Other Cancers not breast prostate or lung cancer STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
| Women | Men | Total | |
| Heart Disease | 52% | 39% | 49% |
| Prostate Cancer | 12% | 15% | 14% |
| Lung cancer | 9% | 11% | 10% |
| Diabetes | 8% | 7% | 7% |
| Car accidents | 3% | 5% | 4% |
| Stroke | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Murder | 6% | 5% | 5% |
Americans See Fewer Health Risk for Themselves than Others
Most men and women see themselves as less at risk of developing major diseases than most Americans. For example, while 58% of men and 57% of women placed themselves as at high or moderate risk of developing heart disease or had already had the disease, over 90% of men thought the average American male was at high or moderate risk, and 90% of women thought the average American woman faced a moderate or level of risk of developing the disease. Likewise, most men and women saw themselves as at lower risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and breast/prostate cancer than most Americans.
High or Moderate Risk of Developing Different Diseases
| Men | Women | ||||
| Self | Most Men | Self | Most Women | ||
| Heart Disease | 58% | 92% | 57% | 90% | |
| Breast/Prostate | 42% | 80% | 45% | 90% | |
| Self | Most Americans | Self | Most Americans | ||
| High blood pressure | 63% | 93% | 58% | 94% | |
| Diabetes | 42% | 82% | 51% | 90% | |
Americans Perceive Broad Health Risks
Nonetheless, Americans still see themselves as at risk for these diseases, with a majority of men and women believing they were at high or moderate risk of contracting heart disease and high blood pressure. There was no difference in the percentage of men and women who rated themselves as at high or moderate levels of risk for heart disease (53%), diabetes (48% of men and 44% of women) or high blood pressure (45% of men and 40% of women).
Obese and Overweight Individuals Are Somewhat Realistic about Their Health Risks
Discussion about obesity has had some impact on awareness of health risks among overweight and obese people, although differences between them and individuals of normal weight are not as great as might be expected. For example, 62% of obese individuals (BMI score of over 30) see themselves as at high or moderate risk of developing heart disease compared to 52% of normal weigh (according to their BMI score) and overweight Americans1. Of course, the incidence of existing heart disease is also greater among obese people. This means that a total of 75% of obese individuals either have heart disease or see their chances of developing it as moderate or high. Obese individuals also have a higher incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes, and those who do not currently have it see their chance of developing it as somewhat higher.
Perceived Risk and Incidence of Different Diseases By Respondent BMI
| Normal weight | Overweight | Obese | ||||
| High/Mod risk | Had/have disease | High/Mod risk | Had/have disease | High/Mod risk | Have/had disease | |
| Heart Disease | 52 | 2 | 52 | 4 | 62 | 13 |
| High Blood Pressure | 37 | 12 | 44 | 15 | 47 | 36 |
| Diabetes | 32 | 5 | 46 | 4 | 41 | 18 |
But even obese people think their chances of getting heart disease are lower than that of most other Americans. Ninety-three percent of obese individuals think most American males face a moderate or high risk of heart disease (and 80% see most American women as at risk), compared to only 75% who have the disease or see themselves as at risk. Similar discrepancies occur for high blood pressure and diabetes.
Perceived Moderate or High Risk to Self and Most Americans of Different Diseases:
Obese Individuals (BMI >30)
Americans Worry about a Variety of High and Low Risk Health Threats
A majority of Americans are very or somewhat worried about the prospect of developing heart disease and breast or prostate cancer. But they are also concerned about a variety of other health threats, some of which pose a very low threat, including Avian flu, West Nile virus and terrorism. Somewhere between 29% and 45% of Americans are worried about developing high blood pressure (44%), being a victim of a terrorist attack (43%), developing diabetes (38%) getting West Nile virus (35%), and developing the Avian flu (29%), demonstrating a remarkable lack of discrimination among these health events of very different likelihood.
METHODOLOGY
The poll was conducted between May 22 and July 2, 2006 by the Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research. 737 adults were interviewed nationally. The poll was based on an RDD sample of telephone numbers drawn from blocks with at least one-listed residential number. Up to 7 contact attempts were made at each selected household and individuals were selected at random within households. Findings within each of four regions of the country (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) were weighted using a post-stratification raking procedure weighting for age, education, and gender in accordance with statistics of the Census Bureau Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey for the reference year 2005. Overall national findings were additionally weighted using pre-stratification weights to correct for the differential probability of selection in each region. The margin of error is plus/minus 3.6 percentage points.
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
Stony Brook University – Health Pulse of America – May 22- July 2, 2006
National Poll
Percentages of Responses
NOTE: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
If you had to guess, which of the following would you say is responsible for the greatest number of deaths of WOMEN in the United States each year?
Don't Know or Refused 4
Heart Disease 45
Diabetes 6
Breast Cancer 30
Lung Cancer 5
Stroke 2
Car Accidents 5
Murder 2
Emphysema and other 1
non-cancerous lung
disease
Total 100
If you had to guess, which of the following would you say is responsible for the greatest number of deaths of MEN in the United States each year?
Don't Know or Refused 4
Heart Disease 50
Diabetes 7
Lung Cancer 10
Stroke 6
Car Accidents 4
Murder 5
Emphysema and other 2
non-cancerous lung
disease
Prostate Cancer 13
Total 100
Do you think that you are at high, moderate, or low risk of getting [breast/prostate] cancer in the future?
