Orange County NC Website
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HYPERTENSION <br />31 <br />10,854 Orange County residents are estimated to <br />currently have hypertension, and 13,559 residents are <br />estimated to have had hypertension at some time in their <br />life. Hypertension is a major risk factor both for heart <br />disease, which is also the leading category of causes of <br />death in the United States and for stroke, which is the third <br />most frequent cause of death in Orange County and the U.S. <br />Adequate blood Pressure (B /P) control Plays a prominent <br />role in the reduction of stroke mortality. Stroke mortality <br />is considerably higher for blacks than whites. The <br />occurrence of hypertension increases with age, and is higher <br />for black adult Americans (of which 38% are hypertensive) <br />than for white adult Americans (290). <br />HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL <br />High blood cholesterol, (hypercholesteremia) is a <br />principal modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease. <br />Blood cholesterol measurement not only identifies individuals <br />in need of treatment, it also provides an opportunity to <br />recommend lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of coronary <br />heart disease. Diseases associated with dietary excess and <br />imbalance, especially fat intake, rank among the leading <br />.causes of illness and death in the U.S. Reduction of dietary <br />fat, especially saturated fat, can reduce the risk of <br />developing coronary artery disease. All clients should <br />receive counseling regarding dietary intake of calories, fat <br />(especially saturated fat), cholesterol, fiber and sodium. <br />14,921 residents of Orange County are estimated to have high <br />cholesterol. <br />SMOKING <br />In 1987, an estimated 200 of N.C. adults smoked. <br />Cigarette smoking is the chief avoidable cause of death in <br />the U.S. In 1988, 16,155 Orange County residents were <br />estimated to be current smokers with 4,129 using smokeless <br />tobacco: Tobacco use is a major risk factor for diseases of <br />the.heart and blood vessels as well as cancer of the lung, <br />causing an estimated 39-0,000 deaths annually in the U.S. <br />Tobacco use prevention programs in schools have <br />demonstrated that they can at least delay use among <br />adolescents. Education and counseling on the health effects <br />of tobacco use needs to be provided to both school -age <br />children and adults. <br />28 <br />