A new federal report on how long people are expected to live in the United States has some heartbreaking news. Just one year after the pandemic-induced plunge, life expectancy in the United States has fallen.
Life expectancy in the United States is now 76.1 years, the lowest since 1996, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics. It dropped by almost a year between 2020 and 2021, and he has dropped by more than 2.5 years since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This represents the largest two-year decline in life expectancy in the past century. Also worth noting is that the life expectancy in 2019 put him at 79 years old, which is three years longer than he is now.
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Native Americans and Alaska Natives have been hit hardest. Their life expectancy is 65 years, which is comparable to the life expectancy of all Americans in 1944.
Life expectancy is highest for Asian women and men, who are expected to live to 85.6 and 81.2 years respectively. And, in general, the report found that women are expected to live longer than men (79.1 vs. 73.2 years).
This news takes many things. Here’s what’s behind the drop:
Why has life expectancy dropped again?
Life expectancy is complex, but in general, researchers have found COVID-19 to be the main driver of the decline.The report says half of the decline from 2020 to 2021 will be due to deaths from the virus. It was something.
But that’s not the only reason for the decline. Nearly 109,000 people will die in 2021 from drug overdoses, a record high. Deaths from unintentional injuries (also linked to drug overdoses) were also a major factor.
“It’s very disappointing,” says Scott Kaiser, M.D., geriatrician and director of geriatric cognitive health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “Generally, we are accustomed to seeing life expectancy gradually increase year by year.”
Dr. Kaiser said the drop in life expectancy related to the COVID-19 pandemic was “unsurprising”, but the “rapid and sustained” drop in life expectancy was “truly disappointing and sad.” is,” he says.
“The sheer scale of it is mind blowing,” said Nancy Nielsen, MD, Ph.D., senior associate dean of health policy at the Buffalo Jacobs University School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences. “It certainly highlights the severe impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on our country,” she said.
She says drug overdose deaths are also an important factor. “We must recognize that addiction is a medical disease, reduce barriers to caring for people with substance use disorders, and stop stigmatizing them,” she says.
“This shows that society is in decline,” said Perry N. Halkitis, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. “There are continuing structural inequalities and social conditions that encourage people to get sick. If we don’t address them, people will get sick and die.”
Sabrina Barata, M.D., a primary care physician at Mercy Personal Physicians in Lutherville, points out that the pandemic is affecting people in more ways than people contracting COVID-19. “Most notably, it affected people in terms of depression,” she says. “It can lead to drug overdoses and suicides, and has been the biggest contributor to the decline in life expectancy in addition to COVID.”
How life expectancy is calculated
To calculate life expectancy, CDC looked at the preliminary number of deaths for 2021 from death records received and processed as of April 24, 2022.
We then compared that data to our final estimates for 2019 and 2020 to highlight recent changes.
how to stay healthy now
Life expectancy “is more a reflection of the health of the population as a whole than an indicator of individual health,” says Dr. Kaiser. Overall, Dr. Nielsen said:
And if you’ve put off seeking health care or getting a regular check-up in the midst of a pandemic, she recommends getting it now. Instead, I recommend “actually going to the doctor”. “There are many situations where a face-to-face meeting with a doctor is better,” she says.
And of course, it’s also important to eat well, exercise regularly, and do your best to stay mentally healthy, says Dr. Kaiser.
“We need to be individuals who take care of ourselves by living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risky behaviors, but also caring for each other, recognizing the need for relationships, and being open to hatred and racism. We are willing to stand up,” said Dr. Nielsen. Say. “It will save lives.”
Korin Miller is a freelance writer who specializes in general health, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, and has appeared in men’s health, women’s health, self, glamour, and more. . She has a master’s degree from American University, she lives by the sea, and one day she hopes to own a teacup, a pig and an octopus her truck.
