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Reuters
Americans have longer, but not necessarily healthier, lives due to high rates of preventable chronic disease, according to an annual report on the nation's health released on Tuesday.
Gains in life expectancy contrast with Americans' unhealthy behaviors, which have led to a 28 percent adult obesity rate, a diabetes rate of nearly 10 percent and a high blood pressure rate of more than 30 percent, according to United Health Foundation's 2012 America's Health Rankings.
All three conditions are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Since 1990, premature deaths have declined by 18 percent, cardiovascular deaths have fallen 35 percent, and cancer deaths have slipped by 8 percent, the report said.
Americans' life expectancy was 78.5 years in 2009, 1.7 years above the level in 2000, the report said.
"As a nation, we've made extraordinary gains in longevity over the past decades, but as individuals we are regressing in our health," said Dr. Reed Tuckson, a medical adviser at the United Health Foundation and chief of medical affairs at the UnitedHealth Group.
Among the 24 different metrics involved in calculating the nation's health are a variety of factors such as smoking, violent crime and a lack of health insurance.
The report, now in its 23rd year, incorporates data from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau as well as the FBI, among other sources.
Vermont was found to be the healthiest U.S. state thanks in part to a low incidence of infectious diseases, a low violent crime rate and a high rate of health insurance among its residents.
Mississippi and Louisiana were found to be the unhealthiest states because of a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes and a low birth weight among infants, among other factors.
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Why are blue states healthier than red states? Why are blue state residents better educated than those in red states? Why are folks in blue states better off in general than folks in red states? I wonder why.
OK how do you live longer, but not healthier ? sounds like more hurricane bull@!$%# again !
I say eat what you want and enjoy life and who cares what anybody thinks !
Why are you not asking why medication in Red states is more expensive than medication in Blue states?
Heres a question why is blue states broke and red states can balance there budgets and most have a surplus !
Red states "is" broke too; please do your research before making unsupportable claims. There are 27 states projected to have balanced budgets or surpluses at the end of 2012 and they are a mix of red and blue, though because of population concentrations there are simply more red states out there; MS is one of them but LA is not. NY, a blue state, is projected to have a balanced budget while GA, AL, and TX (to name a few) are not.
I think it should read that Americans are being kept "alive" longer. It is all part and parcel with spending a fortune keeping ourselves alive for a few months longer even though they are not quality months.
Americans are living longer due to medical intervention, however the current fat generation probaly won't make it to 65yrs.
Cited on my blog.
People living longer are not healther.DUH!!!! Next week it will be: People dying early are not healthty.
Let's see, the people that are unhealthy are living longer. So, does that mean the people that are healthy are not living as long? Does working out, being careful what you eat, taking your medicine and vitamins, staying away from alcohol and cafeine, etc. etc. stress us out and cause us do die sooner? What's it gonna be folks, feel great and die young or feel like crap and hang in there for the long haul? Only the good die young!!!! Don't forget, everyone dies of the same thing...their heart stops beating.
You misread. It doesn't say that people who live healthier lives die sooner, it says that all Americans, regardless of lifestyle, are living longer. Even people who are less healthy.
I live in Louisiana, and I know many people who have lived over 80 years. Of course there are obese people, the food is better than any other in the United States. We still live longer. We know how to have a good time. All you organic bitches are dying earlier. :) Thanks.
@Mike Silverman,
You probably need to eat more and drink less. Just my opinion. You seem tore up. :)
It's living too long with too much stress - makes you unhealthy. Watch the documentary "Stress, Portrait of a Killer"... It's fascinating.
I eat what I want, I drink what I want, I don't care to live in a nursing home staring at a wall when I get old. I'd rather die at 65 and enjoy my life.