all Georgians the opportunity to remind the women in our lives, the traditional nurturers, to take some time to take care of themselves," said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of DHR's Division of Public Health. "We want to tell our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our aunts and h e n d s that one of the best gifts you can give yourself is to schedule an annual visit with a health care provider."
In Georgia, 92 percent of women received an annual-checkup according to 2002 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Getting checked is one of the five messages of the Live Healthy Georgia campaign launched by DHR in partnership with Gov. Sonny Perdue in March of 2005. The statewide outreach initiative encourages Georgians to follow these steps for better health and well-being: Eat Healthy, Be Active, Be Smoke Free, Get Checked and Be Positive. Visit www.livehealthv~eor~ia.or~/femaleScreening.shttomlle,arn more about getting checked and other ways women can live healthier.
DHR encourages women to talk to their health care provider during their check-ups about the recommended screening tests and immunizations for their age and background. Women can prepare themselves for their check-ups with information from the National Women's Health Information Center (www.womenshealth.nov/screeningchartsl)and "A Checklist for Your Next
(more)
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DHR URGES GEORGIA WOMEN TO "GET CHECKED" May 11,2006 Page 2
Check-up," developed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (htt~://www.ahrq_.gov/p~i~/healthywom..htm)
National Women's Check-Up Day is a nationwide effort, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to encourage women to visit health care professionals to receive regular, preventative check-ups and screenings for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and other conditions. Many of the leading causes of death among women, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes, can be successfully prevented or treated if the warning signs are caught early enough. The leading causes of death among women in Georgia in 2004 were: heart disease (25%), cancer (20%), stroke (8%), chronic lower respiratory diseases (5%), unintentional injuries (4%), Alzheimer's disease (4%), pneumoniahnfluenza (3%), and diabetes (3%). Additional data relating to major health risk factors, preventive care and health insurance coverage for Georgia females is documented in the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) reports accessible at http://health.state.aa.us/epi/brfss/publications.asp.
For health tips and information about National Women's Health Week activities including National Women's Check-Up Day, visit www.womenshealth.aov/whwor call 1-800-994WOMAN (9662), or TTY: (888) 220-5446. Information is also available about how to participate in the WOMAN Challenge, an 8-week physical activity challenge for all women and girls (ages 9 and above) which begins Sunday, May 14th, Mother's Day. Mother's Day cards promoting the Reconnect to Your Health Messages are also downloadable.
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