West Virginia Most Medicated

West Virginia wins the titled of most medicated state in the U.S., according to one recent report. The state fills “17.7 prescriptions per capita compared to a national average of 11.5.” Why so much medicine? Experts believe it’s because of many chronic conditions and lack of exercise.

The south in general has higher medication rates. “Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky and Missouri also have prescription drug-use rates well above the national average.”

My first question when I heard this, was what type of medicine are they taking? The answer is lisinopril, a high-blood pressure drug. West Virginians, not surprisingly, have higher rates of heart disease the rest of the country as well. The majority of the population, some seventy percent, are obese and over a quarter of them smoke.

Image: sxc.hu.