Health and Nutrition of Charlestown, NH Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty nine percent of Charlestown 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 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 Charlestown 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). Eleven 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). Charlestown residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 45 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 two days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 23 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Charlestown residents 16 years and older is 64 inches. The average weight is 171 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Thirty three percent of people living here are obese. Forty eight percent have ever been obese. Thirty three percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Fifty two percent of Charlestown residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twelve percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Ten percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste.

Summary

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

Diabetes

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

Charlestown 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

Eight percent of Charlestown 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. Seventy six percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty three percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Seventeen 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

Seventy eight percent of people living in Charlestown are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

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

Fifty one percent of people living in Charlestown use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

Charlestown residents on average take two prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Seventy one percent of people living in Charlestown have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Twenty percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 4.1 days per month on average. They have 3.7 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 10 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety eight percent of Charlestown residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Eighty two percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Fifty six percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Eight percent of males in Charlestown have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety seven percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Eighty one percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty eight percent have ever had anal sex. Twelve percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Charlestown were 17 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 21 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Charlestown were 20 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on three men in their lifetime. Ten percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Charlestown has vaginal or anal sex 54 times a year. Thirty two percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Charlestown 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with seven men on average. They have had six male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Thirty nine 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

Eleven percent of households in Charlestown 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

Charlestown 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

Thirty four percent of Charlestown residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Ten percent of Charlestown 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 five 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 two percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty one 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 four 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 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 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 Charlestown 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 eight percent are overweight. Twenty 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. Five percent of people living in Charlestown have ever received a blood transfusion. Thirteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Fifteen percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. One percent have coronary heart disease. One percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Two percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Four 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 Charlestown were vaginal deliveries. Thirty six percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.7 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty five percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Eighty two percent of women breastfeed their children. Four percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Sixty percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Four percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Twenty five percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Thirteen 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 Charlestown report their general health condition on average at 55 percent. Three percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 37 percent of Charlestown residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Five percent of people living in Charlestown are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Charlestown spend $383 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 Charlestown spends $95 on food at other stores monthly. This is five percent of their income. They spend $137 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is seven percent of their income. They also spend $19 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 Charlestown report their general condition of hearing on average at 81 percent. Eighty eight 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 seven percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Fourteen percent of Charlestown population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty five 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. Eighteen percent of people in Charlestown 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

Fifty five percent of Charlestown 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

Six percent of Charlestown 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. Eight percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Four 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.