• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.67-82
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze how the different lifestyles between Koreans and Korean Americans have significant effects on their health. Despite being the same race, Koreans and Korean Americans have different health conditions and health attitudes due to the acquired environmental factors such as social-economic factors, lifestyle risk factors, healthcare systems, and medical utilization. It is crucial to examine how the different lifestyle habits between Koreans and Korean Americans lead to various health conditions for establishing an effective health promotion policy. Methods: In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Korea and CHIS data of the United States in 2005 and 2015 to provide valuable insights when establishing such a policy. Results: The specific research purpose is as follows: First, socioeconomic factors, such as (1)living habits risk factors, (2)health satisfaction levels, (3)disease outbreaks, and (4)medical uses, are analyzed to find the distinct characteristics among Koreans, Korean Americans, and Americans. Second, the three groups --Koreans, Korean Americans, and Americans-- were compared based on their exposure to disease-related lifestyle risk factors related to their body mass index and their general health condition. The research results are as follows: First, all three groups improved health conditions in 2015 better than in 2005. Koreans maintained relatively higher general health conditions compared to other groups: their prevalence rate of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and asthma was lower than that of U.S. residents. Second, in regards to health behavior factors, the lifetime smoking experience for Koreans and Americans both decreased in 2015 compared to 2005, while the lifetime smoking experience for Korean Americans increased slightly. The number of smokers for Koreans has greatly decreased over a decade while that of Americans has moderately increased. Third, according to the results of the multiple regression, the general health conditions, which is a dependent variable, suggests that the number of men who answered they are healthy is greater than that of women in Korea, compared to the United States. Conclusions: In conclusion, the acquired environmental factors had more significant impacts on health than the racial factors did. Compared to 2005, the health behaviors and health levels of Korean Americans in 2015 gradually became more similar to those of Americans.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.125-132
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• 2005

Hypercholesterolemia has been regarded as a major risk factor of coronary heart disease(CHD). CHD is increasing in recent years among Koreans due to westernization of lifestyle and dietary behaviors. In the United States, implementation of the National Cholesterol Education Program(NCEP) had resulted 40% decline in mortality from CHD. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of medical nutrition therapy on serum lipid levels and discuss the effective nutrition education contents. Thirty outpatients(Male 40%, female 60%) with hypercholesterolemia were educated by medical nutrition therapy(MNT) protocol. At first visit and after three months of MNT, we assessed serum lipid profile, body weight and surveyed general characteristics, lifestyle and food habits through questionnaire. After 12 weeks of MNT, there were significant reductions in serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C). Foods habits and lifestyle were changed to the desirable patterns. These results indicate that lipid profile is improved by changes of dietary behaviors and lifestyle. Especially in case of obesity, cholesterol lowering effect of MNT was more powerful. Consequently, MNT is effective on reduction of serum lipids by behavior change in hypercholesterolemic patients.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate outbreak, treatment, and lifestyle in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) for developing a health promotion education program. Method: Data were collected from 2,920 children with AD in preschool and elementary schools in K city. Result: The majority of children (43.75%) were onset in less than 1 yr after the birth. The locations of skin lesion were face, extension of extremities, and flextion of extremities, neck and trunk. The types of treatment were complement therapies, and medical treatment such as pediatrics and dermatology. Their parents chose a type of treatment for their children. Of complement therapies, the most common type was aroma oil. Herbal medicine was the most eating type among complement therapies. In lifestyle, the preferred bathing method was shower. In applying moisturizer, the most common time was within 3 min after bath. The highest frequency of taking instant/processed diet was 1-2 times per week and the most preferred type was pork. Conclusion: A Health promotion educational program with AD in preschool and elementary school children should included a specificity of disease, the recent treatment guideline, life therapy and evidenced complement therapy by child and family unit for the promotion of their health.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major health burden worldwide, with over 600 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths by 15 December 2022. Although the acute phase of COVID-19 management has been established, the long-term clinical course and complications due to the relatively short outbreak is yet to be assessed. The current COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Interestingly, epidemiological studies have shown that fatality rates vary considerably across different countries, and men and elderly patients are at higher risk of developing severe diseases. There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 infection causes neurological deficits in a substantial proportion to patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, lack of physical activity and smoking are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility. We should therefore explore why lack of physical activity, smoking, etc causing a population more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and mechanism involved. Thus, in this review article, we summarize epidemiological evidence related to risk factors and lifestyle that affect COVID-19 severity and the mechanism involved. These risk factors or lifestyle interventions include smoking, cardiovascular health, obesity, exercise, environmental pollution, psychosocial social stress, and diet.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

