U.S. ranks just 42nd in life expectancy. Lack of insurance, obesity, racial disparities to blame, experts say.
WASHINGTON - 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.
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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.
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Forty countries, including Cuba, Taiwan and most of Europe had lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. in 2004.
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Uh . . . I don't think invading someone will help much with this particular threat to the nation.
People in other countries respect their elders and take care of them. I like the left wing slant that blames lack of health insurance. I blame irresponsible people that do not get health insurance. For the people that want socialized medicine (govt run universal health care) please give me one government program that actually works. Government involvement will cost more and be less effective than any other solution. Besides if we turn to socialized medicine, where will the Canadians turn for healthcare when their system lets them down?
....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
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Skibo wrote:People in other countries respect their elders and take care of them. I like the left wing slant that blames lack of health insurance. I blame irresponsible people that do not get health insurance. For the people that want socialized medicine (govt run universal health care) please give me one government program that actually works. Government involvement will cost more and be less effective than any other solution. Besides if we turn to socialized medicine, where will the Canadians turn for healthcare when their system lets them down?
Why is that left wing? Health insurance isn't cheap for anyone. My wife is a teacher and in her contracts the first place they go to cut costs is insurance as do most companies looking to cut costs. We've paid more annually for it in our family both in premium payments and deductibles. I won't even touch the insurance my company offers because its so expensive. To say that the health care system is adequate is silly. It needs work and there is no reason not to believe we can't learn something from the other 41 countries that have it better than us.
I think its corrupt just like our government. 2 wrongs don't make a right.
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Dezdmona wrote:....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
exactly...i think the problem lies more within the double quarter pounder with cheese, supersized fries and coke, with a shake to top it off rather than health care.
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flyboy55 wrote:Uh . . . I don't think invading someone will help much with this particular threat to the nation.
Sure it would. If we invade, say, number 19 can't we then average the 2 and come in at number 30? Let's see the list, I'm sure someone in the top 40 deserves an a$$ kickin'.
Dezdmona wrote:....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
Oh man....does this mean I can't go to the 2 Las Vegas weekend shows???? What about Universal access to buffett tickets??? Where are we on that important health issue?????
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flyboy55 wrote:Uh . . . I don't think invading someone will help much with this particular threat to the nation.
Sure it would. If we invade, say, number 19 can't we then average the 2 and come in at number 30? Let's see the list, I'm sure someone in the top 40 deserves an a$$ kickin'.
I have a better idea. Similar to the way in which the 'brawny' Romans borrowed all their really good ideas from folks they considered even more civilized than themselves, ie the 'brainy' Greeks, we should simply get some Canadians down here to show us how it's done.
That would probably vault us into the top ten immediately.
Dezdmona wrote:....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
Oh man....does this mean I can't go to the 2 Las Vegas weekend shows???? What about Universal access to buffett tickets??? Where are we on that important health issue?????
Ok, so it's decided.... we invade TicketBastard and give free tickets to all BN'ers. For life.
I know we have plenty of neighbors to our north here, it would be interesting to hear from them.. and Creeky, she just went through a surgical procedure.
GW - 7/19 Great Northern MOTM - 7/20-21 Hershey Labor Day Weekend Show - 8/29 MOTM - Oct 28
Dezdmona wrote:....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
Dezdmona wrote:....while I agree that health insurance is a problem, I have a problem with it being correlated to the longevity rate in this country; which is more likely emperically related to the litany of problems caused by individuals who can't control their sloth and gluttany.
