Tennessee’s top 10 causes of death - FYI: lack of sidewalks play a major role.

One of my primary interests in helping Nashville become more walkable is due to health concerns.  I see a lot of patients in my clinic with respiratory disease and a sedentary lifestyle.  Not a good recipe for health.

Kids should get 60 minutes of activity every day and vigorous activity three days a week.  One of the main barriers I have heard over the years is concern for safety.  Parents are not willing to let their children out of the house to walk and explore their neighborhoods because there is no sidewalk.  Skip down to 'geography' and read more about TN.  

This is no simple matter - it is going to take a major commitment to fix.  I have been looking to our new mayor & have yet to see a comprehensive plan with an completion date.  

Tennessee’s top 10 causes of death

Barriers to better health have serious consequences. Studies have found certain behaviors may contribute strongly to each of the top 10 causes of death in Tennessee. The infographics below from Better Tennessee magazine, show these causes and the risk factors that may contribute to them.

Barriers to health (Photo: Graphic)

Affordability
Feeding the hungry involves more than filling bellies, it's also about helping them to be healthier with nutritious foods. Read more about how the Mid-South Food Bank is making a nutrition a priority.

Poverty has an impact on overall health. (Photo: Graphic)

Cultural/social
Studies show that people tend to feel more comfortable receiving medical care from people they identify with, so the BlueCross Health Foundation is working to increase diversity in medical professionals.

Cultural and social factors can have a negative effect on health. (Photo: Graphic)

Geography
Kids should get 60 minutes of activity every day and vigorous activity three days a week, but kids in underserved areas may not have a safe place to play. That’s why volunteers work to build community playgrounds.

Where people live can have a direct impact on their health. (Photo: Graphic)

To learn more about programs helping people gain access to better health, visit BetterTennessee.com. To download a printable PDF of this infographic, follow this link.

Sources: Tennessee Department of Health, Mayo Clinic, World Heart Federation, National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ca. 2013

This story is provided and presented by our sponsor, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

http://www.tennessean.com/story/sponsor-story/blue-cross-blue-shield/2016/10/05/tennessees-top-10-causes-death/90782284/