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US slipping in life expectancy rankings
Americans are living longer than ever, but not as long as people in 41 other countries.
For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.
Countries that surpass the U.S. include Japan and most of Europe, as well as Jordan, Guam and the Cayman Islands.
"Something's wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries," said Dr. Christopher Murray, head of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
A baby born in the United States in 2004 will live an average of 77.9 years. That life expectancy ranks 42nd, down from 11th two decades earlier, according to international numbers provided by the Census Bureau and domestic numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Andorra, a tiny country in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, had the longest life expectancy, at 83.5 years, according to the Census Bureau. It was followed by Japan, Macau, San Marino and Singapore.
The shortest life expectancies were clustered in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has been hit hard by an epidemic of HIV and AIDS, as well as famine and civil strife. Swaziland has the shortest, at 34.1 years, followed by Zambia, Angola, Liberia and Zimbabwe.
Researchers said several factors have contributed to the United States falling behind other industrialized nations. A major one is that 45 million Americans lack health insurance, while Canada and many European countries have universal health care, they say.
But "it's not as simple as saying we don't have national health insurance," said Sam Harper, an epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal. "It's not that easy."
Among the other factors:
• Adults in the United States have one of the highest obesity rates in the world. Nearly a third of U.S. adults 20 years and older are obese, while about two-thirds are overweight, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
"The U.S. has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy," said Paul Terry, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta. "We have the luxury of choosing a bad lifestyle as opposed to having one imposed on us by hard times."
• Racial disparities. Black Americans have an average life expectancy of 73.3 years, five years shorter than white Americans.
Black American males have a life expectancy of 69.8 years, slightly longer than the averages for Iran and Syria and slightly shorter than in Nicaragua and Morocco.
• A relatively high percentage of babies born in the U.S. die before their first birthday, compared with other industrialized nations.
Forty countries, including Cuba, Taiwan and most of Europe had lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. in 2004. The U.S. rate was 6.8 deaths for every 1,000 live births. It was 13.7 for Black Americans, the same as Saudi Arabia.
"It really reflects the social conditions in which African American women grow up and have children," said Dr. Marie C. McCormick, professor of maternal and child health at the Harvard School of Public Health. "We haven't done anything to eliminate those disparities."
Another reason for the U.S. drop in the ranking is that the Census Bureau now tracks life expectancy for a lot more countries — 222 in 2004 — than it did in the 1980s. However, that does not explain why so many countries entered the rankings with longer life expectancies than the United States.
Murray, from the University of Washington, said improved access to health insurance could increase life expectancy. But, he predicted, the U.S. won't move up in the world rankings as long as the health care debate is limited to insurance.
Policymakers also should focus on ways to reduce cancer, heart disease and lung disease, said Murray. He advocates stepped-up efforts to reduce tobacco use, control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.
"Even if we focused only on those four things, we would go along way toward improving health care in the United States," Murray said. "The starting point is the recognition that the U.S. does not have the best health care system. There are still an awful lot of people who think it does."
For decades, the United States has been slipping in international rankings of life expectancy, as other countries improve health care, nutrition and lifestyles.
Countries that surpass the U.S. include Japan and most of Europe, as well as Jordan, Guam and the Cayman Islands.
"Something's wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries," said Dr. Christopher Murray, head of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
A baby born in the United States in 2004 will live an average of 77.9 years. That life expectancy ranks 42nd, down from 11th two decades earlier, according to international numbers provided by the Census Bureau and domestic numbers from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Andorra, a tiny country in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, had the longest life expectancy, at 83.5 years, according to the Census Bureau. It was followed by Japan, Macau, San Marino and Singapore.
The shortest life expectancies were clustered in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has been hit hard by an epidemic of HIV and AIDS, as well as famine and civil strife. Swaziland has the shortest, at 34.1 years, followed by Zambia, Angola, Liberia and Zimbabwe.
Researchers said several factors have contributed to the United States falling behind other industrialized nations. A major one is that 45 million Americans lack health insurance, while Canada and many European countries have universal health care, they say.
But "it's not as simple as saying we don't have national health insurance," said Sam Harper, an epidemiologist at McGill University in Montreal. "It's not that easy."
