well this is depressing

[mickeym]

Life expectancy in U.S. trails top nations

In 2007, life expectancies for men ranged from a high of about 81 years (in Fairfax County, Virginia.) to a low of about 66 years in Holmes County. The trends are especially concerning for women.

Since 1997, women's life expectancy has slipped or failed to rise in more than 850 counties (compared to just 84 counties for men), including 82% of the counties in Oklahoma, 66% in Tennessee, and 59% in Kentucky. In Mississippi, there are five counties where the life expectancy for women is on par with nations such as Honduras, El Salvador, and Peru.

I find it really distressing that we (the US) has one of, if not the, most expensive health care systems in the world... and our life expectancy is falling off the charts.

In other news, it's been storming here for the last three hours, and TNT is showing Night Shifter.

Comments

[maerhysetc.livejournal.com]

Yep, v. depressing. I haven't checked lately but a few years ago the combination of biology, location, family history, etc. gave me a life expectancy of 63-65 years.

I find it really distressing that we (the US) has one of, if not the, most expensive health care systems in the world... and our life expectancy is falling off the charts.
Word. It's seriously disconcerting and sad.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

I know my life expectancy isn't great, and it's largely my fault -- but it's definitely not being helped by family history, location and so on.

*hugs you*

[maerhysetc.livejournal.com]

After working pretty much every floor of several hospitals, I don't think much of anything comes down to fault anymore especially when medical types carry a double standard when it comes to "risky behavior" — no one blames rock climbers and cyclists when they end of in the trauma unit, you know?

*hugs you back*

[munibunny.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm not surprised, I mean, take a look at our lifestyle choices, right? LOL I'm 46 and I'll be lucky if I get 10 more years.

[surevesta.livejournal.com]

It is arguable that we rely too much on our health care system rather than living healthily in the first place. Also, compared to many other countries our type of diet (in general) is a lot less healthy and also involves much larger portions of said unhealthy food.

Then again my Grandad is in ninties (or almost) and he lived off McDonalds for the last 20 years practically (although his metabolism was excellent). The only issue he has health wise is extremely slow progressing prostate cancer and memory issues.

[pensnest]

I'm afraid that from my perspective your very expensive health care system sucks. The impression, constantly reinforced, is that people who actually need health care cannot get it. This seems like a flawed system to me.

[jeeronie.livejournal.com]

This doesn't seem strange to me because the perception that the rest of the world has of American health care is that it is only for the wealthy and everyone else is pretty much left to fend for themselves.
For example, I just read a story in the Huffington Post of a man who is rationing his insulin intake because he is unemployed. To me this is inconceivable, that man is surely and slowly killing himself, insulin is a necessity and is provided free to everyone here.