By the Numbers

Health of Mainers

50: Percentage of deaths in Maine attributable to heart disease and cancer

32: Percentage of Mainers reporting poor mental health

23.5: Percentage of Mainers who smoke

26: Percentage of Mainers reporting high blood pressure

9.2: Percentage of Mainers reporting asthma (the highest in the nation; the national rate is 7.2 percent)

6: Percentage of Mainers with diabetes

10: Percentage of Maine high school students who are overweight

57: Percentage of Mainers who are either overweight or obese

14: Percentage of Mainers reporting fair or poor health

Source: Maine Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001 and 2002