Health and Nutrition of Damascus, VA Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty five percent of Damascus residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 24 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 two 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 one "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat four 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 Damascus 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). Twenty four percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Twenty two percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Damascus residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 39 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 three days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 17 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Damascus residents 16 years and older is 64 inches. The average weight is 165 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty four percent of people living here are obese. Fifty five percent have ever been obese. Thirty three percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Seventy percent of Damascus residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty six percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twenty percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Three percent have ever used heroin. Thirteen percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Sixteen percent of people living in Damascus 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. 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

Damascus 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

Fifteen percent of Damascus 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. Eight percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Seventy five percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty five percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Nine percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Eighteen percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Forty three 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

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

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

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

Thirty two percent of people living in Damascus use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Thirty one percent of Damascus residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Thirty four percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Forty six 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. Thirty eight percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Thirty one percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Twenty two percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Twenty 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. Six 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

Damascus residents on average take three prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Sixty eight percent of people living in Damascus have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Seventeen percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 2.5 days per month on average. They have 3.8 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 20 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety six percent of Damascus residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety five percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Seventy eight percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Nineteen percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Four percent of males in Damascus have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety six percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy six percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty seven percent have ever had anal sex. Fourteen percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Damascus were 16 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 17 women. He has vaginal sex with eight 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 2.9 men on average. They have had 0.9 anal sex partners in their lifetime. People in Damascus were 19 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on eight men in their lifetime. Eight percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Damascus has vaginal or anal sex 56 times a year. Sixty one percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Damascus 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with 15 men on average. They have had 13 male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.6 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Eighty two 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 Damascus use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Four 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

Damascus residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Forty three 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 six percent of Damascus residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Nine percent of Damascus 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 six 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 four percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Thirty six 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 1.2 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Nineteen percent of Damascus residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Seven percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Three percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Thirty seven percent are overweight. Forty two 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 one percent of people living in Damascus have ever received a blood transfusion. Thirty two percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Forty one percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Six percent have ever been told they had gout. Six percent have congestive heart failure. Four percent have coronary heart disease. Four percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Seven percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Eight percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Four percent have ever had emphysema. Thirteen percent have another thyroid problem. Eight percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Six 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 five percent of births in Damascus were vaginal deliveries. Twenty five percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.6 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty four percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Forty one percent of women breastfeed their children. Thirty two percent of women in Damascus have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Seventeen percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Sixty five percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Three percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Thirteen percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Nineteen 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 Damascus report their general health condition on average at 47 percent. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 36 percent of Damascus residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Six percent of people living in Damascus are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Damascus spend $347 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 34 percent of their income. The average family in Damascus spends $46 on food at other stores monthly. This is three percent of their income. They spend $82 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is five percent of their income. They also spend $16 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 Damascus report their general condition of hearing on average at 74 percent. Seventy five 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 three percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Thirty two percent of Damascus population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty nine 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. Ten percent of people in Damascus 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

Twenty eight percent of Damascus residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Thirty seven percent of Damascus 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. Forty two percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Twenty one percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Nineteen percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Eighteen 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.