Once again, life expectancy in the United States climbed from one year to the next. With 2-3 sobering exceptions, age adjusted death rates for the 10 leading causes of diseases declined for all Americans, regardless of sex, race or age. As the population grew, the number of people dying fell.
At the same time, the number of people being diagnosed and treated for such illnesses as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, respiratory conditions increased. All this has happened even as the number of people without health insurance has declined
The math is simple. More diagnosis and treatment -- largely medicines -- leads to less death and increased life expectancy.
There are some disturbing exceptions. The number of people dying from Alzheimer's continues to climb. The death rate for male African Americans between the ages of 30-45 actually rose. And the number of suicides and the suicide rate among teens increased, even as the rate of diagnosis remained the same.
The difference? Anti-depressant use among male teens declined. Medication use among African-american males between the ages of 18-44 has hardly budged from 1988-2008.
Better health depends on increasing the number of people diagnosed with illness who take medications regularly.
At the same time, the number of people being diagnosed and treated for such illnesses as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, respiratory conditions increased. All this has happened even as the number of people without health insurance has declined
The math is simple. More diagnosis and treatment -- largely medicines -- leads to less death and increased life expectancy.
There are some disturbing exceptions. The number of people dying from Alzheimer's continues to climb. The death rate for male African Americans between the ages of 30-45 actually rose. And the number of suicides and the suicide rate among teens increased, even as the rate of diagnosis remained the same.
The difference? Anti-depressant use among male teens declined. Medication use among African-american males between the ages of 18-44 has hardly budged from 1988-2008.
Better health depends on increasing the number of people diagnosed with illness who take medications regularly.
