Health and Nutrition of Parsons, WV Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty eight percent of Parsons residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 17 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 four 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. They get one of these meals from a fast-food or pizza place. People here eat four "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 Parsons resident last visited a dentist two years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Ten percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Seventeen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Parsons residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 47 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 23 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Parsons residents 16 years and older is 64 inches. The average weight is 169 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Thirty five percent of people living here are obese. Fifty four percent have ever been obese. Thirty eight percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Fifty percent of Parsons residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Fourteen percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Thirteen percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Eight percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Twenty six percent of people living in Parsons have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Thirty seven 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

Parsons residents 20 years and older on average get up to urinate one 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

Ten percent of Parsons 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. Sixty seven percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty one percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Nine percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Ten percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Nineteen 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

Seventy four percent of people living in Parsons are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Twenty five percent of people living in Parsons have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Eighteen percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Forty six percent of people in Parsons frequently check their blood cholesterol. Twenty one 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

Forty three percent of people living in Parsons use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Nineteen percent of Parsons residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Twenty percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Thirty seven percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Forty seven percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Twenty seven percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Eighteen percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Fourteen percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Seven 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. Three 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

Parsons residents on average take two prescription medicines.

Summary

Alcohol use

Seventy nine percent of people living in Parsons have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Fifteen percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 2.8 days per month on average. They have 3.5 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on eight days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety seven percent of Parsons residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Eighty eight percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Seventy six percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Forty five percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Eleven percent of males in Parsons have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety eight percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy one percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty seven percent have ever had anal sex. Nine percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Parsons 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 32 women. He has vaginal sex with 22 women. People living here were on average 22 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on three women. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 5.4 men on average. They have had 1.4 anal sex partners in their lifetime. People in Parsons were 20 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on three men in their lifetime. Thirteen percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Parsons has vaginal or anal sex 42 times a year. Thirty seven percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Parsons 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with seven men on average. They have had five male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. 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

Sixteen percent of households in Parsons use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Four 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

Parsons residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Twenty three percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

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

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Thirty nine percent of Parsons residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Ten percent of Parsons 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. Thirty seven 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 one percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Thirty seven 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 two 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 2.0 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Five percent of Parsons residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Two percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Two percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Thirty one percent are overweight. Forty one 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. Six percent of people living in Parsons have ever received a blood transfusion. Fifteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Eighteen percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Three percent have ever been told they had gout. Eleven percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Two percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Ten percent have another thyroid problem. One percent of people had any kind of liver condition.

Summary

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

Reproductive Health

Seventy three percent of births in Parsons were vaginal deliveries. Twenty seven percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.4 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty one percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy six percent of women breastfeed their children. Sixty two percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Ten percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Twenty one percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Fourteen percent have ever used female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, including any forms of female hormones, such as pills, cream, patch and injections, but do not include birth control methods or use for infertility.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in Parsons report their general health condition on average at 59 percent. Six percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 37 percent of Parsons residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Seven percent of people living in Parsons are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Parsons spend $458 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 29 percent of their income. The average family in Parsons spends $96 on food at other stores monthly. This is five percent of their income. They spend $193 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is eight percent of their income. 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 Parsons report their general condition of hearing on average at 82 percent. Ninety 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 nine percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Twenty two percent of Parsons population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Thirty nine 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. Six percent of people in Parsons had off-work exposure to loud noise.

Summary

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

Preventive Aspirin Use

Thirty two percent of Parsons residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Seventeen percent of Parsons 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. Nineteen percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Six percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Four percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Eleven percent of people here have health problems that require them to use special equipment, such as a cane, wheelchair, special bed or special telephone.

Summary

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