Frequent Physical Distress in Alabama
Alabama
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Alabama Value:
14.2%
Percentage of adults who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
Alabama Rank:
42
Frequent Physical Distress in depth:
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Frequent Physical Distress by State
Percentage of adults who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
Frequent Physical Distress in
Data from CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
<= 11.4%
11.5% - 12.0%
12.1% - 12.9%
13.0% - 14.1%
>= 14.2%
Frequent Physical Distress
- CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
About Frequent Physical Distress
US Value: 12.4%
Top State(s): Hawaii, South Dakota: 9.5%
Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 18.2%
Definition: Percentage of adults who reported their physical health was not good 14 or more days in the past 30 days
Data Source and Years(s): CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Frequent physical distress is based on self-reported poor physical health days. The measure aims to capture the population experiencing persistent and likely severe physical health problems, which may have a significant impact on health-related quality of life and overall wellness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has validated the cutoff point of 14 or more days as constituting a substantial level of physical impairment.
Frequent physical distress is associated with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is also associated with smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.
According to America’s Health Rankings data, populations with a higher prevalence of frequent physical distress include:
- Women compared with men.
- Adults ages 65 and older compared with those ages 18-44.
- American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial adults compared with Asian adults. All racial/ethnic groups had a higher prevalence than Asian adults.
- Adults with less than a high school education compared with college graduates.
- Adults with an annual household income less than $25,000 compared with those with incomes of $75,000 or more.
- Adults who live in non-metropolitan areas compared with those who live in metropolitan areas.
- Adults who have difficulty with self-care compared with adults without a disability.
- LGBQ+ adults compared with straight adults.
- Adults who have served in the U.S. armed forces compared with adults who have not served.
Strategies to reduce the prevalence of frequent physical distress include reducing the risk of developing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and arthritis. This may be done by focusing on evidence-based interventions that curb smoking, increase physical activity and promote healthy eating.
Healthy People 2030 has an objective to reduce the proportion of adults with chronic pain that frequently limits life or work activities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Strategies to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases: The CDC Guide to Strategies to Increase the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables.” Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21639.
Dwyer-Lindgren, Laura, Johan P. Mackenbach, Frank J. van Lenthe, and Ali H. Mokdad. “Self-Reported General Health, Physical Distress, Mental Distress, and Activity Limitation by US County, 1995-2012.” Population Health Metrics 15, no. 1 (April 26, 2017): 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12963-017-0133-5.
Gamble, Sonya, Tebitha Mawokomatanda, Fang Xu, Pranesh P. Chowdhury, Carol Pierannunzi, David Flegel, William Garvin, and Machell Town. “Surveillance for Certain Health Behaviors and Conditions Among States and Selected Local Areas — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2013 and 2014.” MMWR. Surveillance Summaries 66, no. 16 (September 15, 2017): 1–144. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6616a1.
Shih, Margaret, and Paul A. Simon. “Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults with Serious Psychological Distress and Chronic Medical Conditions.” Quality of Life Research 17, no. 4 (May 1, 2008): 521–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9330-9.
Stellefson, Michael, Samantha R. Paige, Adam E. Barry, Min Qi Wang, and Avery Apperson. “Risk Factors Associated with Physical and Mental Distress in People Who Report a COPD Diagnosis: Latent Class Analysis of 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data.” International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 14 (April 2019): 809–22. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S194018.
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