Memphis is singing the blues. The city, the ninth-oldest in the country, is good about tending to psychological health—residents have strong social networks, keep stress under control and score relatively high for optimism. But these Tennesseans have woeful levels of hypertension, and blood sugar control that’s nearly the worst in the country opens them up to a passel of dangers, from heart attack to limb amputation. Natives need to take a walk on Beale Street, preferably for a half an hour a day, so they can move their exercise score up from the 48th slot nationwide. The regular workout might help them get a little more sleep, too—since Memphis is currently ranked number 47 for sleep, residents could use the extra rest. View Full Post
8. LAS VEGAS
Is it a surprise that Sin City ranks as one of the oldest towns in the country? Las Vegas’s unlucky number makes it America’s eighth oldest city, partly because its residents stay up until all hours: They have less healthy sleep patterns than people anywhere else. (Of course, few other towns put so much energy into ensuring that people stay up all night long.) Las Vegans also cope with a lot of stress, which may explain why they do more drinking and smoking than is good for them. One reason for that stress: They’re less likely than residents of any other major metropolitan area to have health insurance. View Full Post
7. GREENVILLE
The seventh-oldest city in the U.S, Greenville, SC, has one important thing going for the wellbeing of its residents: strong emotional connections. Its natives are third in the country for happy marriages and fifth for robust social networks—both of which have been linked to stronger immune systems and better overall health. But that emotional support system isn’t enough to wipe out the effects of Greenville’s stress levels, which are higher than anywhere else in the country. Also high: levels of C-reactive protein, a signal of inflammation in the body and of increased risk for heart attack or stroke. People in Greenville could improve their health and reduce their biological age with any of a number of easy moves. They could take a walk—exercise is a great stress reducer, but residents rank a dismal 45th in the country. They could eat more fruits and veggies (they come in 48th on that). If nothing else, they could just get a little more sleep—they rank a sad 48th on that, too, but it’s crucial for health, not to mention stress-management. View Full Post
6. JACKSONVILLE
This Florida town took a tumble this year, from near the middle of the pack to sixth-oldest in the country. One big reason: Residents’ blood pressure is sky-high—worst in the nation—raising their risk for stroke and a host of other serious problems. Cholesterol levels aren’t much better. These Floridians could help both problems by eating more whole grains (they’re near the bottom on that) and getting more exercise (ditto). But there’s an even more obvious health-saving move just crying out for natives of Jacksonville to make, says Keith Roach, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Sharecare and a co-creator of the RealAge Test: Stubbing out the smokes. People in Jacksonville rank 46th in the country when it comes to smoking, and almost all other health considerations pale by comparison, says Dr. Roach. “Quitting smoking is the most important thing people can do to improve their health.” View Full Post
5. NEW ORLEANS
It’s the Big Easy, but the fifth-oldest city in America isn’t so easy on the health of its residents. Perhaps those delicious, deep-fried beignets and other carb-heavy foods are to blame for the prevalence of diabetes: New Orleans comes in dead last for control of blood sugar, raising residents’ risk for a host of complications, including heart attack and stroke. Denizens of New Orleans also tend to eat lots of red meat, which is high in heart-unfriendly saturated fat. "You can have your steak every night—but it will age you," says Keith Roach, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Sharecare and a co-creator of the RealAge Test. Completing a heart-disease trifecta, New Orleans is also the second-most unhealthy city in the country when it comes to exercise (or make that lack of exercise). View Full Post
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