Florida one of the most unhealthy states

Florida one of the most unhealthy states

Florida is one of the most unhealthy states in the country, according to America's Health Rankings. Florida came in at number 45.

Only five other states - Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana - scored worse than Florida on 22 measures of health, including access to medical care and prenatal care, infant mortality and deaths from heart disease and infectious disease. Florida, at No. 45, fell four spots from its 2007 ranking.

The healthiest states in the country were Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah.

A high number of uninsured residents, high incidences of infectious disease, and a 23 percent increase of children living in poverty helped Florida fall in the rankings. And if you are black, you are twice as likely to have a low birth rate baby, than if you are a non-Hispanic white.

Positively affecting health is a low rate of air pollution and obesity. Also the number of folks who smoke has dropped by 8 percent.

States were ranked by 22 health measures from infant mortality, to heart disease deaths, immunizations, violent crime, among other criteria. Unfortunately access to health care also falls along racial lines with 43.8 percent of Hispanics lacking health insurance compared to almost 18 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

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THE HEALTHIEST STATES

1. Vermont
2. Hawaii
3. New Hampshire
4. Minnesota
5. Utah

THE UNHEALTHIEST STATES

1. Louisiana
2. Mississippi
3. South Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Texas
6. Florida