Smoking and metabolic syndrome––a combination of being overweight, having insulin resistance, genetic factors and lack of exercise––are Schoharie County’s top health priorities.
Local health officials identified those two risks through a survey and discussed what to do about them in a panel discussion last Thursday.
Sponsored by the county Health Department and Cobleskill Regional Hospital, the meeting brought together physicians, nurses and other health leaders.
Both the Health Department and the hospital will take data from this meeting and others to develop plans that will address the health priorities.
The Health Department conducted the survey, which went to about 200 doctors, dentists, school superintendents, principals and others who deal with the public or public health, according to the county’s Susan Hathaway.
Fairly common in Schoharie County, metabolic syndrome “puts small factors together and puts someone into higher risk for heart disease,” said Dr. Joseph Luz.
Metabolic syndrome, he added, is “kind of a pre-disease” for higher risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes.
Smoking, naturally, has long been identified as a serious health risk, but female smokers almost double the number of male smokers, according to Penny Grimes of the Health Department.
What to do about both health priorities occupied much of the 90-minute meeting.
“We’ve decided what to tackle by not how to tackle them,” Ms. Hathaway said.
Metabolic syndrome appears most often in adults ages 35 to 44 who don’t exercise or eat well. Betsy Bernocco pointed out that many in that age group have children, so it was important to reach them to keep kids from developing poor diet and exercise habits.
Although some said the economic stress of the times may limit money to join a gym, Dr. Luz countered that exercise can come free.
“It doesn’t cost anything to take a good brisk walk around the neighborhood with your wife and kids,” he said.
“Exercise is a stress-reliever. It’s not high-tech, and it doesn’t need to be expensive.”
“Even walking in place at home makes it easier,” added Jan Ryder of Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Ms. Bernocco suggested the county hold a “biggest loser” contest––based on the TV program––to encourage people to lose weight.
Others added that businesses could join in with weight-losing teams.
As for smoking, Dr. Roy Korn said that the group Tobacco Free Schoharie County meets every two months and has had some success getting the anti-smoking message out.
“We try to tailor our efforts to what will be most effective,” Dr. Korn said.
Encouraging people to join anti-smoking programs may work also, Ms. Ryder said.
“One-on-one on tobacco works well, although it may be expensive,” she said, referring to a counselor and a smoker. “Some people are not comfortable in a group setting.”
Joanne Gleba, the hospital’s senior director of Communications and Development, recommended broader educational programs to reach people.
She also suggested that a united approach, with all health agencies represented at Thursday’s meeting working together, would be effective as well.
“It’s important to work together to do more with limited resources,” Ms. Gleba said.
Following that theme, she said the hospital and Health Department have a work group that will come up with intervention “programs that will address the needs” of residents.