Health and Nutrition of Bessemer, MI Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty nine percent of Bessemer 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 five 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 five "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat 10 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 Bessemer resident last visited a dentist one 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. Bessemer residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 53 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 two days per week. They also use mouthwash or other dental rinse products to treat dental disease or dental problems an average of two days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 27 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Bessemer residents 16 years and older is 67 inches. The average weight is 187 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Thirty nine percent of people living here are obese. Fifty three percent have ever been obese. Thirty six percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Sixty eight percent of Bessemer residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty seven percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twenty six percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Sixteen 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 Bessemer have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Thirty four 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

Bessemer 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

Thirteen percent of Bessemer 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 six percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty seven percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Fourteen percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. 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

Sixty two percent of people living in Bessemer 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

Nine percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Twenty nine percent of people in Bessemer frequently check their blood cholesterol. Eighteen 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 four percent of people living in Bessemer use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

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

Summary

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

Prescription Medications

Bessemer 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 one percent of people living in Bessemer have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Ten percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 4.7 days per month on average. They have 10.0 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 45 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of Bessemer 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 percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Seventy three percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Fourteen percent of males in Bessemer have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Eighty eight percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Eighty four percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty seven percent have ever had anal sex. Thirteen percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Bessemer were 17 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 67 women. He has vaginal sex with 56 women. People living here were on average 20 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on 10 women. People in Bessemer were 18 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on two men in their lifetime. Six percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Bessemer has vaginal or anal sex 75 times a year. Forty percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Bessemer 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with seven men on average. They have had five male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.2 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Seventy five 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

Eight percent of households in Bessemer use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Six 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

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

Summary

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Sixty nine percent of Bessemer residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Thirty one percent of Bessemer 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. Fifty three 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 seven percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Forty 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. Forty 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 1.8 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Six percent of Bessemer 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". Thirty 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. Ten percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Twenty three percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Four percent have coronary heart disease. Four percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Ten percent have another thyroid problem.

Summary

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

Reproductive Health

Sixty four percent of births in Bessemer were vaginal deliveries. Thirty six percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.2 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty nine percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy two percent of women breastfeed their children. Five percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Fifty five percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Five percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Fourteen percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Nine 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 Bessemer report their general health condition on average at 58 percent. Thirteen percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 45 percent of Bessemer residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Twelve percent of people living in Bessemer are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Bessemer spend $297 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 Bessemer spends $73 on food at other stores monthly. This is five percent of their income. They spend $122 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is 10 percent of their income. They also spend $15 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 Bessemer report their general condition of hearing on average at 85 percent. Eighty six 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 nine percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Twenty three percent of Bessemer population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Fifty one 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. Twenty three percent of people in Bessemer 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 percent of Bessemer residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Sixteen percent of Bessemer 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. Four percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Eleven 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.