Annual Address On State Health Brings Bad News

Infant Mortality Rate, Teen Pregnancies Down



POSTED: 3:55 pm CDT April 4, 2005

UPDATED: 4:01 pm CDT April 4, 2005



Some disturbing statistics were revealed Monday at the annual address on the state of Alabama's health.



In Jefferson County, Alzheimer's disease is up almost 50 percent, diabetes up almost 34 percent, kidney disease up 28 percent and chronic lower respiratory disease up 16 percent.



Alabama health officials said that complacency in public health breeds disaster.



In the annual address, state of Alabama health officer Dr. Donald Williamson said the state of Alabama's health contains some good points mixed with the bad news.



For example, smoking remains the biggest cause of preventable death. Twenty-five percent of Alabamians smoke.



“Tobacco is the leading cause of death in Alabama and the nation,” said Williamson. ”Four-hundred thousand Americans die of tobacco related illnesses every year. One quarter of Alabamians smoke. If you really want to reduce preventable deaths, prevent tobacco related illnesses. You do that by reducing tobacco consumption."



Williamson also commented on recent efforts to stop smoking in public places.



“It has two effects … it will reduce second-hand smoke,” said Williamson. “Second-hand smoke is a cause of cancer. No question about it. However, it has a primary effect -- making it less convenient for people to smoke. Some people will stop smoking."



Obesity is the second largest cause of preventable death in the United States and a considerable problem for people in Alabama.



“The longer term and much more serious consequences of obesity is it’s associated with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and in fact, if you look at weight, you can actually determine a greater likelihood of death based on people's weight,” said Williamson.



As for good news, Williamson cited a new program called "All Kids" that helps insure more than 64,000 of Alabama's children whose parents do not have insurance. In addition, the infant mortality rate is down, as well as the number of teen pregnancies.