U.S. life expectancy declines for the first time since 1993

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

U.S. life expectancy declines for the first time since 1993

By Lenny Bernstein

https://twitter.com/LennyMBernstein

December 8 at 12:01 AM

For the first time in more than two decades, life expectancy for Americans declined last year — a troubling development linked to a panoply of worsening health problems in the United States.

Rising fatalities from heart disease and stroke, diabetes, drug overdoses, accidents and other conditions caused the lower life expectancy revealed in a report released Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics. In all, death rates rose for eight of the top 10 leading causes of death.



Life expectancy at selected ages, by sex (CDC/NCHS/HHS/NVSS)

“I think we should be very concerned,” said Princeton economist Anne Case, who called for thorough research on the increase in deaths from heart disease, the No. 1 killer in the United States. “This is singular. This doesn’t happen.”

A year ago, research by Case and Angus Deaton, also an economist at Princeton, brought worldwide attention to the unexpected jump in mortality rates among white middle-aged Americans. That trend was blamed on what are sometimes called diseases of despair: overdoses, alcoholism and suicide. The new report raises the possibility that major illnesses may be eroding prospects for an even wider group of Americans.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/us-life-expectancy-declines-for-the-first-time-since-1993/2016/12/07/7dcdc7b4-bc93-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html

[turbinetree]

1. Imagine that

and just think with the fascist controlling all three branches of government (one with a serial predator) and salivating on the fourth, how do you think this is going to end


And for all of you people out there that voted against your best interests and put these fascists in charge---------------------you are not welcome

[greymattermom]

2. This happened in Russia

so we are right on track to join them.

[harun]

8. Both societies squeezing the middle class. The squeeze kills.

[TomVilmer]

3. This is Trump's fault!

Sorry - I could not resist that comment. More seriously we have some of the same figures in Denmark, but for us the differences is yet too small for big conclusions - except that we still live 1-2 years longer here.

[melm00se]

4. quote from the article

Experts cautioned against interpreting too much from a single year of data; the numbers could reverse themselves next year, they said.

[YOHABLO]

5. It's not how long you live, but the quality of life you have while living.

If you stay away from the cigarettes and eat nutritious foods, you may have a better quality of life. However, we're a stubborn species.

[Cryptoad]

6. Im sure that,,,

all the Poor Folks having less and less healthcare in all these Red Control States for past 20 years has not contributed to this.

[Turbineguy]

7. Once the GOP gets their

eagerly awaited for eugenics program in place, it should drop some more. I foresee great investment and employment opportunities in the funeral services industry. In particular, the providers of cremations because it is generally less expensive. I don't think it will be as bad as the Black Death, but with the Trump nominees, it should be enough to move the statistics. Especially if they can find another Reinhard Heydrich type person to put in charge of the CDC

Chances are there will be a shortage of funeral service providers early on, so prices will rise. The smart thing to do is die soon and save your family some money.

[resistance2016]

9. "Grandma, what was life like when people lived to see 80?"

This is post-Trump America. The time when people lived to see 80 is gone. It won't ever come back.

[NickB79]

10. Imagine that, massive obesity rates and opiate use could fuck up a nation's life expectancy

Who would have thought?