SeaTac and Tukwila received disturbing health news from Dr. Jim Krieger of Seattle-King County Public Health at the SeaTac City Council meeting June 13.

Krieger reported the two communities rank first in King County in several areas that indicate poor health.

These include the percentage of residents with high blood pressure, the birth rate among adolescents, uninsured adults and adults not seeing a doctor in the past year because of costs.

The health district divided the county into 25 or 34 planning areas, depending on the study. SeaTac and Tukwila were placed in the same area.

More than a third of SeaTac and Tukwila residents suffer from high blood pressure, according to Krieger.

The birth rate among adolescents is more than twice the county average.

And about 20 percent of adults do not have health insurance.

The two cities ranked second in number of babies with very low birth weights and the percentage of pregnant women who received very late or no prenatal care, according to studies cited by Krieger.

They also were second in percentage of residents hospitalized for serious mental health conditions.

In addition, the two cities fared poorly in the number of hospitalizations for childhood asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

Councilman Joe Brennan suggested the influx of poor immigrants into SeaTac might explain some of the statistics.

Krieger noted that a study of Mexican immigrants found that their health deteriorated the longer they stayed in the United States. He blamed the decline on changes in eating and exercise habits.

Steps recommended by Krieger for improving the health of residents include universal health coverage and access to health care, better support for people with chronic diseases, and building homes and communities that support physical activity and provide healthy indoor environments.

SeaTac will receive a health clinic when Lutheran Services opens a planned facility at South 188th Street and 39th Avenue South.

A student clinic was opened recently on the Tyee High School campus. It will be closed during the summer when classes let out on June 22.

King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, who introduced Krieger, reported that Tukwila lawmakers are considering placing a student health clinic at Foster High School.

Krieger praised SeaTac for its plans to provide pedestrians areas around the new light rail station at South 154th Street.