Photo: Idawriter · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Ghent residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ghent, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ghent. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ghent
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Ghent
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.5%), vs 10.6% across West Virginia. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 4.2% across West Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.5%, vs 15.9% across West Virginia. In all, Ghent runs above West Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Ghent adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.4%), vs 32.8% across West Virginia. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Ghent, and more people treating it
50.5% of adults have high blood pressure (West Virginia 44%), but 82.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 79.5% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the West Virginia figure falls outside Ghent’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Ghent adults…
Ghent runs above WV on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ghent adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
Care in and near Ghent
No hospital or community health center in Ghent itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ghent; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Ghent adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
4 in 10 Ghent adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22% of Ghent adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Ghent and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ghent adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ghent
Why doesn’t Ghent have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ghent.
What hospital is closest to Ghent?
Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Ghent’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Ghent?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Accesshealth Glade Clinic in Shady Spring, 7.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ghent.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.