From October 01, 2017 to October 30, 2017, Busan. The following are the results of 185 studies on the identification of lifestyle habits and subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders in Kyungnam dental hygienists. 1. The dental hygienist's lifestyle showed more regular exercise with age, and there was a significant difference according to age(χ²=34.17, p<.001). 2. The housework habits were more than 1 hour for older dental hygienists, and there were significant differences according to age(χ²=66.09, p<.001). 3. In the case of musculoskeletal diseases with or without age, dental hygienists experienced musculoskeletal disorders in the past and showed a significant difference according to age(χ²=39.51, p<.001). 4. 35~39 years old Dental hygienist There were present musculoskeletal diseases and there was a significant difference according to age(χ²=45.44, p<.001). 5. There was a significant difference between the dental hygienists aged 35~39 years due to musculoskeletal disorders and age(χ²=24.19, p<.001). As described above, the dental hygienist needs to adjust the work in consideration of the year, and in the case of low annual, measures are needed to prevent the disease.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.161-181
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• 2011

In spite of the development of scientific and medical technology, the rate of prevalence and death of the chronic disease gets higher. Therefore people come to know prevention is more important than treatment in disease. In Western, it is nearly after 1970's when it is revealed that the major factor of chronic disease comes from habitual behaviors in everyday life. But that is common idea in Oriental Medicine since thousand years. In Oriental Medicine, the main cause of disease is composed of natural factor including climate condition, living-life factor, psycho-social factor, constitutional factor, inbody-pathologic-substance factor, and other factors including habits of using drug and medical service, injury, environmental pollutions, and occupational etiologic factors. Among these, the major factors of disease in modern society are lifestyle factors like the tendency of choosing and intaking food, the level of physical activity and labor, smoking and drinking alcohol, psychological tendency, the habits of using drug and medical service and so on. This is a practical aspect of oriental medicine where the most important etiologic factor comes from human behaviors, not from external factors like germ or virus. So that etiology in Oriental Medicine where improvement in the way of life is needed to prevent disease would play an important role in modern society.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-177
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the clustering of lifestyle risk factors for chronic diseases in urban poor and rural adults. Methods: As a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted in 2003. Data was collected from 468 urban poor adults and 385 rural adults. And 848 persons data was used for final analysis. We surveyed their smoking habit alcohol consumption, exercise habit education and disease histories. Result: In mea about 25% of the urban poor subjects and about 20% of the rural subjects had three lifestyle risk factors(Prevalence ratio was 1.29). And, in women, about 1.5% of the urban poor subjects and about 0.5% of the rural subjects had three lifestyle risk factors(Prevalence ratio was 4.00). Especially in men, clustering of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption was strongest both the urban poor and rural subjects(Observed/Expected ratio(O/E): 1.4 in the urban poor subjects, 1.3 in the rural subjects). Conclusions: These findings show that the lifestyle risk factors cluster among the urban poor and rural adults. And the clustering is stronger in the urban poor adults than the rural adults. This tendency was important for health education and health promotion. We suggest that more intensive health promotion strategies for the urban poor adults are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2014

