Health and Nutrition of Harpers Ferry, WV Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Fifty four percent of Harpers Ferry 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 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 one 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 Harpers Ferry 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). Eight percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Nineteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Harpers Ferry residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 52 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 four days per week. They also use mouthwash or other dental rinse products to treat dental disease or dental problems an average of four days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 19 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Harpers Ferry residents 16 years and older is 64 inches. The average weight is 173 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 30. Forty six percent of people living here are obese. Fifty seven percent have ever been obese. Forty percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

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

Drug Use

Fifty one percent of Harpers Ferry residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Thirteen percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twelve percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. One percent have ever used heroin.

Summary

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

Diabetes

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

Harpers Ferry 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 Harpers Ferry 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. Six percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Sixty three percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Thirty two 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

Eighty nine percent of people living in Harpers Ferry are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Forty six percent of people living in Harpers Ferry have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Thirty eight percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Seventy two percent of people in Harpers Ferry 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

Thirty six percent of people living in Harpers Ferry use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Twenty four percent of Harpers Ferry residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Twenty nine percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Thirty three percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Forty six percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Twenty six percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Twenty percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Twenty 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. 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

Harpers Ferry 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 three percent of people living in Harpers Ferry have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Twenty one percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 2.1 days per month on average. They have 2.6 drinks per week.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of Harpers Ferry residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety three percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Ninety three percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Fifty nine percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Seven percent of males in Harpers Ferry have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety nine percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Sixty five percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Twenty five percent have ever had anal sex. Ten percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Harpers Ferry 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 20 women. He has vaginal sex with 18 women. People living here were on average 24 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 3.8 men on average. People in Harpers Ferry were 21 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Six percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Harpers Ferry has vaginal or anal sex 25 times a year. Twenty seven percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Harpers Ferry 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with 12 men on average. They have had four male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Seventy three 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

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

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

Summary

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

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Twenty seven percent of Harpers Ferry residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Twenty nine 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. Eighteen percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Sixteen 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. Forty nine 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 1.0 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Seven percent of Harpers Ferry residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Four percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Forty three percent are overweight. Seventeen 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. Twenty four percent of people living in Harpers Ferry have ever received a blood transfusion. Twenty two percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Forty four percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Six percent have ever been told they had gout. Five percent have congestive heart failure. Three percent have coronary heart disease. Two percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Three percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Five percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Ten percent have another thyroid problem. Five percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Four percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Thirteen 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 percent of births in Harpers Ferry were vaginal deliveries. Thirty percent of deliveries were cesarean. 97.3 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty one percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Forty one percent of women breastfeed their children. Forty four percent of women in Harpers Ferry have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Fifteen 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. Thirty two 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 Harpers Ferry report their general health condition on average at 50 percent. Five percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 37 percent of Harpers Ferry residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Eight percent of people living in Harpers Ferry are left-handed.

Summary

Consumer Behavior

People in Harpers Ferry spend $311 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 17 percent of their income. The average family in Harpers Ferry spends $66 on food at other stores monthly. This is three percent of their income. They spend $108 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is three percent of their income. They also spend $18 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 Harpers Ferry report their general condition of hearing on average at 78 percent. Ninety two 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. Twenty six percent of Harpers Ferry population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Eighteen 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 Harpers Ferry 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

Forty four percent of Harpers Ferry 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

Thirteen percent of Harpers Ferry 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 one percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Fifteen percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Twelve percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Sixteen 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.