[Rennes Templar]

More than half of Americans on chronic meds
Blood pressure, cholesterol drugs are most widely used, new study shows

updated 6:36 a.m. MT, Wed., May. 14, 2008

“TRENTON, N.J. - For the first time, it appears that more than half of all Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.

The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol — problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The numbers were gathered last year by Medco Health Solutions Inc., which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24603120

I would proffer that if Mr. Russert had less of the “four food groups” and more “alternative diet” he would still be with us.

Life Expectancy rank
List by the CIA World Factbook (2007 estimates)
Countries above the US:

1 Andorra

2 Macau ( PRC)

3 Japan

4 San Marino

4 Singapore

6 Hong Kong ( PRC)

7 Gibraltar ( UK)[4]

8 Sweden

9 Australia

10 Switzerland

11 France (metropolitan)

12 Guernsey ( UK)

13 Iceland

14 Canada

15 Cayman Islands ( UK)

16 Italy

17 Monaco

18 Liechtenstein

19 Spain

19 Norway

19 Israel

22 Jersey ( UK)

23 Faroe Islands ( Denmark)

24 Greece

25 Austria

26 U.S. Virgin Islands ( US)

27 Malta

28 Netherlands

29 Luxembourg

30 Montserrat ( UK)

31 New Zealand

32 Germany

33 Belgium

34 Guam ( US)

34 Saint Pierre and Miquelon ( France)

36 United Kingdom

36 European Union

38 Finland

39 Isle of Man ( UK)

40 Jordan

41 Puerto Rico ( US)

42 Bosnia and Herzegovina

43 Bermuda ( UK)

44 Saint Helena ( UK)

45 United States

[AnAmericanMother]

Rule No. 1: don't trust anything you read or see on MSNBC. They have an axe to grind, mostly that the U.S. is awful and horrible (except for their liberal friends).

Rule No. 2: view statistics from a drug company with a skewed sample and an interest in the outcome, with skepticism.

Rule No. 3: the United States is not homogenous, and general statistics tell you very little.

It's also important to note that heart problems and high blood pressure are largely hereditary and only exacerbated in some cases by obesity. You can be 10 pounds underweight and still have 'the high blood', or you can be 100 pounds overweight and perk along with 120/80 (with good genes).

I lost almost 40 pounds over the past year, and my blood pressure never changed (it was low to begin with - runs in the family. I was never as high as 120/80 except when I was pregnant.)

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Yep, I checked the list of countries and not a-one that I was referring to was there.

But whatever. Go eat your carrot and feel like you're immortal. Everyone dies eventually. Regardless of what they eat. Kellogg and Graham all went through these fads, too. But whatever, you'll have to learn the lesson on your own.

As far as your kids are concerned, though. Don't starve them to death because it makes you feel righteous.