Here’s how Georgians’ health stacks up — and it’s not all bad news

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgians’ hypertension, weight problems, and coronary heart illness ranges are all increased than the nationwide common, placing them among the many most alarming statistics in a brand new report from Augusta College researchers.

And in medical insurance protection, Georgia ranked forty ninth within the U.S.

The examine – “Wholesome Georgia: Our State of Public Well being” from the AU Institute of Public and Preventive Well being – discovered excessive ldl cholesterol amongst Georgians is similar to the nationwide fee however decrease than the area.

Whereas the general prevalence of excessive ldl cholesterol in Georgia was 31%, it was 25% amongst Black Georgians, which can be decrease than the Black inhabitants in the remainder of the U.S.

Hypertension and weight problems are “considerably increased” amongst Georgia adults than the nationwide common, however hypertension charges are decrease than the regional common.

Whereas the prevalence of hypertension in Georgia was 37%, it was 46% amongst Georgians residing in rural areas.

The report additionally reveals most rural areas wrestle with a scarcity of healthcare sources.

“You’ve got a excessive degree of uninsured. Regardless that the hospital could also be proper outdoors your door, that doesn’t essentially imply that you’ve got the funds to entry the care that you could possibly get in these hospitals or in these specialty clinics,” mentioned Dr. Aaron Johnson, Augusta College.

Hypertension has been trending downward in Georgia in recent times, in line with the examine.

Grownup weight problems is similar to the regional common however above the nationwide common. Weight problems amongst Georgia youngsters, although decrease than the regional common, is considerably increased than the nationwide common.

The examine notes that weight problems charges have been rising all throughout the U.S. for greater than three a long time. The weight problems pattern continues to rise in Georgia, and the Peach State ranks within the prime fiftieth percentile for weight problems amongst all states.

Folks with earnings beneath the federally outlined poverty line in Georgia had a considerably decrease fee of weight problems in comparison with individuals with earnings beneath the poverty line in the remainder of the Southeast.

General, Georgians even have the next fee of coronary heart illness than the nationwide common, however the prevalence amongst Black and Hispanic Georgians is beneath the nationwide and regional averages, the examine discovered.

The examine discovered Georgians residing beneath the federally outlined poverty threshold have the next fee than others.

Whereas the general prevalence of coronary heart illness amongst Georgians was 9%, it was 16% amongst rural Georgians, which can be increased than that within the rural inhabitants in remainder of the U.S.

Whereas smoking in Georgia is beneath the regional common, it’s increased than the nationwide common.

White Georgians smoke at the next fee than white adults in the remainder of the U.S., however Black Georgians smoke at a decrease fee than their counterparts elsewhere the examine discovered.

Whereas the general cigarette smoking prevalence in Georgia was 15%, it was 28% amongst Georgians with earnings beneath the federally outlined poverty line.

Different findings

• Apart from bronchial asthma, noncommunicable illnesses listed below are decrease than in the remainder of the area. The kid bronchial asthma fee in Georgia is above the regional and nationwide common.
• White and aged Georgians have the next probability of being diabetic than individuals in different states, however Black and Hispanic Georgians’ fee is decrease than the area and the nation.
• Georgians aren’t as heavy drinkers or as depressed as their counterparts within the area and throughout the nation, the examine discovered.
• Flu shot charges are considerably decrease in Georgia than each nationwide and regional averages.

Augusta Domestically Grown is holding a gardening class the place persons are studying to develop their very own vegetation and greens. It’s simply one of many methods persons are attempting to fight the problems within the report right here regionally.

Brandi Wallace is the training coordinator with Augusta Domestically Grown. She mentioned: “How are you aware what’s getting in your system when you don’t know what you’re placing in your system? How are you going to belief folks?”

Johnson says they hope the report will assist open the eyes of leaders throughout the state.

“I believe they are going to be extra open now than maybe any time within the final decade to increasing the sources that go into enhancing the general well being of the state,” he mentioned.

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