Objectives: Several previous studies have found that healthy behaviors substantially reduce non-communicable disease incidence and mortality. The present study was performed to estimate the prevalence of four modifiable healthy behaviors and a healthy lifestyle among Korean adults according to socio-demographic and regional factors. Methods: We analyzed data from 199 400 Korean adults aged 19 years and older who participated in the 2010 Korean Community Health Survey. We defined a healthy lifestyle as a combination of four modifiable healthy behaviors: non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular walking, and a healthy weight. We calculated the prevalence rates and odds ratios of each healthy behavior and healthy lifestyle according to socio-demographic and regional characteristics. Results: The prevalence rates were as follows: non-smoking, 75.0% (53.7% in men, 96.6% in women); moderate alcohol consumption, 88.2% (79.7% in men, 96.9% in women); regular walking, 45.0% (46.2% in men, 43.8% in women); healthy weight, 77.4% (71.3% in men, 73.6% in women); and a healthy lifestyle, 25.5% (16.4% in men, 34.6% in women). The characteristics associated with a low prevalence of healthy lifestyle were male gender, younger age (19 to 44 years of age), low educational attainment, married, living in a rural area, living in the Chungcheong, Youngnam, or Gwangwon-Jeju region, and poorer self-rated health. Conclusions: Further research should be implemented to explore the explainable factors of disparities for socio-demographic and regional characteristics to engage in the healthy lifestyle among adults.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2000

Lifestyle and dietary behavior intervention as the primary prevention of lipid disorder seems safe and compatible with other treatments of cardiovascular diseases. Cross-sectional associations between lifestyle factors and dietary behavioral factors with plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels were analyzed in 189 middle-aged men in Suwon, Korea. Overnight fasting plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol, triacylglycerol and glucose were analyzed. Blood pressure and anthropometric data were also measured. Lifestyle factors such as smoking status, alcohol consumption and frequency of physical exercise were evaluated by a self-administered questionnaire. Questions regarding dietary behavior were also asked. The subjects were 43.8%${\pm}$7.9 years old, and 23.8%${\pm}$2.6kg/m$^2$. From stepwise regression analyses, significant correlates with total cholesterol level were body mass index(BMI), alcohol intake(negative), age and coffee drinking(model R$^2$=14.3%). BMI, breakfast-skipping, age, and sleeping hours were significant for triacylglycerol level(model R$^2$=15.8%). BMI, alcohol drinking(negative), age, and coffee drinking were significant for low-density lipoprotein(LDL)(model R$^2$=11.7%). Age(negative), BMI(negative), alcohol drinking, stress level(negative), physical exercise, and cigarette smoking(negative) were significant for high-density lipoprotein(HDL)(model R$^2$=12.1%). From stepwise regression analyses, excluding BMI and age as factors in the model, alcohol intake(negative) and coffee drinking were significantly correlated with total cholesterol level(model R$^2$=4.4%) : breakfast-skipping with triacylglycerol(model R$^2$=3.2%) : alcohol intake (negative) with LDL level(model R$^2$=3.4%) : alcohol intake, physical exercise and stress level(negative) with HDL level(model R$^2$=6.3%). The findings suggest that a healthy daily lifestyle and dietary behavior may have an anti-atherogenic effect by altering plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in middle-aged Korean men. (J Community Nutrition 2(2) : 119∼128, 2000)

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of four lifestyle-related diseases, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and hypercholesterolemia, on oral health in the rural elderly in Korea. Methods: We enrolled 399 subjects over 60 years of age over a six year period, year 2000-2006/ year 2001-2007. All subjects received a routine health examination as part of a program conducted by the National Health Insurance Corporation at Seongju-gun Public Health Center in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. All subjects were surveyed and examined to determine their general and oral health statuses. Results: Our results suggest that the duration of lifestyle-related diseases has a significant influence on oral health. The following factors were all significant in the results of analyses: duration of diabetes, tooth decay, which teeth had decayed, missing and filled teeth(DMFT), duration of hypertension, and duration of obesity and hypercholesterolemia(p<0.05). Our results also suggest that the number of lifestyle related diseases has a significant influence on oral health. Subjects with more than two diseases had significantly greater numbers of missing teeth and greater numbers of DMFT(p<0.01). The results of simple regression analysis indicate that patients exhibiting longer durations of diabetes also exhibit more tooth decay, and that patients exhibiting longer durations of hypertension and obesity are characterized by greater numbers of missing teeth. The longer the duration of any of the four lifestyle-related diseases we considered, the more DMFT we observed. Multiple regression analyses also demonstrated that longer duration of lifestyle-related disease was associated with greater numbers of missing teeth. As the number of lifestyle-related diseases increased, DMFT also increased. Conclusions: In summary, lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and hypercholesterolemia have significant influences on oral health in the elderly. In this context, the prevention and management of lifestyle-related disease is critical for the maintenance and promotion of oral health.