Other Chronic Diseases - Get Healthy Clark County

More than two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. There are many factors that contribute to obesity. Neighborhood design, access to nutritious, affordable foods and beverages, and access to safe and convenient places for physical activity can all impact weight and health. The racial and ethnic disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing to improve health equity.

Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States as it is a contributing factor to many diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

Contributors to obesity in adults and children may include:

Physical Determinants of Health including housing, community design, natural environment, and built environment including lack of sidewalks and bike lanes, etc.
Social Determinants of Health including poverty, education, access to health care, social support, racism, transportation, etc.
Heredity and family (genetics)
Lack of physical activity
Dietary patterns

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health throughout their lives. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Today, more and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and other co-morbid conditions associated with obesity and severe obesity.

Body Mass Index

Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Body Mass Index (BMI) can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems, but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual. BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of the body height.

To estimate your BMI, see the Adult BMI Calculator or determine BMI by finding your height and weight in this BMI Index Chart.

If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range
If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the normal range
If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range
If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obese range

To estimate a child or teen’s Body Mass Index (BMI), type height and weight into the Child and Teen BMI Calculator

Following a healthy lifestyle may help to prevent obesity, as well as other negative health outcomes. Start building healthy habits now:

Make healthy food and beverage choices
Reduce screen time
Watch portion sizes in fast food and other restaurants
Be active – get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week
Get enough sleep

Talk with your healthcare provider about your daily habits, medical history and family medical history to determine the best ways for you to improve your health.

Resources:

Asthma Triggers include:

Smoke or secondhand smoke
Outdoor allergens, such as pollens from grass, trees and weeds
Indoor allergens, such as pet dander, dust mites and mold
Certain drugs and food additives
Irritants in the air, chemical fumes and strong odors
Colds, the flu, acid reflux, or other illnesses
Exercise (although people with asthma can benefit from some exercise)
Stress
Weather conditions, such as cold air or extremely dry, wet or windy weather

Asthma cannot be cured. However, by eliminating asthma triggers and taking asthma medication, you may be able to reduce the frequency of your asthma attacks. Treatment varies from person to person, so it is important to work with your doctor to manage your asthma and create an asthma action plan. Learn how to recognize, reduce or eliminate common asthma triggers in your home.

Resources:

Cancer

There are many types of cancer. It can start in the lungs, breast, colon, or even in the blood. While cancers are alike in some ways, they are different in the ways they grow and spread. In the United States, the percentage of overweight and obese adults and children has increased over the past several decades. Studies show that with increased weight comes an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers.

Knowing the cancer history of your family is important to understanding your potential risk for cancer so you can take charge of your health.

The signs and symptoms of cancer depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects the organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body. Just as the signs and symptoms can vary, the treatment options for everyone will vary as well.
The good news is many cancer deaths can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices like:

Getting regular physical activity
Eating a healthy diet
Quitting tobacco use
Getting recommended cancer screenings
Wearing sunscreen
Maintaining a healthy weight

You can manage your risk by participating in our free lifestyle programs:

Get moving with Walk Around Nevada
Find local trails with Neon to Nature
Eat more fruits and vegetables with the Half My Plate App and Nutrition Challenge
Get help quitting smoking by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Resources:

Obesity

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing at night or early in the morning. If people with asthma are exposed to a “trigger” the symptoms can become more severe.

Asthma Triggers include:

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. People of all ages, sexes and races can get arthritis, but it is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.

Cancer