Oklahoma Health Oklahoma\'s Health Two

Oklahoma Health

Oklahoma's Health

Two significant features of Oklahoma's demographics that are important from a health perspective are the low proportion of African-Americans that live in the state and the very high proportion of Native Americans that live in the state, when compared to national demographics. The low proportion of African-Americans in the state means that special care must be taken not to simply ignore this segment of the population when it comes to health policy and determining health needs, and likewise the large proportion of Native Americans that live in the state need specific and explicit inclusion in the development of healthcare policy due to the special problems and concern facing this segment of the population. Another interesting demographic feature of Oklahoma is that less than ten percent of the population speaks a language other than English as the primary language in their homes, meaning it might be far more difficult for these individuals to receive healthcare communications and information that they are able to fully and easily understand.

2)

The leading cause of death in Oklahoma is the same as the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease. There are fifty more deaths per hundred-thousand in Oklahoma than in the United States as a whole, however (242.1 in Oklahoma, compared to 190.9 in the United States), meaning that Oklahoma is experiencing a significantly higher rate of mortality from heart disease. Given the eating habits and favorite foods of the region, it is likely that increased consumption of cholesterols and fats -- combined with more-than-typically-sedentary lifestyles of many Oklahomans -- is the reason for this disproportionate mortality.

3)

Diabetes is a major problem for the population of Oklahoma, as the sixth leading cause of death and a part of the diagnosis for one in five patients admitted to hospitals in the state. Two risk factors that are specifically identified by the State of the State report regarding diabetes include a lack of physical activity and obesity, which are of course related but are also distinct. Oklahoma has greater obesity rates and, as far as can be measured, a more sedentary population than the United States on average, and these are the major reasons behind Oklahoma's increased incidence of diabetes. Again, it is largely due to the nutritional choices of the population in Oklahoma and the sedentary lifestyles that are lived by the state's citizens that the risk of diabetes and the complications and mortality from the disease are so high.

One of the major ways that the state is going to try to combat the risk factors that lead to diabetes, according to the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan, is by implementing broader and more detailed education plans that promote healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Reducing obesity is seen as the primary goal of these efforts, but part of combating obesity is engaging in more active lifestyles and thus the educational efforts Oklahoma is planning will address both identified risk factors for diabetes. Strategies outlined that will assist in achieving the objective of reduced obesity other than through an increase in the availability and effectiveness of education include working for better policy development and implementation that directly encourages more healthy choices and behaviors, a better integration of various local programs and resources available throughout the state, and ensuring that evidence-based practices are used in medicine.

4)

The State of the State report notes that infant mortality is higher in Oklahoma than in the rest of the country, with a lack of adequate prenatal care being a contributing factor in this issue. Healthy People 2020 addresses this issue in calling for a greater awareness of infant health issues and working to ensure access to care for all. Chronic kidney disease is another topic that is featured both in Oklahoma's State of the State health report and in the Healthy People 2020, with both sources noting the degree of complications that kidney disease can have and the serious other health problems it can lead to or exacerbate, an again Oklahoma suffers inordinately from this issue. Substance abuse is also mentioned in the Healthy People 2020 report, and given the incidence of alcoholism and other substance abuse that occurs in Oklahoma and creates serious health problems that this substance abuse can lead to, this is yet a third area in which Oklahoma is not meeting the standards being set.