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B-Healthy CMPGC
Issue #2 (February 2010)
The County Health Rankings and Us
On February 17, 2010, a first -of-its-kind collection of county by county reports were released that rank the overall health of U.S. counties and cities in all 50 states as of 2010. These rankings done by the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are based on how long people live and how healthy they are.
As reported on page B2, The Washington Post, February 17, 2010, "Researchers rated overall health based on five measures that included the rate of people dying before age 75; the percentage of people who reported being in fair or poor health; and the rate of low-birth weight infants.
They also gave a separate grade to factors that influence health. Those include smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary care providers, high school graduation rates, violent crime rates, air pollution levels and liquor store density." Coincidentally, several factors our B-Healthy CMPGC Editor stated in his introduction and issue #1 above are reflected in the report's rankings and results.
Howard, Montgomery, and Frederick ranked as the healthiest counties in Maryland. Our own Prince George's County ranked 17th. Thus where you live plays a role in your health.
In terms of application, the data point local policymakers to ways they can help. We can see the report as an opportunity to improve the county's performance. Individually, there is much we need to do to improve our health and that of our community. We encourage readers to review the report results and background by clicking on the link http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/maryland/prince-georges.
What is your reaction to the reports? Do let us hear from you. Send your suggestions for improving health in Prince George's County.
The "B-Healthy" Team
Editor: Noel Brathwaite, PhD
B-Healthy CMPGC
Issue #3 (March 2010)
Today we begin a four part series entitles “Factors Affecting Health”. This series is prompted by a county ranking study (See B-Healthy CMPGC Issue #2 above) that was done by the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and reported in the Washington post. According to the report Prince George’s County ranked # 17 of the 23 counties and Baltimore City. This ranking is based on how long people live or lifespan or rate of premature death and how healthy they are or general health or rates of disease. Thus we now know that where you live matters to your health. Where you live may play a major role in how long - and how well - you live as well.
The meaning of health
To start this series we will focus on: what really is health? What dose it mean to be healthy, to be in good health or in poor health? Often in surveys we ask the question: How do you feel or how would you rate your health? Or choose a response that best describes your health today. So in terms of rating your own health you may say: My health is poor or my health is good; or I am in good health or I am not feeling too good today? But the thing is that if you are single your answer may be different from one who is married; or employed and unemployed; or young or aged; or living in a rural community versus an urban community.
Definition of health
What then is health? Do we take health for granted? Does it just happen? At one time health was defined as the absence of illness. This meant that your doctor told you that you had no common ailments such as hypertension or high blood pressure; no diabetes or high blood sugar; you had a good or clean bill of health. I am feeling good, no aches, no pain, no sick days, no doctor visit, and no medication. However, the current and universally acceptable definition as issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) is that it is a "State of complete physical, mental, and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." As one leader said recently: health is about more than just health care. Health happens in our community; Action starts with information and awareness. So what is the state of your health today? Are you feeling like James Brown said: “Ah feel good”.
Next Month we will focus on factors influencing health. What are the factors influencing your heath and the health of our county? This new database links general health status and premature death - with factors that play a role in those outcomes. These myriad of factors include smoking or tobacco use, obesity, binge drinking, unemployment rate, income, childhood poverty, air pollution or air quality, access to grocery stores and access to fast food.
The "B-Healthy" Team
Editor: Noel Brathwaite, PhD
B-Healthy CMPGC
Issue #4 (April 2010)
Today we present part two of our four part series entitles “Factors Affecting Health”. This series is prompted by a county ranking study that was done by the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and reported in the Washington post. According to the report Prince George’s County ranked # 17 of the 24 counties and Baltimore City. Thus we now know that where you live matters to your health. Where you live may play a major role in how long - and how well - you live.
One Factor
I had the opportunity to visit Chester, Pennsylvania from Monday to Wednesday of this week. The ride on Highway 83 North from downtown Baltimore and then Highway 30 East to Chester presents a vista of beautiful countryside with farms, wide open spaces, mixed with fast moving vehicles followed by cluttered streets when I reached downtown Chester. I was there to meet with a group of over 160 professionals and examine some critical elements of a healthy lifestyle. One of these elements is the subject of my discussion in this article. It is called cholesterol. What then is cholesterol and how does it relate to health? According to one source cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. The body makes some of it, and the rest comes from cholesterol in animal products, such as meat, poultry, fish, egg, butter, cheese and whole milk. Food from plants — like fruits, vegetables and cereals — doesn't have cholesterol. Foods with saturated fats also cause the body to make more cholesterol. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.
So these professionals were interested in the amount of cholesterol in their blood and so after fasting for at least 12 hours each one took a test between 6:00am and 8:00am during a two day period. First the technicians drew blood from each person by a finger stick/prick. This blood was analyzed and the results indicated the level of cholesterol in the body. There are two types of cholesterol. These are called the good or HDL (high density lipoprotein) and the bad or LDL (low density lipoprotein). LDL has the capacity to transport more cholesterol than HDL and to deposit more in the arteries. The American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend that the good type should be greater than 40mg/dL for men and 50 for women; and the bad type should be a range of 100mg/dL to 129 mg/dL for both sexes with slight variations for age. All participants at the meeting received the results of their individual test.
Today we are encouraging you to take a cholesterol test if you have not done so in the past 12 months. There is a definite relationship between your cholesterol level and your health. Your level determines your risk for heart and cardiovascular problems and disease. High levels of HDL mean reduced risk whereas high levels of LDL increase your risk. Check your cholesterol and live well.
The "B-Healthy" Team
Editor: Noel Brathwaite, PhD
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