Fort Polk Heart Smart Program. Part IV: Lifestyles of military personnel and their families.

Lifestyles are major determinants in development of heart disease. Tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity, and hostility, a component of type A, were assessed in a sample of active military men and their wives at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Findings included: (1) a greater frequency of cigarette smoking at Fort Polk compared to national surveys; (2) a higher frequency of alcohol consumption in ages 30-39, and more blacks reported alcohol use than other race groups; (3) a greater frequency of alcohol use at Fort Polk compared to a worldwide military survey; (4) no consistent differences in lipid or blood pressure levels for high and low activity groups of wives; and (5) wives' hostility scores were low, and were not correlated with other cardiovascular risk factors. The implication of lifestyle descriptions is the need for intervention and health promotion, not only for military personnel, but also for their families. The significance of health promotion programs is the eventual reduction of health care costs and the well-being of families and fitness of military personnel.