High risk 10
Moderate risk 33
Low risk 51
Already have/had 2
the disease
Don't know 5
Total 100
Do you think you are at a high, moderate, or low risk of having a heart attack or getting heart disease in the future?
High risk 18
Moderate risk 35
Low risk 41
Already have/had 5
the disease
Don't know 2
Total 100
Do you think you are at a high, moderate, or low risk of getting diabetes in the future?
High risk 15
Moderate risk 26
Low risk 51
Already have/had 7
the disease
Don't know 1
Total 100
Do you think you are at a high, moderate, or low risk of developing high blood pressure in the future?
High risk 16
Moderate risk 26
Low risk 39
Already have/had 18
the disease
Don't know 1
Total 100
Do you think that most American [MEN/WOMEN] are at high, moderate, or low risk of getting [prostate/breast] cancer?
High risk 29
Moderate risk 56
Low risk 9
Don't know 5
Total 100
Do you think that most American MEN are at high, moderate, or low risk of having a heart attack or getting heart disease?
High risk 51
Moderate risk 43
Low risk 5
Don't know 2
Total 100
Do you think that most American WOMEN are at high, moderate, or low risk of having a heart attack or getting heart disease?
High risk 33
Moderate risk 52
Low risk 14
Don't know 1
Total 100
Do you think that most Americans are at high, moderate, or low risk of getting diabetes?
High risk 44
Moderate risk 43
Low risk 11
Don't know 3
Refused 1
Total 100
Do you think that most Americans are at high, moderate, or low risk of developing high blood pressure?
High risk 58
Moderate risk 35
Low risk 5
Don't know 1
Total 100
How worried are you personally about getting [breast/prostate] cancer?
Very worried 15
Somewhat worried 37
Not very worried 24
Not at all worried 24
Total 100
How worried are you personally about [having a heart attack or getting heart disease?]
Very worried 17
Somewhat worried 38
Not very worried 22
Not at all worried 22
Total 100
How worried are you personally about [getting diabetes?]
Very worried 13
Somewhat worried 26
Not very worried 27
Not at all worried 34
Total 100
How worried are you personally about [developing high blood pressure?]
Very worried 12
Somewhat worried 32
Not very worried 27
Not at all worried 28
Don't know 1
Total 100
How worried are you about catching avian or bird flu?
Very worried 11
Somewhat worried 18
Not very worried 27
Not at all worried 42
Don't know 2
Total 100
How worried are you about getting West Nile virus?
Very worried 13
Somewhat worried 22
Not very worried 26
Not at all worried 38
Don't know 1
Total 100
How worried are you that you might become a victim of a terrorist attack?
Very worried 15
Somewhat worried 29
Not very worried 30
Not at all worried 26
Don't know 1
Total 100
The following question was only asked of women.
When you think about HEALTH problems that might affect you in the future, which one of the following do you worry about the most?
Don't know or Refused 18
Heart Disease 18
Diabetes 8
Breast Cancer 8
Lung Cancer 4
Emphysema and other 2
non-cancerous lung
disease
Cancer, other than 19
breast or lung
Being killed or seriously 15
injured in an accident
High blood pressure 6
A contagious disease 2
Total 100
The following question was only asked of men.
When you think about HEALTH problems that might affect you in the future, which one of the following do you worry about the most?
Don't know or Refused 12
Heart Disease 15
Diabetes 7
Lung Cancer 10
Emphysema and other 6
non-cancerous lung
disease
Prostate Cancer 9
Being killed or seriously 15
injured in an accident
High blood pressure 2
A contagious disease 9
Cancer, other than 14
prostate or lung
Total 100
Is there a history of [breast/prostate] cancer in your family?
Yes 21
No 78
Don't know 1
Total 100
Is there a history of heart attack or heart disease in your family?
Yes 54
No 45
Don't know 1
Total 100
Is there a history of diabetes in your family?
Yes 50
No 49
Don't know 1
Total 100
Is there a history of high blood pressure in your family?
Yes 67
No 32
Don't know 1
Total 100
Do you smoke cigarettes regularly?
Yes 24
No 76
Total 100
If you had to choose, which ONE of the following health problems do you think should have the HIGHEST priority for increased government funding in the coming year?
Don't know or Refused 5
Heart disease 21
Diabetes 16
Breast Cancer 9
Lung Cancer 7
Emphysema and other 1
non-cancerous lung disease
Prostate Cancer 2
High blood pressure 2
Other Cancers, not breast, 21
prostate, or lung cancer
Contagious diseases like 17
Avian or Bird Flu
Total 100
If you had to choose, which ONE of the following health problems do you think should have the SECOND HIGHEST priority for increased government funding in the coming year?
Don't know or Refused 6
Heart disease 24
Diabetes 13
Breast Cancer 15
Lung Cancer 9
Emphysema and other 1
non-cancerous lung disease
Prostate Cancer 4
High blood pressure 5
Other Cancers, not breast, 14
prostate, or lung cancer
Contagious diseases like 10
Avian or Bird Flu
Total 100
1 Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703 (Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703).
See all the reviews