The most important health problems - why they matter
When thinking about the most serious health problems, there are several ways of looking at them. For example, you might consider the most common causes of death the diseases and conditions of death people worry about the most the causes of death that are somewhat unique to where you live.
Top health concerns
Contrast the list above to the health concerns that rise to the top when large numbers of people are surveyed. to name the most urgent health concerns. Perhaps survey respondents are thinking more about conditions that cause suffering or impaired quality of life rather than causing death. Or, perhaps the causes of death that primarily affect the elderly are not as big a concern to the public as those that affect younger individuals.
A recent study analyzed the causes of death in each state, and for each identified those that were significantly higher than the average elsewhere.
What’s unique about your state?
Others, such as the rates of suicide, are harder to understand. A separate study recently assessed the least healthy cities in the U. Of the top 10 unhealthiest cities , all were in the southern states and most were rural. Contributors to poor health in these cities were lack of insurance, lack of access to healthcare, unhealthy diets, and relatively high rates of deaths due to injury and drug overdose.
Why it matters
It’s not surprising that the top causes of death might vary from place to place. But, that means that the measures we should take to improve our health may not be the same everywhere. Good examples include many cases of diabetes and heart disease. While avoiding preventable death is an important measure of health, it’s not the only one.
Top health concerns
Contrast the list above to the health concerns that rise to the top when large numbers of people are surveyed. to name the most urgent health concerns. Perhaps survey respondents are thinking more about conditions that cause suffering or impaired quality of life rather than causing death. Or, perhaps the causes of death that primarily affect the elderly are not as big a concern to the public as those that affect younger individuals.
A recent study analyzed the causes of death in each state, and for each identified those that were significantly higher than the average elsewhere.
What’s unique about your state?
Others, such as the rates of suicide, are harder to understand. A separate study recently assessed the least healthy cities in the U. Of the top 10 unhealthiest cities , all were in the southern states and most were rural. Contributors to poor health in these cities were lack of insurance, lack of access to healthcare, unhealthy diets, and relatively high rates of deaths due to injury and drug overdose.
Why it matters
It’s not surprising that the top causes of death might vary from place to place. But, that means that the measures we should take to improve our health may not be the same everywhere. Good examples include many cases of diabetes and heart disease. While avoiding preventable death is an important measure of health, it’s not the only one.
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