Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0Where What Cheer residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for What Cheer, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for What Cheer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in What Cheer
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in What Cheer
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, What Cheer runs above Iowa on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in What Cheer
58.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 66.8% across Iowa. Among those 65 and older, 19.3% have lost all their teeth (Iowa 11.6%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in What Cheer
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.7%), vs 14.5% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Iowa figure falls outside What Cheer’s likely range.
Out of every 100 What Cheer adults…
What Cheer runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of What Cheer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near What Cheer
No hospital or community health center in What Cheer itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of What Cheer; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How What Cheer adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 What Cheer adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.6% of What Cheer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
What Cheer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of What Cheer adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in What Cheer
Why doesn’t What Cheer have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for What Cheer.
What hospital is closest to What Cheer?
Keokuk County Health Center in Sigourney, 10.4 miles in a straight line from What Cheer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near What Cheer?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Rhchc BH Sigourney Site in Sigourney, 9.3 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in What Cheer.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Iowa figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.