Dalton (GA) April 6, 2009 —Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – and the best cure for many of the most prevalent health problems in the United States is to prevent them in the first place through healthy lifestyle choices.

 National Public Health Week is April 6 – 12, 2009. The North Georgia Health District continues to join the Georgia Department of Human Resources in encouraging Georgians of all ages to make better health a priority, now and for a lifetime, by following the guidelines of the Live Healthy Georgia campaign: Be Active, Eat Healthy, Be Smoke Free, Get Checked and Be Positive.

 

Physical activity, for example, is an excellent disease preventative that fits easily into everyday activities. Build in a few minutes most days of the week for walking, biking, stair climbing, or running and the body will burn extra calories instead of storing them.

 

The food choices we make every day also affect our health—food choices influence how we feel today, tomorrow, and in the future. It is possible to eat plenty of food but not the right foods that give our bodies the nutrients needed to be healthy. The best way to eat a balanced diet is to eat a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day and stay within the daily calorie needs.

 

The toll-free Georgia Tobacco Quit Line can help smokers kick the habit. Instead of reaching for a cigarette or some tobacco, reach for the phone and dial the Quit Line: 1-877-270-STOP. Spanish speakers can call 1-877-2NO-FUME.

 

Getting regular check-ups and preventive screening tests are among the most important things a person can do to stay healthy – and do not get discouraged! It is important to be positive when making these changes.

 

For more information about Live Healthy Georgia and the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices, log onto www.livehealthygeorgia.org.

 

Since 1995, when the first full week of April was declared as National Public Health Week (NPHW), communities across the country have celebrated NPHW to recognize the contributions of public health, and to highlight issues that are important to improving the public’s health. The American Public Health Association (APHA) services NPHW.