Health and Nutrition of Wales, AK Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty five percent of Wales residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 15 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 four 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 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 Wales 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 six percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Twenty one percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Wales residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 41 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 24 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Wales residents 16 years and older is 67 inches. The average weight is 173 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Thirty five percent of people living here are obese. Fifty percent have ever been obese. Thirty four percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Seventy three percent of Wales residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Thirty five percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Thirty four percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Twenty eight percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Ten percent of people living in Wales have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Forty six 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

Wales 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

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

Taste & Smell

Thirteen percent of Wales 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 two percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Fifteen percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Nine percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Sixteen percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Thirty one 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 six percent of people living in Wales are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

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

Twenty two percent of people living in Wales use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

Wales residents on average take one prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Ninety one percent of people living in Wales have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Five percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 3.8 days per month on average. They have 8.0 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 29 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of Wales residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety seven percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Eighty four percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Forty one percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Three percent of males in Wales 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. Ninety five percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty percent have ever had anal sex. Twenty one percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Wales 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 35 women. He has vaginal sex with 25 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 six women. People in Wales were 18 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Twenty three percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Wales has vaginal or anal sex 72 times a year. Thirty five percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Wales 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with 10 men on average. They have had nine male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.6 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Sixty 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 Wales use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Nine 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

Wales residents 16 years and older usually get six hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Thirty two percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Fifty four percent of Wales residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Eighteen percent of Wales 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 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. Forty five percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty 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 two 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 five 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 1.5 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Seven percent of Wales residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Three percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Thirty one percent are overweight. Twenty three 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. Eleven percent of people living in Wales have ever received a blood transfusion. Thirty seven percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Twenty percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Two percent have ever been told they had gout. One percent have congestive heart failure. Two percent have coronary heart disease. Four percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. One percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Six percent have another thyroid problem. One percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Three percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Three 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 six percent of births in Wales were vaginal deliveries. Twenty four percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.9 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty six percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Forty seven percent of women breastfeed their children. Six percent of women in Wales have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Five percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Sixty four percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Twenty eight 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 Wales report their general health condition on average at 48 percent. Three percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 35 percent of Wales residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Four percent of people living in Wales are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Wales spend $381 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 21 percent of their income. The average family in Wales spends $120 on food at other stores monthly. This is six percent of their income. They spend $127 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is eight percent of their income. They also spend $31 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 Wales report their general condition of hearing on average at 81 percent. Eighty three 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. Twenty nine percent of Wales population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Fifty seven 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. Thirteen percent of people in Wales 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 five percent of Wales residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Twenty one percent of Wales 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 five 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. Seventeen percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Two 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.