health
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Athens-Clarke County
Georgia Department of Public Health Eases Restrictions on Testing Amid COVID-19
“The first thing we’ve been active in is trying to get testing as widespread as we can,” said Stephen Goggans, district health director of the East Central Public Health District. The DPH is beginning to loosen the criteria for testing to allow people who have symptoms but are not…
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COVID-19 Coverage
Jackson County Business Owners Look to Government For Help Amid COVID-19
John Scott, director of economic development for the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, said his emails have increased at least 300%, and he is on back-to-back conference calls working to consolidate information for the community. Jackson County has more employer establishments as of 2017 than Oglethorpe, Madison,…
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Athens-Clarke County
Going Outside: How It Can Boost Your Mental Health
Researchers say one way to improve your mental health: go outside. That’s why Athens-Clarke County has decided to reopen the Firefly and Greenway trails for public use. According to Athens-Clarke County’s website, the Firefly and Greenway trails “will be open for public use to provide recreational opportunities for the community…
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Health
UGA Students Prepare For Upcoming Travel In Wake Of Coronavirus
Sydney Cox plans to attend a Maymester study abroad program in Spain, Portugal and France. But like many students, Cox, a senior Nutritional Sciences major at the University of Georgia, is concerned about the coronavirus’s potential impact on her ability to participate. “I am worried that the trip will be…
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Health
University of Georgia Stays Vigilant Against Spread Of Coronavirus Involving Study Abroad Programs
Many University of Georgia students are self-quarantining for 14 days in their homes after their semester-long study abroad trips were cut short due to the spread of coronavirus. Coronavirus, which originated in the Wuhan province of China, has now touched most corners of the world, including Georgia, where the first…
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Athens-Clarke County
Magic Mushrooms Decriminalization Making Progress, Still Far Behind Cannabis
While marijuana is being decriminalized or legalized in states and municipalities across America, there is a new push to decriminalize psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic substance famously found in more than 200 kinds of mushrooms that are collectively referred to as “magic mushrooms” or “psychedelic mushrooms.” Zane Bader…
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Athens-Clarke County
Community Water Fluoridation: Perspectives Differ on Whether Practice Helps, Hurts
Fluoride is a natural substance that is released from rocks into the water, air and soil. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not enough natural fluoride in our drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Dental decay became a huge debate during WWII when many individuals…
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Health
How to Beat the Daylight Saving Time Change Blues
Daylight saving time has just ended and, like many Americans, you may have used that extra hour to sleep longer. While this may help you feel more productive and alert Sunday morning, research shows that the end of daylight saving time can negatively affect your mental health between November and…
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Gaming Culture
Playing Video Games In VR Can Improve Your Health
For the past 15 or so years, video game developers have been playing around with incorporating fitness. The latest wave of fitness-based gaming has come in the form of virtual reality. Josiah Byler shows how scientists at the VR Health Institute can equate playing video games in VR to exercise.…
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Health
Georgia Expecting 27 Percent Increase in Alzheimer’s Disease Cases in Next 6 Years
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive illness that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior is America’s sixth-leading cause of death. The Alzheimer’s Association says the number of Georgia cases is expected to rise from 150,000 to 190,000 by 2025. The Numbers This increase is due to the number of Americans over…