U.S. Life Expectancy Hits All-Time High

Drudge ^ | 08 Dec 05

[rellimpank]

By MIKE STOBBE Associated Press Writer Dec 08 1:57 PM US/Eastern

ATLANTA - U.S. life expectancy has hit another all-time high _ 77.6 years _ and deaths from heart disease, cancer and stroke continue to drop, the government reported Thursday. Still, the march of medical progress has taken a worrisome turn: Half of Americans in the 55-to-64 age group _ including the oldest of the baby boomers _ have high blood pressure, and two in five are obese. That means they are in worse shape in some respects than Americans born a decade earlier were when they were that age.

[rellimpank]

--thanks mostly to the miracles of modern chemistry, delivered by the drug companies--

[Antoninus]

We're doomed!

Bush's fault.

Oh wait. This is good news...

[w1andsodidwe]

But, I thought that global warming would cause us all to die sooner.

How can this be?

[saveliberty]

Wait! This means that Republicans will live longer too! Oh the pain, the pain!

[FormerACLUmember]

It is indeed Bush's fault!

[cyborg]

I seriously doubt it. People are taking better care of themselves.

[N. Theknow]

--thanks mostly to the miracles of modern chemistry, delivered by the drug companies--

And with Viagra, I don't have to worry about rolling out of bed.

[cyborg]

LOL!!!! :o)

[smonk]

IMPOSSIBLE!!

haven't you heard there is a health care crisis in this country?!?!? there are over 50 million uninsured americans!! they're dropping dead in the streets because the evil republicans won't allow them access to medical treatment.

[Clemenza]

Were it not for prescription medication, my 59 year old father would have been dead ten years ago. Let's here it for Merck and Pfizer!

[aimhigh]

I'd like to see a study on the "good life" expectancy. If the last 10 years are in an alzheimer's care home, then 68 years is more preferable.

[ghost of nixon]

yes - with the health care crisis, all that extra pollution allowed by Republicans, all the chemicals and pesticides that big corporations are poisoning us with, and all the fat that fast food companies are tricking us into eating - this news can't possibly be true!!

[rellimpank]

--that's my feeling--for practical purposes, everybody over 70 has had about 15 years of borrowed time, as it were, given the life expectancy when they were born.

One of the most disgusting aspects of political campaigns is an ad with some greedy geezor/geezeratrix complaining about the high price of the drugs that are keeping them alive--

[Roverman2K]

especially PFizer, talk about giving someone a reson to Live :)

[ops33]

I have never fully understood what these estimates of life expectancy mean. Does it mean that a child born today can expect to live to 77.6 years or does it mean that the average person alive today can expect to live to 77.6 years?

[OldFriend]

SHEESH..........LOLOLOL

[mnehring]

..but because it isn't 78, the Democrats will call it a failure.

[luvbach1]

It means a child born today can expect to live to an average age of 77.6 years. A bit more for females and a bit less for males. It does not mean a person at 75 years of age today has a life expectancy of 2.6 years.

[rellimpank]

--average person alive today can expect to live to 77.6 years--

----I think that's it---

[TCats]

"If the last 10 years are in an Alzheimer's care home, then 68 years is more preferable.

Very relevant point. Te real measure is one of quality as opposed to quantity.