Health and Nutrition of Alton, KS Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty five percent of Alton residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 21 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 three 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 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 Alton 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). Eleven percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Twenty two percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Alton residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 45 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 three 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 25 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Alton residents 16 years and older is 57 inches. The average weight is 154 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty nine percent of people living here are obese. Fifty three percent have ever been obese. Fifty eight 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 seven percent of Alton residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Ten percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Ten percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Six percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Six percent of people living in Alton have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Sixty percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. One 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

Alton 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

Taste & Smell

Fourteen percent of Alton 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. Three percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Sixty five percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty six percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Seven percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Eleven percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Twenty six 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 four percent of people living in Alton are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

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

Summary

Dermatology

Fifty two percent of people living in Alton use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

Alton residents on average take one prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Sixty one percent of people living in Alton have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Twenty two percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of Alton residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety eight percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy seven percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty seven percent have ever had anal sex. People in Alton were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 20 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Alton were 22 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. Eight percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Alton has vaginal or anal sex 76 times a year. Thirty two percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Alton 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with four men on average. They have had four male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes.

Summary

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

Pesticide Use

Thirteen percent of households in Alton use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Five 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

Alton residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Twenty two 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 seven percent of Alton residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Twenty four 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. Thirty two percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Fifteen 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 five 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 1.1 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Fourteen percent of Alton 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". Forty four percent are overweight. Sixteen 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. Nine percent of people living in Alton have ever received a blood transfusion. Twenty two percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Twenty two percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Two percent have ever been told they had gout. Two percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Two 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. Eleven percent have another thyroid problem. Three percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Two percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Three 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

Sixty two percent of births in Alton were vaginal deliveries. Thirty eight percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.2 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty two percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy six percent of women breastfeed their children. Seventeen percent of women in Alton have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Twelve percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Sixty seven percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Four percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Twenty percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Seventeen 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 Alton report their general health condition on average at 53 percent. Four percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 43 percent of Alton residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Eight percent of people living in Alton are left-handed.

Summary

Consumer Behavior

People in Alton spend $420 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 22 percent of their income. The average family in Alton spends $119 on food at other stores monthly. This is seven percent of their income. They spend $133 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is five percent of their income. They also spend $34 monthly on carried out or delivered food. This is two percent of their income.

Summary

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

Audiometry

People living in Alton report their general condition of hearing on average at 83 percent. Eighty nine 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 eight percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Fifteen percent of Alton population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty 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. Five percent of people in Alton 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 five percent of Alton residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

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

Physical Functioning

Fifteen percent of Alton 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. Eighteen percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Seven percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Six percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Five 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.