U.S. Lags in Life Expectancy Gains

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I believe that it is America's fault that our life expectancy rates are lower than most in the world. We have put this on ourselves and only we can choose to fix it. Of course the doctors work hard to find cures, but we as American's must be willing to fix it.

Kathleen of NC 2:38PM January 28, 2011

It is a beautiful day. I have a nice wife and two great sons. Anyone who really wants a job can get one with a little looking. It may not be at the pay what they think they deserve but it will pay what they are worth doing that job. We can say what ever we want; can do pretty much what ever we want; as long as it don't hurt some one else. You idiots don't know when you have it good. Get off you ass and do something to help a person (not a cause) or earn some money by doing something of value for someone who will pay you.

bob of AL 4:23PM January 26, 2011

How could nicotine and other toxic substances possibly be harmful when inhaled deeply into the lungs where that air/toxic coctail is exchanged with the blood? It's impossible

Bob of MD 4:22PM January 26, 2011

According to the author of communism, Karl Marx's 10 required planks of communism are already in place and in our law books. We have been communists for some time now. I have talked to a people in Russia and talked about how their government and system works and the USA is actually more communistic than Russia now. Also It's not really surprising to see life expectancy drop when there is corn syrup and sugar in almost everything we eat. Even all the food we get in the produce section is dead because it's exposed to radiation etc. It's almost as though it's meant to make us sick with cancer and diabetes. The they come up with all kinds of high tech fancy and expensive treatments but nobody wants to fix the root cause. Why? Because they would not be able to drain the American people for all they have anymore. The system is rigged to rape and pillage us for all we have and make us into slaves. Even our money supply is artificial as it costs the same to print a $100 dollar bill as a $1 and is backed only by the peoples labor. It is all going to collapse if drastic changes are not made.

Neil of ID 3:07PM January 26, 2011

Cigarettes. Ok. They're bad for you. Aside from cigarettes, however, perhaps this thoughtfully written article might have benefited from some thoughtful research as well. Poor people don't go to emergency rooms because they want to, it's because they have to. The rich seek and get treatment then they pay for it. The poor don't go to the doctor. They just die. This is why we're losing ground in health care but regaining it in the cemetery. Laissez-faire doesn't work in healthcare--and letting the market decide who lives and dies is not the path a Christian nation ought to take in the first place. Did I really write that? I must be nuts--we call ourselves a Christian nation but we don't care who lives or dies. Never have. Never will. Am I my brother's keeper? Ask the Republicans that question and note the response. You'll get something like--yes, but it's not the state's responsibility--it's up to church and other do-gooders to relieve the poor. 1000 point of light and all that. So, when you run up a million in healthcare bills, pay a visit to Boehner's church. Yeah try that. See how many lights are shining in there.

Murray of GA 2:48PM January 26, 2011

How do you know all of this? Is it true? Is it fat?

Robin Jefferson of MO 2:46PM January 26, 2011

@What a joke: Lung cancer is a disease that has a long incubation period - it is not inconsistent for lung cancer rates to continue upwards for some amount of time even as current smoking rates drop... there is a long buffering effect that must be worked through.
@Take Care of Yourself: According to the Washington Post (Dec 10, 2010), the White House claims Obama hasn't smoked for approximately 9 months now... as such that would be an excellent role model for kids.
@JB: Social Security is NOT broke or going broke - it has a $2.5T surplus and is expected to be solvent for approximately another 35 to 40 years! The ONLY problem with SS is that the Government has to make good on the IOUs it placed in the fund while it borrowed against the trust funds.... that is fundamentally different than saying the fund is "going broke".

Mike of WA 2:44PM January 26, 2011

Please bring back the cigarette vending machines where for 25 cents you could buy whatever brand of cigs you wanted! In restaurants...everywhere...unfortunately, now we have stopped smoking... has anyone seen the great 'healthcare savings' from our smoking cessation? What a joke... $110 for a carton of cigarettes..just plain stupid and illogical... let people smoke and die as they choose...don't make them live destitute, in cardboard boxes on the street til they conk.

skyblu5555 of PA 2:22PM January 26, 2011

What an oxymoron. Social Security is going broke and we complain we aren’t living longer. What exactly are they going to do with all of these people that live longer when Social Security is broke, Medicare and Medicaid no longer exist? Most people, when they reach retirement, want to retire. If they don’t retire, no job openings will be available for the next generation to take their place. Unemployment will never go down and you think medical bill are high now, just wait until people start living longer. They all will still have metical issues.

John of TX 2:02PM January 26, 2011

The French and Japanese smoke far more now, and have for the past 100 years, than Americans. Yet the lung cancer rate in Japan is half that of the US. The prevalence of lung cancer in the US goes up year after year, despite the fact that the rate of smoking has dropped by half.
Why doesn't this report actually list and compare the smoking rates for those countries? Based on the data, it looks like anything BUT smoking is the cause of the disease rate in the US.

Josh Strike of CA 1:45PM January 26, 2011