Health and Nutrition of Harkers Island, NC Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Fifty five percent of Harkers Island residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 23 times per month. This includes chocolate and other flavored milks, as well as hot cocoa made with milk, and does not count small amounts of milk added to coffee or tea. People living here eat an average of two meals (breakfasts, lunches or dinners) per week that were prepared away from home in places such as restaurants, fast food places, food stands, grocery stores or from vending machines. People here eat two "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat two frozen meals or frozen pizzas on average monthly.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Oral Health

The average Harkers Island resident last visited a dentist three years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Eight percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Fourteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Harkers Island residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 48 percent. People living here aged 30 years and older, aside from brushing their teeth with toothbrush, use dental floss or any other device that clean between teeth on average two days per week. They also use mouthwash or other dental rinse products to treat dental disease or dental problems an average of three days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 17 teeth.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Weight

The average height of Harkers Island residents 16 years and older is 65 inches. The average weight is 163 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 27. Thirty one percent of people living here are obese. Thirty one percent have ever been obese. Eighteen percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Drug Use

Thirty one percent of Harkers Island residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. One percent have ever used heroin.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Diabetes

Twenty one percent of people living in Harkers Island have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Thirty three percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Three percent of city residents are currently taking insulin.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Kidney Conditions-Urology

Harkers Island residents 20 years and older on average get up to urinate two time at night (from time they go to bed at night until the time they get up in the morning).

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Taste & Smell

Seven percent of Harkers Island residents above the age of 40 have problems with their ability to smell, such as not being able to smell things or things not smelling the way they are supposed to. Five percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Fifty eight percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Fourteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Twenty seven percent have had two or more sinus infections.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Health Insurance

Sixty seven percent of people living in Harkers Island are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Twenty eight percent of people living in Harkers Island have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Thirty six percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Forty four percent of people in Harkers Island frequently check their blood cholesterol. Forty two percent of people have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that their blood cholesterol level was high.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Dermatology

Twenty nine percent of people living in Harkers Island use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Twenty one percent of Harkers Island residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Twenty one percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Forty four percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Forty four percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Eighteen percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Sixteen percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Fifteen percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Twenty three percent of people living here move or speak so slowly that other people could have noticed, or the opposite - being so fidgety or restless that they have been moving around a lot more than usual. Two percent have thoughts that they would be better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Prescription Medications

Harkers Island residents on average take three prescription medicines.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Alcohol use

Fifty two percent of people living in Harkers Island have at least one alcoholic drink per month. People living here drink alcohol 3.5 days per month on average. They have 6.8 drinks per week.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Sexual Behavior

Eighty seven percent of Harkers Island residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety five percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Seventy eight percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Thirty eight percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Five percent of males in Harkers Island have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Sixty six percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Forty three percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Fourteen percent have ever had anal sex. People in Harkers Island were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 22 women. He has vaginal sex with nine women. People living here were on average 23 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on two women. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 1.9 men on average. They have had 0.8 anal sex partners in their lifetime. People in Harkers Island were 23 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Eight percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Harkers Island has vaginal or anal sex 40 times a year. Twenty two percent have sex without using a condom. Fifty eight percent of men 18 years old and older are circumcised.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Pesticide Use

Seven percent of households in Harkers Island use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Nine percent use chemical products in their lawns or gardens to kill weeds.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Sleep Disorders

Harkers Island residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Thirty one percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Thirty one percent of Harkers Island residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Physical Activity

Thirteen percent of Harkers Island residents' work involve vigorous-intensity activity that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate, like carrying or lifting heavy loads, digging or construction work for at least 10 minutes continuously. Nineteen percent of people do moderate-intensity activities at work that cause small increases in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking or carrying light loads for at least 10 minutes continuously. Twenty six percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Eleven percent do any vigorous-intensity sports, fitness or recreational activities that cause large increases in breathing or heart rate like running or basketball for at least 10 minutes continuously. Thirty six percent do any moderate-intensity sports, fitness or recreational activities that cause a small increase in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking, bicycling, swimming or golf for at least 10 minutes continuously. People living here spend six hours sitting on a typical day (this includes sitting at work, at home, getting to and from places, or with friends, including time spent sitting at a desk, traveling in a car or bus, reading, playing cards, watching television or using a computer). They usually sit and watch TV or videos for about three hours per day. They use a computer or play computer games (including Playstation, Nintendo DS, or other portable video games) outside of work or school for 0.7 hours per day.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Medical Conditions

Fourteen percent of Harkers Island residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Two percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Twenty nine percent are overweight. Twenty five percent of people 60 years and older have difficulties in thinking or remembering that can make a big difference in everyday activities (this does not refer to occasionally forgetting your keys or the name of someone you recently met). This refers to things like confusion or memory loss that are happening more often or getting worse. Seven percent of people living in Harkers Island have ever received a blood transfusion. Twenty three percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Nineteen percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Ten percent have ever been told they had gout. Four percent have congestive heart failure. Four percent have coronary heart disease. One percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Four percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Eleven percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Twelve percent have another thyroid problem. Three percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Twenty percent have ever had cancer or a malignancy of any kind.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Reproductive Health

Seventy four percent of births in Harkers Island were vaginal deliveries. Twenty six percent of deliveries were cesarean. 96.4 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Seventy four percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Ninety percent of women breastfeed their children. Sixteen percent of women in Harkers Island have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Six percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Thirty two percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Current Health Status

People living in Harkers Island report their general health condition on average at 50 percent. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 28 percent of Harkers Island residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Consumer Behavior

People in Harkers Island spend $448 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 21 percent of their income. The average family in Harkers Island spends $112 on food at other stores monthly. This is three percent of their income. They spend $109 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is four percent of their income. They also spend $23 monthly on carried out or delivered food. This is one percent of their income.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Audiometry

People living in Harkers Island report their general condition of hearing on average at 72 percent. Eighty three percent of them can usually hear and understand, without the use of a hearing aid or any other listening devices, what a person says without seeing his or her face if that person whispers to them from across a quiet room. Ninety two percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Twenty one percent of Harkers Island population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Forty three percent of people living here have ever had a job where they were exposed to loud sounds or noise. Loud means so loud that they must speak in a raised voice to be heard.

Summary

Preventive Aspirin Use

Twenty five percent of Harkers Island residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Seventeen percent of Harkers Island residents 20 or older have limitations caused by a long-term physical, mental or emotional problems or illnesses keeping them from working at a job or business. Twenty seven percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Twenty six percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Fifteen percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.