Among the other factors:
• Adults in the United States have one of the highest obesity rates in the world. Nearly a third of U.S. adults 20 years and older are obese, while about two-thirds are overweight, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
"The U.S. has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy," said Paul Terry, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta. "We have the luxury of choosing a bad lifestyle as opposed to having one imposed on us by hard times."
• Racial disparities. Black Americans have an average life expectancy of 73.3 years, five years shorter than white Americans.
Black American males have a life expectancy of 69.8 years, slightly longer than the averages for Iran and Syria and slightly shorter than in Nicaragua and Morocco.
• A relatively high percentage of babies born in the U.S. die before their first birthday, compared with other industrialized nations.
Forty countries, including Cuba, Taiwan and most of Europe had lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. in 2004. The U.S. rate was 6.8 deaths for every 1,000 live births. It was 13.7 for Black Americans, the same as Saudi Arabia.
"It really reflects the social conditions in which African American women grow up and have children," said Dr. Marie C. McCormick, professor of maternal and child health at the Harvard School of Public Health. "We haven't done anything to eliminate those disparities."
Another reason for the U.S. drop in the ranking is that the Census Bureau now tracks life expectancy for a lot more countries — 222 in 2004 — than it did in the 1980s. However, that does not explain why so many countries entered the rankings with longer life expectancies than the United States.
Murray, from the University of Washington, said improved access to health insurance could increase life expectancy. But, he predicted, the U.S. won't move up in the world rankings as long as the health care debate is limited to insurance.
Policymakers also should focus on ways to reduce cancer, heart disease and lung disease, said Murray. He advocates stepped-up efforts to reduce tobacco use, control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.
"Even if we focused only on those four things, we would go along way toward improving health care in the United States," Murray said. "The starting point is the recognition that the U.S. does not have the best health care system. There are still an awful lot of people who think it does."
I'd be happy with 77 years old. That would be fine with me if I can make it that long. I don't have an overwhelming desire to live to be 100. I do believe that the lack of health care assessibility is a large part of the problem and mostly due to the $$ it takes to get it.
IMHO,
Susan
IMHO,
Susan
hey, just wanted to say hello, finally getting hot weather huh? yuk! hope youre well and thriving!
your comment about teaching your daughter to pick up trash etc. when out on bike rides, etc. - I commend you!! And, your daughter. My husband and I live on a street (not a subdivision) with residential homes and daily we pick up cans, bottles, paper that people just throw out their cars, and we pick these things up not just in our yard. We have a subdivision down our street, and my husband saw someone throw their leftover food container out. He quickly picked it up, got in his little golf cart and followed car down the street. Went to the door, rang their bell, and said "you forgot this", and left.
frightening statistics and good reflections....is it too late to move? or am i already a goner?
Wow - proud you must be!
I know I'd be bragging all over the place. LOL!
To insert pictures here - open up your picture that you want to put in... In whatever program you have on your computer --- MS Paint --- or whatever it opens with (XP comes with a really cool picture editor.)
Size it down to less than 98 pixels wide and 98 pixels tall. save as a NEW picture name and as a jpeg (if you don't save as a jpeg - you can click on the thumbnail or picture name, click RENAME, and name it something like " cjlady.jpeg " make sure you put the .jpeg on it. and it will change it to a jpeg format pic)
And then click on your profile --- then add picture - (browse, find where that picture is that you just saved or just renamed...
And VOILA --- Picture in da profile!
Yeah team!
Meki
I know I'd be bragging all over the place. LOL!
To insert pictures here - open up your picture that you want to put in... In whatever program you have on your computer --- MS Paint --- or whatever it opens with (XP comes with a really cool picture editor.)
Size it down to less than 98 pixels wide and 98 pixels tall. save as a NEW picture name and as a jpeg (if you don't save as a jpeg - you can click on the thumbnail or picture name, click RENAME, and name it something like " cjlady.jpeg " make sure you put the .jpeg on it. and it will change it to a jpeg format pic)
And then click on your profile --- then add picture - (browse, find where that picture is that you just saved or just renamed...
And VOILA --- Picture in da profile!
Yeah team!
Meki
Yea I hope to keep getting them to do things to clean things up. Very good idea with bring at least one thing home. I will instill this in my boys. My oldest will enter 11th grade this year and I think I will suggest to him to do some volunteer work having to do with our envirnment. He needs to start increasing his portfolio for college. His interest is being a coach for basketball/History teacher; he loves history. Carries btw 3.5 - 3.7, plays football and basketball.
