Health and Nutrition of Alsen, ND Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty five percent of Alsen residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 23 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 two 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 Alsen 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). Twelve percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Twenty percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Alsen residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 49 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 26 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Alsen residents 16 years and older is 57 inches. The average weight is 150 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty one percent of people living here are obese. Forty eight percent have ever been obese. Forty four 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 six percent of Alsen residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty one percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Eighteen percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Two percent have ever used heroin.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Eight percent of people living in Alsen have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Fifty six percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Four 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

Alsen 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

Six percent of Alsen 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. Two percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Fifty nine percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Fourteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury.

Summary

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

Health Insurance

Fifty six percent of people living in Alsen 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

Ten percent of people living in Alsen have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Fourteen percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Thirty seven percent of people in Alsen frequently check their blood cholesterol.

Summary

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

Dermatology

Fifty two percent of people living in Alsen use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

Alsen 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 five percent of people living in Alsen have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Nineteen percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 2.6 days per month on average. They have 2.8 drinks per week.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety six percent of Alsen residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety five percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy four percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Forty eight percent have ever had anal sex. Seven percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Alsen were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 22 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Alsen were 21 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on four men in their lifetime. Ten percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Alsen has vaginal or anal sex 63 times a year. Forty one percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Alsen 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with seven men on average. They have had seven male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.2 female sex partners in their lifetimes.

Summary

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

Pesticide Use

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

Alsen 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

Fifty percent of Alsen residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Thirteen percent of Alsen 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. Twenty 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 six percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Thirteen 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 seven 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 four 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 0.8 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Eight percent of Alsen residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Six percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Forty eight percent are overweight. Six percent of people living in Alsen have ever received a blood transfusion. Seventeen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. One percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Two percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Four percent have another thyroid problem. Two percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Four 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

Fifty three percent of births in Alsen were vaginal deliveries. Forty seven percent of deliveries were cesarean. 96.7 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty three percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Eighty three percent of women breastfeed their children. Nine percent of women in Alsen have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Seventy nine percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Four percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Twenty four percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in Alsen report their general health condition on average at 49 percent. Four percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 60 percent of Alsen residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Six percent of people living in Alsen are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Alsen spend $476 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 24 percent of their income. The average family in Alsen spends $113 on food at other stores monthly. This is six percent of their income. They spend $130 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is seven percent of their income. They also spend $27 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 Alsen report their general condition of hearing on average at 82 percent. Eighty four 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 four percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Eleven percent of Alsen population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty four 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.

Summary

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

Physical Functioning

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

Summary

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