Health

The Autism Gap: The fight for insurance

Submitted by Jaye Watson, 11Alive Reporter

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013, 2:39pm

ATLANTA -- Eight year old Ava Bullard is playing with her sisters, riding their bikes on their long country driveway. It is a simple act that defies those who said she would never talk, those who said she wouldn't function in the real world.

Ava was not a typical baby, or toddler.

Her mother Anna says, "You couldn't interact with her."

MORE | Complete coverage of The Autism Gap

Ava did not play with toys. Did not speak. Could not dress herself. Did not interact with her parents or sisters. Slept two hours a night. She was in her own world.

Anna says, "It's like she looked straight through me. She would just...it's like you weren't there, if you were in the room with her."

Anna Bullard took Ava from doctor to doctor for months. One doctor told the family Ava was 'just weird.'

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Atlanta recruiting 5,000 volunteers for cancer study

Submitted by Jaye Watson, 11Alive Reporter

Thursday, February 14th, 2013, 10:52pm

Atlanta recruiting 5,000 volunteers for cancer study

ATLANTA -- Sixty years ago, 1 million men and women signed up for the first-ever Cancer Prevention Study. They filled out surveys every few years. And the information from those million Americans led to a dramatic discovery.

Doctor Alpa Patel with the American Cancer Society is the lead researcher on CPS3, the third generation of the cancer prevention studies.

MORE | Join the Cancer prevention Study 3

"The first study was actually set up to specifically address the question of whether not smoking caused lung cancer, and it provided the first evidence that in fact smoking is what was the causal fact, causal factor with the increase rise in lung cancer death rates we were seeing in men at that time," she said.

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YMCA removes economic barriers between those in need, programs

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013, 3:12pm

YMCA removes economic barriers between those in need, programs

ATLANTA -- The YMCA of Metro Atlanta kicked off a campaign on Tuesday that will connect families in need with scholarships, allowing them to participate in YMCA programs.

The campaign, Why It Matters takes place once a year. For 2013, board members Charlie Yates, Jr. and Carol Cookerly will co-chair the campaign as it works towards raising $2.7 million.

"The Y has always had an annual campaign that helped meet the need for financial assistance," Cookerly said. "But, this marks the first year we are pulling together our 23 local Ys and launching a system-wide brand and effort to secure the funds we need to continue to play a pivotal role in Atlanta by helping individuals, especially children, reach their greatest potential."

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Cobb Alcohol Taskforce unveils new website

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, January 14th, 2013, 12:11pm

Cobb Alcohol Taskforce unveils new website

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce has overhauled its website, making it more accessible for parents and residents.

The new CobbAT site features tips, resources, campaigns and research on underage binge drinking prevention.

It is all part of the organization's stated goal of expanding its community outreach in 2013.

Take a look at the new site at cobbat.org.

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Card soon to help residents pay less for prescriptions

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Monday, November 12th, 2012, 7:07pm

Card soon to help residents pay less for prescriptions

COBB COUNTY -- A press conference between the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and representatives of the Coast2Coast Rx Card will launch a new drug discount program on Tuesday afternoon at the Commission Chambers in Marietta.

All cardholders, according to the Cobb County Government, regardless of age, income or health condition can save on prescription medications. While it is not a form of insurance coverage, the program is free, applicable to families, and void of enrollment fees, memberships or expiration dates. Cobb will be Georgia's 22nd county to participate in Coast2Coast. Participants can use the card for prescriptions that are not covered by various insurance plans, or to tackle high deductibles.

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Protect Your Kids and Pets from Summer Heat

Submitted by traceychristensen on Saturday, June 23rd, 7:18 am

Summer in the south is officially here! With rising temperatures, it is important to take steps to protect those around us who might be vulnerable to the heat, like our children and pets.

Did you know that we lose heat by sweating? Water literally evaporates into the atmosphere and sucks the heat out of our bodies. Children produce even more heat than adults. This is because they have more body surface for their height. Children are also closer to the ground – and to hot pavement. They can easily become dehydrated or overheated.

Here are some tips to keep your children and pets safe in the heat.

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The ABCs of SPFs

Submitted by traceychristensen on Friday, June 22nd, 5:45 am

ATLANTA -- Summer is officially here. Are you protecting your skin from the sun? Do you know what SPF (sun protection factor) to use? We spoke with Piedmont dermatologist Jodi Ganz, M.D., to find out what those SPF numbers really mean.

“The SPF number means it would take you that much longer to burn than you normally would without sunscreen,” says Dr. Ganz. “If it takes you 10 minutes to burn, then using an SPF5 means it would take you five times longer, or 50 minutes, to burn. An SPF10 means you could stay in the sun 10 times longer, or 100 minutes.”

But Dr. Ganz cautions that most sunscreens “break down” on average in two hours, meaning they lose their ability to protect you. So, you must reapply sunscreen every two hours.

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