#156

Why is the US still in such poor health, despite its wealth?

A decade ago, a study showed that the US had the lowest life expectancy among high-income countries. Why are things still getting worse,

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#157

And they are the world’s highest consumers of meat:

Balanced by seafood consumption. Hong Kong ranks fifth in the world (per capita consumption), outranking Japan (13th). Iceland comes in second.

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#158

Not only the US is an outlier but the gap keeps widening. For instance life expectancy is increasing in France and reached a new record high: France's ageing population is having fewer babies and living longer than ever (“France’s life expectancy now stands at a record 85.7 years for women and 80 for men, the highest it has ever been for either category and the first time men are projected to reach 80 on average.”)

On the other hand it’s also decreasing in Canada: Life expectancy in Canada fell for the 3rd year in a row. What’s happening? - National | Globalnews.ca

So maybe European countries will follow and start declining as well in terms of life expectancy? (why: I don’t know: stress? Pollution? Collapsing healthcare systems? :man_shrugging:)

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#159

I read an article a while ago and what stuck with me that among most important reasons for falling life expectancy in US were besides COVID-19 mostly related to psychological reasons (drug overdose, accidental deaths, suicides). I would have thought that ASCVD, diabetes and related diseases caused by obesity are major drivers. In this regard I would argue that healthcare is not collapsing, that even with very unhealthy lifestyle modern medicine can help you live longer, you are overfed and sedentary, you get your polypill treatment and it helps.
But what are we doing with psychological health? Societal disintegration that is cornerstone of psychological well being? I think that it is a global process, connected with darwinism that fosters individualism and capitalism and its absurd form that we live at this moment, consumerism. Instead of investing into healthy relationships with others and self we believe having and owning will give us a sense of worth. Modern medicine and its approach to psychological wellbeing where this is often being reduced to “brain chemistry” and popping pills instead of exploring the psyche and fundamentally change the outcomes.
Lastly but not leastly healthy and happy individuals don’t make good consumers.

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#160

The major drivers of my sunny disposition are my faith, my family, lithium and NAC, and this forum. You guys really challenge me to extend my knowledge base. Thank you.

It’s also a great place to post my witticisms. :wink:

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#161

Yes, Covid caused a dip, but other countries, such as France, recovered and are now above pre-pandemic levels. So, it’s not the leading cause of the US decline. As you correctly said, mental health is the biggest issue: U.S. life expectancy rose in 2022, but it remains below its pre-pandemic level 2023

For decades, U.S. life expectancy rose a little nearly every year. But about a decade ago, the trend flattened and even declined some years — a stall blamed largely on overdose deaths and suicides.
But the U.S. is battling other issues, including drug overdose deaths and suicides.
The number of U.S. suicides reached an all-time high last year, and the national suicide rate was the highest seen since 1941, according to a second CDC report released Wednesday.

I don’t think capitalism is to blame (but I’m a hardcore capitalist, so I may be biased :wink: ). “Instead of investing into healthy and relationships with other and self we believe having and owning will give us a sense of worth.”: this has always been true. That’s why, across different cultures and times, texts of wisdom have always urged people to focus on virtues, inner peace, and the quality of our relationships over the accumulation of material wealth:

The Dhammapada, Buddha’s Path of Wisdom:

Happiness is not having a lot. Happiness is giving a lot.
The one who has no possessions, no desires, and no attachment, has all the treasures of the world.
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 70:

Just as the ocean remains undisturbed by the incessant flow of waters from rivers merging into it, likewise the sage who is unmoved despite the flow of desirable objects all around him attains peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy desires.

Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius:

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.

Anyway, we haven’t made much progress in terms of mental health since then. I guess that’s why these texts are still read today… It motivated to post back then: 抑郁症和心理健康：你用什么？ . Given the massive investments in mental health, I hope that we’ll soon find successful interventions. Psychedelic-assisted therapy seems promising…

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#162

What do y’all think is the cause for the deteriorating state of mental health in the USA?
The breakdown of the family? Loneliness? Lack of faith? Social Media? Work stress? Financial stress? Using southern contractions?

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#163

It is not capitalism per se but the darwinian idea / social Darwinism that is so intertwined with capitalism where there is little room for social solidarity, but the “survival of the fittest”. I believe this disintegration of communities has been rooted in idea of modernism, but this is entirely different debate.

I don’t think it is only problem of the US but it has become a pandemic. I believe it is a problem that is rooted in the idea of individual freedom which leads to economic freedom and dismantling of social structures (families, communities, etc.). Such freedom lead to the dominance of privileged groups, privileged individuals and despair of the unprivileged. If we add consumerism where your worth is measured in your buying power we get a lot of depressed unprivileged individuals.

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#164

I’m not sure there are good studies on the reasons. My assumptions:

  • Pollution may affect our stress levels via gut dysbiosis,
  • Social media and phones might increase stress and deteriorate sleep,
  • As said by @scta123 the “dismantling of social structures (families, communities, etc.)” creates more loneliness and stress and it removes an essential support during a crisis.
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#165

I don’t have an answer as to what is happening about life expectancy in the USA. However, there are questions as to who is dying at what age.

