How do you rate your general health?
Americans are living longer, healthier lives, in part, because good health habits have become a way of life for many.
When asked how they rate their health, 88 percent of dentists responding to the August Question of the Month said they were in good or excellent health.
Several said they "eat properly and exercise regularly." Others shared their favorite forms of exercise. "I recommend golfing and walking rather than riding in a car whenever possible," said one. "That, and get a dog."
"I teach spinning classes to stay in shape," said another.
Several middle-aged and older readers wrote in to report on their health. "I am a 75-year-old and can outdo most 50-year-olds," said one.
"I am 57 years old, have some arthritis and ride my bike 7 to 9 miles a day," said another.
Others discussed other benefits of having a healthy lifestyle. "Because of our longer, healthier lives, I was able to go back to dental school when my kids were in high school," said one reader.
"I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over three years and feel a lot healthier," said another.
Eight percent of readers said they are in fair health, and four percent responded they are in poor health.
For 38 years, the ADA Health Foundation’s Health Screening Program has monitored the health status of the dental profession. At the 2001 ADA annual session, 821 dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants participated in the program.
Results from the screening showed that no participants tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus and that urinary mercury levels among the dentists who participated were comparable to those of the general population. In addition, more than 90 percent of the dentists reported they had received hepatitis B vaccinations, and less than 1 percent of all participants tested positive for HCV, compared with 1.5 to 2.3 percent of the general U.S. population.
Twenty-nine participants had suspicious oral cancer lesions on which brush biopsies were performed. One lesion was confirmed to be "atypical" and was followed up by a private oral surgeon who found it to be negative.
"Patients look to health professionals to be role models of good health habits," said Linda Kittelson Keating, manager, Dentist Well-Being Activities, ADA Council on Dental Practice. "When health professionals don’t appear to ‘practice what they preach,’ patients are less likely to take their advice seriously."
"The bottom line is that good health habits are one of the best investments you can make—for yourself, your practice and your family," continued Ms. Keating. The following Web sites provide information on healthy living:
- – Medem Inc., Medical Library, Life Stages: "www.medem.com/medlb/medlib_entry.cfm";
- – American Psychological Association: "www.apa.org";
- – Aetna InteliHealth featuring Harvard Medical School’s Consumer Health Information: "www.intelihealth.com";
- – American Dietetic Association, Healthy Lifestyle: "www.eatright.org/".
