We've all been told that our children may be the first generation to NOT outlive their parents but the life span of the average American is decreasing anyway!
Especially those living in the Deep South, Appalachia, Texas, the southern part of the Mid West and the Mississippi River Valley have seen a decrease in longevity.
According to Healthnews.com, "Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington used the National Center for Health Statistics' mortality data and data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the time period of 1959 through 2000. The research analyzed data on a county-by-county basis, making it the first to explore mortality per county over such large time span."
SOURCE - http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/aging-getter-older/us-life-span-...
Doctors in these areas of the country are seeing high increases in cancer, diabetes and heart disease, and it seem to be increasing because of obesity, lack of education, and lack of health care, amongst other factors.
The research found that the lifespan of men has decreased 4% since the 1980s and by an INCREDIBLE 19% in women!
This is frightening!
What is also disturbing is the disparity in rich and poor. Rich people tend to live longer but this research is showing that "...the gap between men in affluent areas with the longest life expectancy and those with the shortest was 9 years in 1983 but expanded to 11 years by 1999, while the discrepancy for women was 6.7 years in 1983 and 7.5 in 1999."
http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/aging-getter-older/us-life-span-...
Researchers think this is a sign we need to rethink the American health care system.
Well, I hope we'd draw that conclusion!
We also need to rethink our own behaviors too, and simply take better care of ourselves.
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I do think there is a direct correlation between lack of healthcare and lower life expectancy. Healthcare in this country is downright expensive and unaffordable for a large percentage of our population. Considering our current economic conditions, paying the COBRA rates for health insurance is out of the question for many among the millions of unemployed.
While I agree that living a healthier lifestyle would be best, the reality is that health insurance should be geared toward preventive care, not priced to cover the cost of treating the seriously unhealthy and frivolous lawsuits - that are passed to you in your health insurance premiums.
Why do you suppose that politicians have campaigned on the health care issue to win election/re-election? What I find appalling is that so little comes of campaign pledges. But, that's politics.
March 5, 2009 - 6:31pmThis Comment
Living a healthy lifestyle may be ideal, however I feel for a large pool of society who suffers under poor working wages such as those on tips, often having to work two jobs . They typically do not have the time, means or opportunity to either eat healthily or exercise or provide healthy food for their family.
When the minimum wage is a base rate of just over $2 in some places plus tips it is an impossible poverty trap that leads to these sad statistics in what is a very wealth country.
June 19, 2011 - 4:04amThis Comment
Do you all think that if everyone had healthcare coverage, it would impact these stats?
Kristin Park
May 4, 2008 - 9:29pmhttp://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com
This Comment
What a great reminder that we need to take better care of ourselves. It seems the simplest things -- eating better, working in a little exercise and managing stress can do so much for our lives. And in case we need to be reminded, here's the current nutrition recommendations from the U.S. government. The best part is, they realize that one size doesn't fit all and even offer personalized food plans. Check it out.
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
May 4, 2008 - 5:23pmThis Comment