ABSTRACT
Personal lifestyles constitute one of the strategic frontiers of preventive medicine. We carried out a survey of eating habits of people in three rural communities in the southern part of Akita Prefecture, where fundamental health screening programs have been implemented regularly. Differences in eating habits between men and women and between age groups were found. The health status of the examinees was judged by using data on blood pressure, obesity and lipid levels measured at the latest health checkup.<BR>To find a correlation between eating habits and physical health status, the frequency of illness was examined according to the number of times of eating various kinds of food. It was found that with age, people take in fish and shellfish, cow's milk, beans, vegetables, Japanese confections and soup more frequently and eat less meat. The incidence of hypertension varied by age and sex, but was higher in those who eat less soup, pickles and milk. Likewise, abnormally high levels of total serum cholesterol were found in women who eat meat, eggs and greasy food less than twice a week. It was thought that those hypertensives and those with high cholesterol values are cuttingdown on their intake of those foods of their own accord. Therefore, we would like to point out that, in the secondary prevention setting, physicians and other health care providers should know in advance whether their patients are putting themselves on a restricted diet or not.<BR>When the average serum lipid values were examined according to the number of times of eating meat or fish and shellfish per day, it was found that men aged 70 years or above who eat those foods more than once every day have high HDL cholesterol values and that these values significantly vary depending on the kind of meat. These findings suggested that persons of advanced age who eat well and who are not particular about their food are full of vitality. This could serve as an important point in the care of the aged with serum lipid abnormalities.<BR>A study of evacuation and its relation to vegetable intake showed that the less the frequency of bowel movements, the smaller the amount of vegetable intake. There was a significant difference in the frequency of evacuation between vegetable eaters and those who do not consume an adequate amount of fiber.
ABSTRACT
Investigations were made into the actual working and living conditions of adults, both men and women, in the families engaged in mixed farming.<BR>The working conditions were analyzed according to the types of crops farmers are growing. The work study was necessary to probe into the causes of farmers' health disturbances.<BR>A questionnaire revealed that farmers are short of sleep during the busiest season. Especially housewives are forced to cut down on their sleeping hours.<BR>It also found that some farmers spray pesticides in quantity and expose themselves to the potentially health injurious chemicals with alarming frequency.<BR>There was evidence to show that some ailments, notably low back pain, had been reduced due to imporovements on farmwork and working environment.<BR>Health checkups showed that the incidences of hypercholesterolemia and obesity remain high. There was imbalance between carolic intake and consumption.
ABSTRACT
Organochlorine insecticides (BHC, DDT, etc) have been used in massive quatities in Japan. But in 1971, the goverment put a ban on their use as insecticides. We continued the residue analyses of organochlorine insecticide in human bodies from 1971 to 1982. This paper deals with the results of our residue analyses from 1980-1982. In paralel, We have also continued to analyze the residue of PCB.<BR>(1) A total of 264 specimens have been analyzed for human mother milk, the adipose tissue, the liver, the kidney and the spleen.<BR>(2) β-BHC and pp'-DDE were detected from all of these specimens.<BR>(3) Over a span 12 years, the decrease of total-DDT was smaller than that of β-BHC.<BR>(4) In the adipose tissue, there were no signs of a decrease in total DDT.<BR>(5) PCB was detected from all specimens of mother milk, the adipose tissue and the liver.<BR>It is conceivable that the pollution of human bodies by BHC, DDT. PCB, and other chemicals will last for a long time.<BR>There is a need to keep constant surveillance over the tendency of these chemicals in the environment and human bodies.