subject: Are These Numbers Made In America? [print this page] Based on a 2006-2010 study of 12,000 American women, 37% of births were unintended; and according to the National Center for Health Statistics, that percentage has been steady since 1982. Twenty-three percent of married women had unintended pregnancies compared to 50% of unmarried women living with the baby's father and 67% of unmarried women not living with the baby's father. Seventy-seven percent of teen pregnancies were unintended compared to 50% of women ages 20-24 and 25% of women ages 25-44. Finally, 33% of the women with unintended pregnancies didn't think they could get pregnant - creating a "pregnant pause" of disbelief.
"Emerging adults" is a new phrase describing many Americans ages 18-29. According to a 2012 nationally representative survey of 1,029 people that age commissioned by Clark University, 56% felt anxious, 33% felt depressed and 65% felt uncertain. Fifty-two percent had almost daily contact with their parents and 34% had too much contact. Thirty-eight percent received little or no financial help from their parents, 31% did occasionally, 16% did frequently and 16% did regularly. Then there's the 82% who thought anything was possible - and they were right. That's how their parents felt at the same age and how their grandparents felt too.
More than 33% of working Americans are shift workers and shift workers have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. A study published in the British Medical Journal analyzed findings from 2 million people who hadn't worked during regular daytime hours. Shift work was linked to 23% increased risk of heart attack and 5% increased risk of stroke - with those working night shifts at the highest risk. The increased risk remained after factoring in unhealthy eating, smoking and socioeconomic status. This suggests disruptions of circadian rhythms could be responsible. The "shift" for these Americans should be to healthier lifestyles.
According to the National Health Review Survey, Americans are sicker. In 2010, 20.1% of men and 21.3% of women ages 45-64 had at least 2 chronic health conditions. In 2000 the rates were 15.2% and 16.9% respectively. In 2010 among adults older than 65, 49% of men and 42.5% of women had at least 2 chronic health conditions. In 2000 the rates were 39.2% and 35.8% respectively. These increases were attributed to increases in hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Obesity isn't considered a chronic condition. It's a risk factor for other conditions. It makes heart disease, diabetes and cancer "bigger risks".
