[Koapaka]

Whatever could be the problem???


US life expectancy continues to fall, erasing 25 years of health gains

[Keefelane66]

When you lose over 1 million people to Covid disease during the Pandemic and recent reports of up to 400 daily from Covid it’s expected.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

When you lose over 1 million people to Covid disease during the Pandemic and recent reports of up to 400 daily from Covid it’s expected.

That horse has been beaten beyond recognition.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

That horse has been beaten beyond recognition.

How much of the drop is due to covid related issues? Would think most or all

[Two Bills]

Taking TV as a microcosm of over 55's in US.
Obesity.
Overeating
Lack of exercise.
Processed food consumption.
Sugary drinks and booze.
Its a wonder average life expectancy is as high as it is.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Taking TV as a microcosm of over 55's in US.
Obesity.
Overeating
Lack of exercise.
Processed food consumption.
Sugary drinks and booze.
Its a wonder average life expectancy is as high as it is.

That beg's the question... Why did it rise over the last 2-3 decades?

[retiredguy123]

There are too many variables to draw any definitive conclusions.

[Koapaka]

I am amazed no one even considered the obvious given the age group that most of these deaths are occurring in. Drugs pouring across our borders that are killing more people per year than the Vietnam war did. In a SINGLE year, yet no one seems interested in addressing or even acknowledging this issue.
Drug overdoses killed more Americans last year than the Vietnam War - CBS News

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by Koapaka

I am amazed no one even considered the obvious given the age group that most of these deaths are occurring in. Drugs pouring across our borders that are killing more people per year than the Vietnam war did. In a SINGLE year, yet no one seems interested in addressing or even acknowledging this issue.
Drug overdoses killed more Americans last year than the Vietnam War - CBS News

Well, there are many interested; unfortunately it then becomes off limits here.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

That beg's the question... Why did it rise over the last 2-3 decades?

Maybe the older generations were fitter, leaner, and knew how to cook proper food.
Could just be a blip because of Covid.
Whatever way you look at it, the medical profession has been under the cosh for last couple of years., and many minor medical issues have been missed, and are now serious issues.
For two years you were lucky to even see a doctor in person.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Maybe the older generations were fitter, leaner, and knew how to cook proper food.
Could just be a blip because of Covid.
Whatever way you look at it, the medical profession has been under the cosh for last couple of years., and many minor medical issues have been missed, and are now serious issues.
For two years you were lucky to even see a doctor in person.

Even now, medical offices are depending on nurses and physician assistants to see patients instead of a medical doctor. Apparently, insurance companies are willing to reimburse non-doctor exams at the same rate. Usually, when I am asked to see a nurse or PA, I refuse.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

There are too many variables to draw any definitive conclusions.

Do we need facts to come to a conclusion around here? Since when?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Even now, medical offices are depending on nurses and physician assistants to see patients instead of a medical doctor. Apparently, insurance companies are willing to reimburse non-doctor exams at the same rate. Usually, when I am asked to see a nurse or PA, I refuse.

We have found for basic stuff a PA or nurse practitioner can do just as good as job diagnosing us as the Dr. And we get to see them faster.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Koapaka

I am amazed no one even considered the obvious given the age group that most of these deaths are occurring in. Drugs pouring across our borders that are killing more people per year than the Vietnam war did. In a SINGLE year, yet no one seems interested in addressing or even acknowledging this issue.
Drug overdoses killed more Americans last year than the Vietnam War - CBS News

China, Mexico, and India are the three primary sources for one specific drug that causes lethal overdoses: fentanyl. As of my last trip to the google map, only one of those three countries shares a border with the USA. Thankfully, the DEA has seized more of this drug this past year, than it has in the last decade that the drug has been a problem.

That tells me the DEA is doing a good job. If it weren't, they wouldn't be seizing it. It'd be killing even MORE people.

Eliminate the demand, and the supply will dwindle. It's Americans who are overdosing - because it's Americans who insist on taking the stuff.

It's not even the only opioid killing Americans. It's just the one with the most press recently. Other opioids are legally and appropriately prescribed to patients for pain management and recovery from surgery. Just because some people are happy to "bite the bullet" and take the pain, doesn't mean everyone can, or should, do the same. When I have my hip surgery (hopefully this coming year) you better believe I'll be asking for a few days' worth of Vikoden. Unapologetically.

Everyone is addressing and acknowledging this issue, it's a HUGE issue, and complex, and there is no singular solution to it. There is a singular cause: People want these drugs. For whatever reason, they want it. Legally or illegally, they want it. To manage/treat pain or to get high, they want it. That's the cause. Until/unless you can come up with an alternative to treating/managing pain, people will continue wanting it for legitimate purposes. And as long as it's available legitimately, there will be people who get hooked. When the doctor stops prescribing it, they will seek it through illegal channels.

But - you can't trust Big Pharma, supposedly. So good luck finding an alternative to severe pain caused by cancer or major surgery recovery, or severe injury, or 3rd degree burns that take months to heal. Good luck telling those folks they can no longer minimize their agony because Johnny got his fix from China. Because that just makes SO much sense.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by Koapaka

Whatever could be the problem???


US life expectancy continues to fall, erasing 25 years of health gains

A scientific paper from the US CDC published August 2022 (link below) goes into more detail about attributed causes for the recent decline in life expectancy. It reports the single largest factor for the 2020-2021 decline is Covid and other causes were also contributing factors.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr023.pdf

I am attaching two screenshots from the paper plotting US life expectancy over time and the attributed factors affecting the recent decline — both negative and positive factors.