The message from the survey “my Health, my Community,” is that “Bowen Island reports higher rates of chronic diseases such as chronic breathing problems, arthritis and cancer,” and yet, two experts on health statistics say that Bowen is healthier than the rest of the province.
Dr. Lysyshyn, medical officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, North Shore, says that the survey only reflects the information provided by the people who participated in the survey, which was two per cent of the population over the age of 18. Results were not adjusted for the age of the population or any other factors particular to Bowen.
Cancer rates increase with age, and the Bowen population is skewed due to the fact that 65 per cent of the population surveyed is made up of 40 to 64-year-olds. An older population is more susceptible to cancer, arthritis and respiratory problems. “Bowen’s risk factors for cancer are significantly lower than elsewhere in BC,” he says, due to our healthy island lifestyle and habits.
Lysyshn says that Bowen had a “high level of engagement,” in the survey, but “with Bowen, it amounted to a small number of people compared to the numbers that we looked at in Vancouver.” “Overall, the study shows that people on Bowen report excellent mental health, see physicians regularly, and have good access to health care.“
Participants in the survey had a higher rate of level of physical activity, ate more fruits and vegetables and were exposed to less screen time, than the rest of the province. Because of these healthy habits, “a lot of the risk factors for cancer look significantly better.”
In addition, the coastal region has a better health outlook than the rest of the province.
Lysyshyn says “getting statistics for specific health issues for a small area is very difficult.“
Ryan Woods, Scientific Director for the BC Cancer Registry and Cancer control researcher at the BC Cancer Agency, looked closely at the incidence of breast cancer on Bowen three years ago at the request of a resident.
He says that based on age distribution and frequency of cancers, “we found less than we expected. Bowen has less breast cancer than the provincial rate.”
Woods adds that concerns more consistently arise from within small communities than in cities, which may be due to the fact that people are more connected in a small community and know more about each other. Bowen, he says, “is a very healthy population.” He attributes our good health in part to an active lifestyle and a diet that consists of lots of fruits and vegetables.
While staying active and eating well doesn’t guarantee a disease-free life, both Lysyshyn and Woods agree that it helps reduce some part of the risk factors for poor health. Getting us out onto our bikes is part of the strategy Lysyshyn and would like to see Bowen incorporate into its plan for promoting long-term health and wellness.
