USA - Healthiest States to Live in

Timber Loftis · 11-13-2002, 09:51 AM

Southern States Are Least Healthy

Annual Rankings Show U.S. Health 15% Better Than in 1990
By Lisa Habib
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
WebMD Medical News

Nov. 11, 2002 -- It's apparently good for your health to live in New England, and not so good in the South. An annual ranking of states according to the health of their populations shows five of the top 10 states are in the Northeast and seven of the bottom 10 are in the South.

The UnitedHealth Foundation ranks New Hampshire as the healthiest state for the sixth time in the 13 years of the rankings. In the top 10, New Hampshire is followed by Minnesota, Massachusetts, Utah, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, Colorado, North Dakota, and Maine.

The least healthy state is Louisiana. The bottom ten are West Virginia, New Mexico, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The foundation based its rankings on factors including smoking, motor vehicle deaths, heart disease risk, high school graduation rates, children in poverty, prenatal care, access to health insurance, and public spending on healthcare.

It also took into account deaths from and incidence of certain diseases, deaths on the job, infant mortality, and premature death.

According to the foundation's report, the rankings reflect a state's average resident. But major disparities exist among people of different races in all states. For example, black adults have a far greater chance of dying before age 75 than Asians. And white, pregnant women are far more likely to get prenatal care than Native Americans.

Overall, the health of the United States declined by less than a percentage point from 2001 to 2002. The foundation attributed that to a decrease in public spending on healthcare and an increase in premature death (before age 75).

About 20 states had much improved health scores this year from the year before. The best increases were in Wyoming, Nevada, and South Dakota, which significantly reduced the number of their children living in poverty and improved other conditions.

Twenty-six states had worse health scores; the biggest decreases were in Maryland, Alaska, and Mississippi -- where smoking actually increased.

Since the UnitedHealth Foundation began ranking states in 1990, it says the health of the U.S. has improved 15.5% and all states individually have improved. The prime reasons are:

22% fewer smokers
40% fewer motor vehicle deaths
17% decrease in violent crime
11% increase in prenatal care
100% increase in public spending
32% reduction in infant mortality

The UnitedHealth Foundation is a private, nonprofit health information organization. It based its report on data from federal agencies.

State Health Rankings

1. New Hampshire

2. Minnesota

3 Massachusetts

4. Utah

5. Connecticut

6. Vermont

7. Iowa (tie)

7. Colorado (tie)

9. North Dakota

10. Maine

11. Washington (tie)

11. Wisconsin (tie)

13. Rhode Island

14. Hawaii

15. Nebraska

16. South Dakota

17. Oregon

18. Virginia

19. New Jersey

20. Idaho

21. Kansas

22. Indiana

23. Pennsylvania

24. Montana (tie)

24. California (tie)

26. Wyoming

27. Ohio

28. Maryland

29. Michigan

30. Alaska

31. Illinois

32. New York (tie)

32. Missouri (tie)

34. Arizona

35. Delaware

36. North Carolina

37. Texas

38. Nevada

39. Kentucky

40. Georgia

41. West Virginia

42. New Mexico

43. Florida

44. Tennessee

45. Alabama

46. Oklahoma

47. Arkansas

48. South Carolina
49. Mississippi
50. Louisiana

Megabot · 11-13-2002, 10:13 AM

Why is Louisiana so bad then?

Morgeruat · 11-13-2002, 10:56 AM

YAY!!!!! Idaho is in the top 20, we rule

Sazerac · 11-13-2002, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Megabot:
Why is Louisiana so bad then?

Probably because of drinking, smoking, and West Nile virus.

Also, large parts of Louisiana (mainly the southern areas) are below poverty level and are almost like a third-world area, with all the respective diseases implied, including typhoid and cholera.

I originally hail from Louisiana, so I know. It's also one reason why I'm now in Texas.

-Saz

Timber Loftis · 11-13-2002, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Megabot:
Why is Louisiana so bad then?

Gotta be the hot sauce. That stuff'll kill ya.

11-13-2002, 12:02 PM

I'm fifteen minutes from New Hampshire, so give it up for me and my health

Ace of Spades · 11-13-2002, 12:39 PM

Colorado tied for 7th. Right on, right on! And since I don't live in Denver, I'm probably even better off than that!

Sazerac · 11-13-2002, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Timber Loftis:

quote:
Originally posted by Megabot:
Why is Louisiana so bad then?