Is it children dying before the age of 1. Much of the increase in average lifespans has come from a reduction in infant mortality.

Alternatively it could be younger people being murdered in quantity. That can skew the figures.

I don’t know what the age of the people dying earlier is. (or what they die from).

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#166

Surprisingly, even though Hong Kong has a long life expectancy, it’s population is quite depressed and getting worse… I wonder if the life expectancy will get worse from here on out?

He also highlighted the significance of sleep quality, as the survey shows that over 25 percent of respondents experienced severe insomnia, which is closely associated with depression and anxiety.

Maybe they should be adding Glycine to the water supply. :wink:

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#167

Life expectancy of Americans back up to 77.5. Much better than the recent low of 73, but still not at the pre-COVID high of 79.

Of note, death rates of children from infant to 14 yo increased unexpectedly. This is not a good sign.

http://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/21/cdc-us-life-expectancy-rises-after-two-year-dip-00148193

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#168

I guess we should just be thankful if we don’t live in Chad, or Nigeria…

Countries With the Shortest Life Expectancy

COUNTRY AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY
Chad 53 years
Nigeria 53 years
Lesotho 53 years
Central African Republic 54 years
South Sudan 55 years
Somalia 55 years
Eswatini 57 years
Côte d’Ivoire 59 years
Guinea 59 years
Mali 59 years

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/countries-with-the-longest-and-shortest-life-expectancies

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#169

right. That exactly what my null hypothesis was. It is stress due to lack of hope for a change for better. My another null hypothesis is that the lack of hope and purpose may lead to self-destructive behavior like drug abuse, gun violence, excessive weight gain, poor sleep, etc.

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#170

Famine, war and abject poverty will do that.

I guess it also proves too much caloric restriction is a bad thing (malnourishment).

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#171

Since I just discovered this thread, I wanted to post a short article that says a lot. Appears to be about climate change but is much deeper.

“We need to become mindful of the way we’re being manipulated,” says Merz, who is co-founder of the Merz Institute, an organisation that researches the systemic causes of the climate crisis and how to tackle them.The paper explores how neuropsychology, social signalling and norms have been exploited to drive human behaviours which grow the economy, from consuming goods to having large families. The authors suggest that ancient drives to belong in a tribe or signal one’s status or attract a mate have been co-opted by marketing strategiesto create behaviours incompatible with a sustainable world.“People are the victims – we have been exploited to the point we are in crisis. These tools are being used to drive us to extinction,” says the evolutionary behavioural ecologist and study co-author Phoebe Barnard. “Why not use them to build a genuinely sustainable world?”

The team calls for more interdisciplinary research into what they have dubbed the “human behavioural crisis” and concerted efforts to redefine our social norms and desires that are driving overconsumption. When asked about the ethics of such a campaign, Merz and Barnard point out that corporations fight for consumers’ attention every second of every day.

“Is it ethical to exploit our psychology to benefit an economic system destroying the planet?” asks Barnard. “Creativity and innovation are driving overconsumption. The system is driving us to suicide. It’s conquest, entitlement, misogyny, arrogance and it comes in a fetid package driving us to the abyss.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/13/human-behavioural-crisis-at-root-of-climate-breakdown-say-scientists

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#172

It is probably HIV and violence that drives age expectancy down.

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#173

My mother had a heart attack last week. She had to have 2 stents put in. She has an HBA1C of 8.0 and very high triglycerides and BP (140-160 SBP). Her LDL was only 110. She is 75 yo.

I had been trying to get her to take an SGLT2i and Bempedoic Acid for months. She said she could lower her HBA1C through exercise and diet (although she didn’t change her diet). After the heart attack, her doctor prescribed Forxiga (dapagliflozin SGLT2I) and Atorvastatin. She will now take those religiously, or so she says. I do think the severe diabetes and therefore triglycerides had more of an impact on her cardiovascular health than her LDL. However it goes to show you that a “safe” LDL of 110 is not so safe.

This just highlights how the American medical system is reactive instead of proactive. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to avoid the heart attack in the first place??? The doctor had recommended a statin and SGLT2I 3 weeks before, but really used a soft touch. He sent a letter recommendation. My mother didn’t take it seriously, so my mother is to blame as well.

Fortunately my father is being proactive and taking Bempedoic Acid and Ezetemibe. I just wish my mother had listened to either me, my father or her doctor earlier as we all recommended the same course of action.

I post this as a warning to all those who may read this. I wish we could all be proactive in being healthy instead of dancing with death and acting on things reactively. I’m just glad my mother didn’t die, which is how many find out they have a problem.

My mother should be fine, but I hope she will take her health more seriously in the future and I hope it serves as a wake up call to the rest of my family.

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#174

I am sorry to hear about your mother. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Perhaps this also indicates that LDL-C isn’t the primary factor driving ASCVD. Other factors such as diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle may contribute significantly more.

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#175

As @AnUser has pointed out like a thousend times already, it’s nearly impossible to develop ASCVD with sufficiently low enough LDL-C. 110mg/dL is way too high and will cause you to develop heart disease even in the absence of other risk factors. If you have other risk factors, you should be closer to 50mg/dL than 100mg/dL while also addressing those risk factors.

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