in 78.1 years. US life expectancy takes a step backwards. Has U.S. life expectancy maxed out? First decline since 1993
I'm not a fan of upping the life expectancy at all costs. This was something I studied a little bit in grad school, because lifestyle disease is a big topic in nutrition programs. Furthermore, it overlaps healthcare ethics as well as interventions, responsibility, blame, insurance..... it's not a simple issue. My opinion, which others will disagree with, is that a natural lifespan range is good. Death is good. The "at all costs" mentality costs a LOT of resources - both human resources, financial resources, and emotional resources. Would anyone really say "no, I don't want to spend a million dollars keeping my 24 week gestation fetus alive?" because what kind of person says that? Not in America. Not in Christian America. In the same breath, who wouldn't pour their life savings into their stage 4 cancer treatment, just in case? I knew better - but we did that for my mom. Of course we did. Our culture requires behavior that promotes life expectancy expectations (say that 10 times fast). Funny though, for all our technology, for all our highly trained doctors, for ALL of the money channeled into research and development of medical devices, pharma, health promotion, sanitation, nutrition.... Here you have some data: The USA spends THE MOST per person on health care of anywhere on the planet. This chart shows us averaging ~$8000 per person (2010) Health Costs: How the U.S. Compares With Other Countries | PBS NewsHour No one comes close. In general, first world countries like us are spending half. But, is it worth it? Our life expectancy is 78.1 where do we rank? 43. (out of 224) There are 42 countries living longer than us, spending less than us, with less resources and education *and heaven knows* less "nutrition-obsession" than us. Life Expectancy for Countries But wait, there's more. If you take away Monaco (ranked #1 at 89.5 years, well above #2 Japan at 84 years) then you'll see that the difference between us #43 and Japan #2 is only 5 years. FIVE years. People can obsess, but at the end of the day, take your meds, go for a walk, maintain a healthy weight and go eat a piece of heavily gmo'd bread. With gluten. Extra gluten.
I'll add another element into the equation. Quality of life. I think I'd rather die at 75 than live until I'm 80 if the last 5 years I've got Alzheimer's and I've got no idea what's going on around me. Living a long life is only a good thing if you're actually living life, not just existing in a human shell. I know that some don't agree, and I don't want to argue about it, I'm just expressing an opinion.
Ask any 30 year old. Ask any 40 year old. No one wants to be institutionalized. Now, something happens between middle age and old age- your children feel guilt and obligation to maintain the "at all costs" as compassion. I agree with you Kizmet. I don't think using extreme measures to sustain life is natural or ethical - but again- I am sensitive to other's feelings about it. As for Alzheimer's, that's hard, because that doesn't take your biological life, just your quality of life. ;( In that case, I might start eating cheeseburgers every day.
