Health and Wellness
One of the most important things individuals and families can do to promote good health is to make smart choices. Avoiding risky behaviors such as using tobacco or drugs, or abusing alcohol - even driving without a safety belt - can save lives and improve health. Behavioral changes reduce the chance of illness or injury; even washing one's hands regularly prevents the spread of many common illnesses and infections.
Fact Sheets
Research & Statistics
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System - CT Department of Public Health
Reports & publications from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System include: Adverse Childhood Experiences in CT, Behavioral health risks in specific districts, smoking data, and more.
- CDC Health Disparities & Inequalities Report
- Connecticut School Health Survey Comprised of the Youth Tobacco Component, and the Youth Risk Behavior Componant, this is a school-based survey of students in grades 6-12. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey measured behaviors such as: unintentional injury and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies; dietary behaviors; and physical activity. The Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to a sample of middle and high school students. Students were asked about their use of different forms of tobacco, including: cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipes and bidis.
- CT 211 Counts
Data for Connecticut 211 calls listed by category - including Healthcare, Mental Health and Addictions, Housing & Shelter, and more.
- CT Department of Public Health - Statistics & ResearchAn A-Z list list of topics with epidemiologic profiles, statistics, and more.
- DataHaven: The Information Hub of South Central Connecticut This interactive, web-based resource allows users access to data on the South Central Connecticut region. The site contains over 400 community indicators, as well as reports and community planning documents.
- Health of Asian or Pacific Islander Population - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Health of Black or African American non-Hispanic Population - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Health of Hispanic or Latino Population - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- PubMed
PubMed comprises more than 20 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.
- The Connecticut School Health Survey
- United Way of Connecticut Reports
Includes reports and statistics, as well as top service requests. Includes statewide, regional, and town-level data.
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One of the most important things individuals and families can do to promote good health is to make smart choices. Avoiding risky behaviors such as using tobacco or drugs, or abusing alcohol - even driving without a safety belt - can save lives and improve health. Behavioral changes reduce the chance of illness or injury; even washing one's hands regularly prevents the spread of many common illnesses and infections.
Misuse and abuse of alcohol continue to be a problem in this country. Alcoholic beverages supply calories but few nutrients and are harmful when consumed in excess. People who should not drink at all include: children, adolescents, pregnant women, and individuals who cannot restrict their drinking to moderate levels. American adults who drink should use alcohol responsibly in all social and recreational settings. Having more than one drink per day for women or more than two drinks per day for men can raise the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer. The effects of alcohol abuse can be devastating, from adverse health consequences, to domestic abuse, to drinking and driving.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, causing more than 440,000 premature deaths annually during 1995-1999. Smoking can cause chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Smoking has also been linked to cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder. In addition, smoking contributes to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. Smokeless tobacco and cigars also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and mouth cancer. Aggressive and sustained anti-smoking programs prevent and reduce smoking and many states have successful efforts underway.
Regular marijuana use may also cause many of the same respiratory problems as regular tobacco use. Some of the respiratory problems associated with marijuana use include daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue. Research shows that marijuana harms the brain, heart, lungs, and immune system and limits learning, memory perception, judgment, and the ability to drive an automobile. Any illegal drug possession or use should not be tolerated. More parents need to learn about the power of preventing youth drug abuse.
Other simple behavioral changes save lives as well. For example, hand washing has been show to be a fundamental factor in preventing the spread of infections. One study of school children found that those who washed their hands four times a day had fewer sick days due to respiratory illness and fewer days lost because of stomach upset.
Thousands of people needlessly die in traffic accidents yearly because they do not use safety belts. Seat belts are the most effective means of reducing fatalities and serious injuries in a traffic accident. In fact, seat belts save over 10,000 lives in America every year. Appropriate bicycle safety measures could also reduce the 690 fatalities and 51,000 traffic-related injuries that occur every year. Bike helmets reduce head injury risk by 85 percent.
These are smart choices Americans can make that prevent injuries and death.
Source: Department of Health and Human Services