We’re getting healthier in Washington, and San Juan County is ranked the best in the state in quality of life. That’s according to recent reports by the Washington Department of Health and by United Health Foundation. In the national study, Washington was ranked ninth healthiest among all 50 states. That’s an increase from a ranking of 13 in 2014.

The Foundation conducts the America’s Health Ranking Annual reports as part of its work to encourage healthy lifestyles. The first report was published in 1990 and the study is considered to be the longest running state-by-state analysis of factors affecting the health of individuals and communities across the U.S.

The report details Washington’s strengths — including low incidence of infectious disease and cardiovascular deaths — and challenges, including low immunization coverage among children and high prevalence of excessive drinking. Some Highlights about Washington’s health ranking:

• In the past year, excessive drinking increased 2 percent from 18.4 percent to 18.8 percent of adults surveyed.

• Disparity in health status by education level decreased 30 percent from 37.5 percent to 26.2 percent.

• In the past 10 years, cancer deaths decreased 6 percent from 194.9 to 182.8 per 100,000 population.

• In the past 20 years, cardiovascular deaths decreased 34 percent from 323.5 to 212.9 per 100,000 population.

• Since 1990, children in poverty increased 42 percent from 11.8 percent to 16.8 percent of children in the state.

The report summarized data and listed Washington’s strengths as low incidents of infectious disease, low rate of cardiovascular deaths and a small disparity in health status based on level of education.

Among the state’s challenges are its low rate of high school graduation, low immunization coverage among children and high prevalence of excessive drinking.

The study looks at behaviors, the community and environment, state health policy, clinical care (or what services are available), and overall outcomes. Among behaviors, Washington ranked ninth in the number of residents who smoke, at 15.3 percent. Where drinking alcoholic drinks is concerned, Washington ranks 32nd, with 18.8 recorded as drinking excessively. As far as deaths due to drugs, Washington ranks number 30 of 50 states, with 14 deaths per 100,000 population. Obesity ranking for Washington is 13, with 27 percent of the population being obese; physical inactivity ranking was ranked at number 4, with only 18 percent saying they aren’t active. As for high school graduates, Washington’s ranking was 41, with only 76 percent of students completing high school.

In the area of community and the environment, Washington was ranked 22nd in violent crimes, with 289 crimes per 100,000 residents. Occupational fatalities included 2.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, making Washington number 3.

About 16 percent of children in Washington live in property, which ranked the state at 18. Washington had a ranking of 30 in terms of cases of pertussis, with 10 cases reported per 100,000 population.

That coincides with the state’s ranking of 38 in terms of the number of children vaccinated. Only 67 percent of children in Washington are vaccinated, the report showed. For teens, the ranking on immunizations was 15.

Washington ranked 16th in the number of primary care physicians available with 128 doctors in practice per 100,000 residents. For dentists, the ranking was ninth, with 71 dentists per 100,000 population. The study showed that there were 35 preventable hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries, which gave Washington the ranking of sixth. The state was ranked fourth with only 6 percent of live births being at low birthrates.

When outcomes are addressed, Washington’s worst showing was a ranking of 30th for days when respondents said they were in poor mental health. Responders said in the past 30 days, they had experienced 3.7 days of poor mental health. That compares to 3.9 poor physical health days, which ranked Washington at 26. Cardiovascular deaths rated Washington sixth of all states, with 212 deaths per 100,000. Cancer deaths ranked the state 16th, with 182 deaths per 100,000 people.

Regarding state funding for health issues, Washington ranks 19 with $80 spent per person annually. The top amount spent by a state is $227 per person.

The study also sets Healthy People 2020 goals for states. Washington residents are being asked to drop the percentage of people who smoke from 15 to 12; to increase child immunizations from 67 percent to 80 percent; and to decrease drug deaths from 14 per 100,000 population, to 11. Besides its annual health ranking report, United Health Foundation plans to release additional reports in 2016 that directly address the health of mothers and children, and seniors.

Of note: the top five states in this year’s rankings were Hawaii, Vermont, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Hampshire.

Similar data was collected at the state level and shows that San Juan County ranked second over all in health factors and behaviors.

In San Juan County, there are 13 percent of adults who smoke, compared to the state average of 16 percent. The obesity rate in adults in San Juan County is 18 percent, compared to 27 percent throughout the state.

Data shows that 21 percent of San Juan County residents are considered to be excessive drinkers, compared to a state average of 17 percent. The high school graduation rate in the county is 83 percent, compared to the state’s 76 percent. There were 96 violent crimes per 100,000 population in San Juan County, compared to the state’s 301 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Children living in property throughout San Juan County came in at 18 percent compared to the state’s 19 percent. Primary care physicians available were 1,055 to one, compared to 1,203 to one statewide.

Regarding quality of life, those living in San Juan County reported 2.7 days per month that they were in poor mental health, compared to the state’s 3.3 days per 30. Respondents said their physical health was poor 2.9 days per 30, compared to the state’s 3.7 days per month.

Only 13 percent of San Juan County residents report that they aren’t physically active, where the state’s percentage on that was 18 percent. Overall, residents of San Juan County were ranked number one regarding their quality of life, factoring in mental and physical health.

County data was recently released by Washington State Department of Health and can be viewed by searching for San Juan County at www.countyhealthrankings.org, or to see the national report visit www.americashealthrankings.org.