Gotta be the hot sauce. That stuff'll kill ya.[/QUOTE]Actually, Tabasco sauce is perfect proof of Nietzche's postulate: "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." [img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img]

-Sazerac

11-13-2002, 09:51 AM	#1
Timber Loftis 40th Level Warrior Join Date: July 11, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11,916	Southern States Are Least Healthy Annual Rankings Show U.S. Health 15% Better Than in 1990 By Lisa Habib Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD WebMD Medical News Nov. 11, 2002 -- It's apparently good for your health to live in New England, and not so good in the South. An annual ranking of states according to the health of their populations shows five of the top 10 states are in the Northeast and seven of the bottom 10 are in the South. The UnitedHealth Foundation ranks New Hampshire as the healthiest state for the sixth time in the 13 years of the rankings. In the top 10, New Hampshire is followed by Minnesota, Massachusetts, Utah, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, Colorado, North Dakota, and Maine. The least healthy state is Louisiana. The bottom ten are West Virginia, New Mexico, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The foundation based its rankings on factors including smoking, motor vehicle deaths, heart disease risk, high school graduation rates, children in poverty, prenatal care, access to health insurance, and public spending on healthcare. It also took into account deaths from and incidence of certain diseases, deaths on the job, infant mortality, and premature death. According to the foundation's report, the rankings reflect a state's average resident. But major disparities exist among people of different races in all states. For example, black adults have a far greater chance of dying before age 75 than Asians. And white, pregnant women are far more likely to get prenatal care than Native Americans. Overall, the health of the United States declined by less than a percentage point from 2001 to 2002. The foundation attributed that to a decrease in public spending on healthcare and an increase in premature death (before age 75). About 20 states had much improved health scores this year from the year before. The best increases were in Wyoming, Nevada, and South Dakota, which significantly reduced the number of their children living in poverty and improved other conditions. Twenty-six states had worse health scores; the biggest decreases were in Maryland, Alaska, and Mississippi -- where smoking actually increased. Since the UnitedHealth Foundation began ranking states in 1990, it says the health of the U.S. has improved 15.5% and all states individually have improved. The prime reasons are: 22% fewer smokers 40% fewer motor vehicle deaths 17% decrease in violent crime 11% increase in prenatal care 100% increase in public spending 32% reduction in infant mortality The UnitedHealth Foundation is a private, nonprofit health information organization. It based its report on data from federal agencies. State Health Rankings 1. New Hampshire 2. Minnesota 3 Massachusetts 4. Utah 5. Connecticut 6. Vermont 7. Iowa (tie) 7. Colorado (tie) 9. North Dakota 10. Maine 11. Washington (tie) 11. Wisconsin (tie) 13. Rhode Island 14. Hawaii 15. Nebraska 16. South Dakota 17. Oregon 18. Virginia 19. New Jersey 20. Idaho 21. Kansas 22. Indiana 23. Pennsylvania 24. Montana (tie) 24. California (tie) 26. Wyoming 27. Ohio 28. Maryland 29. Michigan 30. Alaska 31. Illinois 32. New York (tie) 32. Missouri (tie) 34. Arizona 35. Delaware 36. North Carolina 37. Texas 38. Nevada 39. Kentucky 40. Georgia 41. West Virginia 42. New Mexico 43. Florida 44. Tennessee 45. Alabama 46. Oklahoma 47. Arkansas 48. South Carolina 49. Mississippi 50. Louisiana __________________

11-13-2002, 10:56 AM	#3
Morgeruat Jack Burton Join Date: October 16, 2001 Location: PA Age: 43 Posts: 5,421	YAY!!!!! Idaho is in the top 20, we rule __________________ "Any attempt to cheat, especially with my wife, who is a dirty, dirty, tramp, and I am just gonna snap." Knibb High Principal - Billy Madison

11-13-2002, 12:39 PM	#7
Ace of Spades The Magister Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Colorado, USA Age: 61 Posts: 108	Colorado tied for 7th. Right on, right on! And since I don't live in Denver, I'm probably even better off than that! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />Reviled throughout the MultiVerse<br />

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11-13-2002, 10:13 AM	#2
Megabot Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 18, 2003 Location: Oslo, Norway. Age: 61 Posts: 3,360	Why is Louisiana so bad then?

11-13-2002, 12:02 PM	#6
Sorcerer Alex Guest Posts: n/a	I'm fifteen minutes from New Hampshire, so give it up for me and my health

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