Cajun
Cajun
Interesting - you guys are some serious philosophers... yanno?
OH - and Forsee excellent posts.
Cajun - I love that you taught your kids that at an early age.
My rule of thumb with my daughter --- is that if she is out on a walk -bike ride --- whatever... that she has to pick up ONE piece of trash and bring it home.. Be it a can - a piece of paper - a cigarette butt... But she has to throw it in our trash. (Or if we're out --- at a proper trash receptacle... etc.) I taught her if everyone brought at least one thing out --- instead of leaving it --- this world would be a much better place... Cleaner.
That way she isn't overwhelmed with a task --- but combats it one part at a time.
Ahhhh I hope our generation has learned enough to teach the next one properly. Sigh...
Meki
OH - and Forsee excellent posts.
Cajun - I love that you taught your kids that at an early age.
My rule of thumb with my daughter --- is that if she is out on a walk -bike ride --- whatever... that she has to pick up ONE piece of trash and bring it home.. Be it a can - a piece of paper - a cigarette butt... But she has to throw it in our trash. (Or if we're out --- at a proper trash receptacle... etc.) I taught her if everyone brought at least one thing out --- instead of leaving it --- this world would be a much better place... Cleaner.
That way she isn't overwhelmed with a task --- but combats it one part at a time.
Ahhhh I hope our generation has learned enough to teach the next one properly. Sigh...
Meki
pigeon - You're so very right... scary, isn't it?
But PB&J and Mac and Cheese --- dang I still love them! (in smaller doses, of course.. and by choice.. LOL!)
But PB&J and Mac and Cheese --- dang I still love them! (in smaller doses, of course.. and by choice.. LOL!)
I have not heard it put sooo well in words. You pegged it so bueatifully or (the ugly in all). And, true soooo true. If only more of society could GET IT. I taught my kids a long time ago that recycling their cans, bottles and plastics if profitable as well as cleaning up the earth. That was how I got them started, now they do even more in the recycling even if they don't make money. It was a good way for me to start them into action. I have taught them to rinse the milk jug so it can be recycled, if there is milk in it, it will go to the landfill, not recycle. They rinse everything now, bean cans, anything that recycles and has food left in it, they rinse and recycle. Most people do not know that if there is food or liquid in the recycle that it gets booted out of recycle and put in the landfills.
Very well stated.
Cajun
Very well stated.
Cajun
Gee, I'm not used to so much agreement. Its amazing what pops out of the brain once the interferon is gone!!
Pigeonca, the trick to eating well is like the trick to reading. Its not about telling people to eat right, its about learning it from your parents, ideally anyway. My daughter can't believe people eat mashed potatoes from a box when all you have to do is boil 'em and smash 'em. But you are right about the connection between cost and choice. And that obesity and malnutrition often go together.
I wonder why there is all this racial divide happening again. Black Americans are the fatties??? Latinos are stealing our jobs??? I look at Yahoo news and they say more black fans like Barry Bonds then white ones? ( this is news??) Is the corporate owned media trying to get us to be against each other? Is this a case of divide and conquer?? Take your anger and fear out on each other. Don't look at how the politicos are bought and sold. Don't listen to talk of a draft. Close your eyes to the executive orders giving away our freedom to dissent, our freedom of speech. Why aren't there lobbyists for the constitution? No money to be made there.
I see health care as symptomatic of the whole problem of focus in this country. Why have housing costs, gasoline prices, energy costs risen and pay ( on the lower end) dropped?
Sorry to ramble off subject although I do think its all connected.
I was so distraught over the situation of our country and the world. I searched for a way for change that didn't involve becoming the flip side of the coin. How can you fight for peace? You can pray for peace or meditate on peace but fighting is still fighting. I really do believe that it is only through a change in our hearts and minds that we can change things.
Peace to everyone on this beautiful Sunday. OH
Pigeonca, the trick to eating well is like the trick to reading. Its not about telling people to eat right, its about learning it from your parents, ideally anyway. My daughter can't believe people eat mashed potatoes from a box when all you have to do is boil 'em and smash 'em. But you are right about the connection between cost and choice. And that obesity and malnutrition often go together.
