For the first time in decades, life expectancy in the U.S. has dropped. While scientists aren’t exactly sure why- and many factors could be at play- this is still worrisome news. Released just yesterday from the federal government, the overall U.S. death rate has increased for the first time in a decade which led to a drop in overall life expectancy for the first time since 1993, particularly among people younger than 65.
There is a chance that the latest data, from 2015, could be a one-time blip so government analysts are waiting on more data before reaching any definitive conclusions, “On average, the overall life expectancy, for someone born in 2015, fell from 78.9 years to 78.8 years. The life expectancy for the average American man fell two-tenths of a year — from 76.5 to 76.3. For women, it dropped one-tenth — from 81.3 to 81.2 years,” reports the article.
Again, many things could be contributing to the numbers they are seeing:
- The overall death rate for Americans increased because mortality from heart disease and stroke increased (after declining for years)
- Deaths were up from Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
- More Americans died from unintentional injuries and suicide.
- The obesity epidemic could be playing a role in the increase in deaths from heart disease, strokes, diabetes and possibly Alzheimer’s.
- And we have an epidemic of prescription opioid painkillers and heroin abuse.
Regardless of the cause, the trend is concerning, especially given that the death rate is continuing to drop and life expectancy is on the rise in most other industrialized countries. Hmmm…wonder what it will take for us to listen to what’s already been said about diet, exercise, our environment, and stress levels?
Now is the time to take charge of your health and the health of your family. The government can’t do it until it stops living at the mercy of Big Ag and Big Pharma.
Source: NPR
