Shocking United States life expectancy decline

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
Full article here

“April 13, 2023 – U.S. life expectancy has declined to 76.4 years, the shortest it’s been in nearly two decades, according to December data from the CDC. Two experts from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health—Dean Michelle Williams and Ariadne Labs’ Asaf Bitton—discussed the problem on WP Live, a podcast from the Washington Post.

“The numbers are shocking,” said Williams on the April 10 podcast. She noted that younger people in America are dying at high rates than their counterparts in other high-income countries, and that that the U.S. also has among the highest maternaland infant mortality rates among upper-income countries.”

The article goes in to talk about the US having an excellent “sick care” system, but that adequate health care and education is sadly lacking compared to totter countries.

Japan’s life expectancy is 84.62
The UK’s is 80.90
China’s is 78.08
Canada is 81.75

Every country is higher than the US for life expectancy.

The US focuses on rescue care rather than focusing on disease prevention and good health and how to attain it. I know that I searched for some time to find a doctor whose mindset paralleled mine and would partner with me to focus on pro activity towards my health rather than just seeing me when I was ill. Some doctors don’t want active participation from their patients, they prefer passive acceptance. That’s not me.

Tennessee, where I live, has one of the lowest life expectancies in the Nation! That is sobering and makes me more determined than ever to protect my health for as long as I can!
 

JustBonee said:
Not surprising stats..... prescription drugs seems to be the only answer to everything.

Finding answers to health problems and a remedy for ailments is so lacking in this country.
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I don't agree. I had a pre-cancerous throat condition at one point in time, caused by acid reflux. I had radiation treatment 8 years ago which eliminated that problem and I now take acid reflux medication to prevent reoccurrence. I also take prescription drugs for high blood pressure and for prostate issues. I don't think that I would be alive today at age 77+ without these medications or without having cervical disk surgery almost 30 years ago. So I have found answers to my health problems and remedies for my ailments! I think that medical practices and procedures in this country today are highly successful for so many people.
 
spectratg said:
I don't agree. I had a pre-cancerous throat condition at one point in time, caused by acid reflux. I had radiation treatment 8 years ago which eliminated that problem and I now take acid reflux medication to prevent reoccurrence. I also take prescription drugs for high blood pressure and for prostate issues. I don't think that I would be alive today at age 77+ without these medications or without having cervical disk surgery almost 30 years ago. So I have found answers to my health problems and remedies for my ailments! I think that medical practices and procedures in this country today are highly successful for so many people.
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And certain lifestyle changes early on would most likely have prevented most of it.....
 
oldaunt said:
Not so shocking when you think about it, with so many obese people leading less than active lives while consuming all that processed food.....and the majority just want a pill rather than good advice.
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Pepper said:
Guns/fake meth/fentanyl
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Myrtle said:
Covid was cited by the CDC for the decline in 2022 for whatever it's worth.
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All of the above are true.
The rate of overweight and obese children and adults in the US is staggering. Type 2 diabetes epidemic.

People expect magic answers from their docs (gimme meds) to solve health problems rooted in lousy nutrition habits and a lack of exercise.

In the name of not fat-shaming, we are normalizing morbid obesity at our own peril, and that of our children and grandchildren.

My 12 year old grand nephew has gone from an average weight child to an obese one in the past 5 years. Every time I see him he's heavier.

He prefers playing video games and using virtual reality to playing ACTUAL games that will move his body. It's incredibly sad. If he were my kid, the video games and VR would be put away and only come out when the weather was so poor that outdoor play was impossible.
 
Ronni said:
U.S. life expectancy has declined to 76.4 years, the shortest it’s been in nearly two decades
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Interesting, however I think the authors miss most of the point only talking about our health care system. I believe we have the best health care in the world, for those who can afford it. Unfortunately too many cannot. I believe our system is pretty inefficient, we spend more per capita on health care than anyone else, for a mediocre outcome, by comparison to a lot of countries anyway.

Short term, as @Myrtle pointed out the drop seems to be due to Covid, it's what the CDC is saying anyway.

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The U.S. Just Lost 26 Years’ Worth of Progress on Life Expectancy
https://www.scientificamerican.com/...6-years-worth-of-progress-on-life-expectancy/
Ronni said:
Japan’s life expectancy is 84.62
The UK’s is 80.90
China’s is 78.08
Canada is 81.75

Every country is higher than the US for life expectancy.
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That is a different, and probably more important problem. I suspect a lot of it comes down to a larger income differences, we have more poor people. Poor people die earlier for a variety of reasons, they are more likely obese, smokers, and drug users, and they can't afford good health care. It is not that we spend less on heath care, we spend more, just not very wisely.

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Why is life expectancy in the US lower than in other rich countries?
https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low
 
I remember reading that Covid knocked a few months of of the lifespan in the US. Toss in the obesity epidemic and what else can we expect?

1/4 of all medical care is now caused by diabetes and it’s problems. That seems to me to be the low hanging fruit in regards to reducing the high cost of medial care in the USA. People need to be motivated to avoid that awful disease.
 
Ronni said:
The US focuses on rescue care rather than focusing on disease prevention and good health and how to attain it. I know that I searched for some time to find a doctor whose mindset paralleled mine and would partner with me to focus on pro activity towards my health rather than just seeing me when I was ill. Some doctors don’t want active participation from their patients, they prefer passive acceptance. That’s not me.
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It is not all about Healthcare........... but SELF care......

regardless of Doctor it is the Patients who are in control........ and outcome is far more dependent on them then any medical professional.....

Studies show about 75 % do not take medications as directed... they wing it...

many self exams out find far more things then health screening by professional once a year.

People Often do not seek help until an item is no longer able to be ignored..... My favorite is seeing people in All type medical shows who KNOW something is wrong but NEVER sought any treatment......

diet / exercise changes ..... forget about it ........when spouse was told to go low sodium we DID had 10 x better results then doctor had seen he actually told spouse .."i say to do this or that 25 times a day and about 1 in 100 actually follow thru.... "

Being a good consumer ... people go to a doctor who may not be informed or listen etc and they get it is OK or my favorite Pet Peeve within normal ranges ........ what is "normal " for you might not be for me. YOU are the BOSS get second opinions or find someone who does not call you be wrong name or spend 5 minutes trying to GUESS the most likely diagnosis.
FIRE bad practitioners and seek other answers......

Obesity was a major factor of almost 80% of Covid deaths ... but NO public health official said a word about we need to reverse this. Obesity has been on cdc health crisis list but do you see any campaigns ........ Nope might upset the body positivism movement TRUTH hurts sometimes.
 
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Jamala said:
In Britain we are forking out for these people.

There should be laws for people to get off their behinds and do some work and even better raise the pension age.

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self induced weight issues or drug addiction IMO should not qualify for payments for not working that should be for folks with other issues that are disability.
 
I guess I have beaten the odds by making it to 90. I credit that to good genes and never smoking. Also, no issues with cancer among known ancestors other than simple skin cancer. I tried to live healthy but was not a fanatic about either exercise or healthy food. I’ve been over an ideal weight since my 50s but never morbidly obese.
 
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