I wonder why there is all this racial divide happening again. Black Americans are the fatties??? Latinos are stealing our jobs??? I look at Yahoo news and they say more black fans like Barry Bonds then white ones? ( this is news??) Is the corporate owned media trying to get us to be against each other? Is this a case of divide and conquer?? Take your anger and fear out on each other. Don't look at how the politicos are bought and sold. Don't listen to talk of a draft. Close your eyes to the executive orders giving away our freedom to dissent, our freedom of speech. Why aren't there lobbyists for the constitution? No money to be made there.
I see health care as symptomatic of the whole problem of focus in this country. Why have housing costs, gasoline prices, energy costs risen and pay ( on the lower end) dropped?
Sorry to ramble off subject although I do think its all connected.
I was so distraught over the situation of our country and the world. I searched for a way for change that didn't involve becoming the flip side of the coin. How can you fight for peace? You can pray for peace or meditate on peace but fighting is still fighting. I really do believe that it is only through a change in our hearts and minds that we can change things.
Peace to everyone on this beautiful Sunday. OH
You are SO right. A change in consciousness is essential - along with universal health coverage, which would include a major revamping of the concept of preventive medicine. Our present system pays lip service to lifestyle, but doesn't provide the resources necessary for people to change.
Also, the article implies that the disparity is caused by the shortened life expectancy of African Americans, who eat the wrong foods and don't exercise. This may indeed be so, but if those "fat, lazy" African Americans had health insurance proportionate to their numbers in our population, I have a hunch the statistics would be very different. Many people have never been told how to eat and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, because they never see doctors or nurses. How can they without insurance? By the time poor folks get medical care, it's usually too late.
Another thing I object to in the article is the assumption that wealth causes people to eat foods that make them gain weight. This may be true for middle-class people, but the most fattening substances are generally the cheapest. I remember being a poverty-stricken student and living on mac and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and stuff like that - the equation then was calories per dollar. And believe me, without intending to, I started to put on the pounds. It's difficult to feel full on cheap food, so you eat more of it, and then you get sick.
Also, the article implies that the disparity is caused by the shortened life expectancy of African Americans, who eat the wrong foods and don't exercise. This may indeed be so, but if those "fat, lazy" African Americans had health insurance proportionate to their numbers in our population, I have a hunch the statistics would be very different. Many people have never been told how to eat and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, because they never see doctors or nurses. How can they without insurance? By the time poor folks get medical care, it's usually too late.
Another thing I object to in the article is the assumption that wealth causes people to eat foods that make them gain weight. This may be true for middle-class people, but the most fattening substances are generally the cheapest. I remember being a poverty-stricken student and living on mac and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and stuff like that - the equation then was calories per dollar. And believe me, without intending to, I started to put on the pounds. It's difficult to feel full on cheap food, so you eat more of it, and then you get sick.
Maybe you missed "Kimberlynn's" post over on the other side titled "He won't go".
"He" has HCV and appears to be an alcoholic. I don't want to give the wrong advice but it seems that she has to stop drinking herself (among other things) if she wants to help me. I know you've had some experience in this.
"He" has HCV and appears to be an alcoholic. I don't want to give the wrong advice but it seems that she has to stop drinking herself (among other things) if she wants to help me. I know you've had some experience in this.
Have you seen Sicko, yet? I haven't but plan to.
I don't think the solution is particulars like regulating blood pressure rather than providing healthy food, encouraging healthy diets. They just want to cover it up with something else we need to buy.
The way I see the problem can be whittled down to: Care replaced by Greed. Compassion replaced by the bottom line. Now, we reap what has been sown. Greed replaced public transit with private cars. Greed replaced small family farms with agribusiness. Greed replaced self sustaining windmills with electric poles. Greed replaced healthy food for fast nutritionless eatables. Greed took what was the common good and handed it to corporate sponsors.
The solution: a change in consciousness.
That's my humble opinion. Oh
I don't think the solution is particulars like regulating blood pressure rather than providing healthy food, encouraging healthy diets. They just want to cover it up with something else we need to buy.
The way I see the problem can be whittled down to: Care replaced by Greed. Compassion replaced by the bottom line. Now, we reap what has been sown. Greed replaced public transit with private cars. Greed replaced small family farms with agribusiness. Greed replaced self sustaining windmills with electric poles. Greed replaced healthy food for fast nutritionless eatables. Greed took what was the common good and handed it to corporate sponsors.
The solution: a change in consciousness.
That's my humble opinion. Oh
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