Health and Nutrition of West Alton, MO Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Fifty three percent of West Alton residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 20 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 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 West 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). Fifteen percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Sixteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). West Alton residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 40 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 24 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of West Alton residents 16 years and older is 66 inches. The average weight is 179 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 28. Thirty nine percent of people living here are obese. Forty seven percent have ever been obese. Thirty one percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Forty two percent of West Alton residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty five percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twenty four percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Three percent have ever used heroin. Eight percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

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

Summary

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

Kidney Conditions-Urology

West 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

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

Taste & Smell

Six percent of West 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. Fifty seven percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Seventeen percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Eighteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Fourteen percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull.

Summary

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

Health Insurance

Fifty three percent of people living in West Alton are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

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

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

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

Thirteen percent of people living in West Alton use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

West 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

Eighty six percent of people living in West Alton have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Eight percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 4.4 days per month on average. They have 6.2 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 41 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety one percent of West Alton residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Eighty seven percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Seventy four percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Forty five percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Six percent of males in West Alton have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. People in West Alton 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 17 women. He has vaginal sex with 16 women. People living here were on average 21 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on five women. People in West Alton were 23 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Twenty three percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in West Alton has vaginal or anal sex 29 times a year. Thirty eight percent have sex without using a condom. Thirty seven 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

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

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

Summary

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

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Forty seven percent of West Alton residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Twenty six percent of West Alton 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. Forty 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. Forty four percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty two 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 two 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 0.6 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Seven percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Twenty one percent are overweight. Twelve percent of people living in West Alton have ever received a blood transfusion. Thirty five percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Twenty seven percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Three percent have ever been told they had gout. Two percent have coronary heart disease. Four percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Three percent of people had any kind of liver condition.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in West Alton report their general health condition on average at 49 percent. Two percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 47 percent of West Alton residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Nine percent of people living in West Alton are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in West Alton spend $470 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 26 percent of their income. The average family in West Alton spends $104 on food at other stores monthly. This is five percent of their income. They spend $210 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is seven percent of their income. They also spend $14 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 West Alton report their general condition of hearing on average at 85 percent. Ninety five 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. Fifty six 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. Eleven percent of people in West 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

Eighteen percent of West 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

Fourteen percent of West 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. Seventeen percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Ten percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Eleven percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Nine 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.