This may get a rise out of you, but not in a good way. Researchers report that more than 30 percent of adults worldwide have high blood pressure. They looked at the medical records of more than 986,000 people in 90 countries to come to that conclusion. Hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease, had been thought to be the particular bane of wealthy nations, but the researchers found that 75 percent of adults with the condition lived in low- and middle-income countries.

The researchers suggest that while wealthy countries have worked hard to prevent and control more cases of hypertension, health care systems in other poorer nations might not be up to the task.

Troubled Waters

The lead-tainted water supply woes of Flint, Michigan aren't unique. It's a serious concern across the country — and not just about lead. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, at least 6 million Americans are being exposed to higher-than-recommended levels of industrial chemicals in public drinking water.

The finding, based on 36,000 EPA-collected water samples, covers a widely used class of chemicals known as PFASs, which have historically been used in products like fire extinguishers and food packaging. They've been tied to cancer and other diseases.

The EPA estimate may be on the low side because regulators don't have data on PFAS levels for one-third of the nation's public water supply.

Body of Knowledge

The aorta, the body's largest artery, is nearly the diameter of a garden hose.

Life in Big Macs

One hour of brisk walking (unencumbered, approximately 3.5 miles per hour) burns 258 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of 0.4 Big Macs with cheese. You're missing the point, though, if that brisk walk leads directly to a McDonald's.

Counts

20.8: Number of live births per 1,000 teens between ages of 15 and 19 in first quarter of 2016

50: Percentage drop in teen birth rate since 2007

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Doc Talk

Claudication: limping caused by impaired blood supply to the legs

Phobia of the Week

Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple. There is no named condition for fear of the movie or novel by the same name.

Never Say Diet

The Major League Eating record for flautas is 65 in 10 minutes, held by Ben Monson. The fact that you've probably never heard of Monson's achievement indicates his desire not to flauta it.

Best Medicine

Q: What's the most commonly misspelled blood group?

A: Typo

Observation

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. — American humorist Doug Larson

Medical History

This week in 1888, a baby incubator was first used in the United States to care for 2-pound, 7-ounce Edith McLean at State Emigrant Hospital on Ward's Island, New York. Originally called a "hatching cradle," the device was three-foot square, four-foot high box designed to increase the survival rate of premature infants. Sixteen years later at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, the incubators were still quite novel, with a display featuring nurses caring for real endangered infants from orphanages and poor families. The care of the infants was paid for by the exhibit admission fee.

Med School

Q: Of the parts of the brain listed below, which is the biggest?

a) Cerebellum

b) Cerebrum

c) Brain stem

d) Corpus callosum

A: b) The cerebrum is comprised of both the right and left hemispheres of the brain and makes up 85 percent of the brain's weight. It is responsible for higher functions, such as the senses, speech, reasoning and emotions. The cerebellum is located under the cerebrum. It coordinates muscle movement and balance. The brain steam acts as a relay between the brain and the spinal cord, and manages many automatic functions, such as breathing and heart rate. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres, transferring signals from side to side.

Curtain Calls

In 1975, a 50-year-old man named Alex Mitchell in Norfolk, England sat down to watch a comedy-variety show called "The Goodies." One scene particularly tickled him, enough that he began laughing uncontrollably for 25 minutes until suffering a fatal heart attack.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.