Read an article today about why Americans think alcohol has health benefits and it's apparently another "well the French are healthy and they do X so it's healthy to do X."
So here's your periodic reminder that France (and Italy, and Sweden, and Japan, and basically every country you've seen in a "this country is so healthy, what's their secret?" headline) has universal health care.
The secret is access to health care. It's always access to health care.
There are some other factors at work, but the healthcare system is a huge part of the problem.
The other side of the physical health issues is how our infrastructure demands that people use cars to do nearly everything and oftentimes it's dangerous for people to walk and bike places.
It's really no great mystery why average life expectancy in America here has declined 2 consecutive years. The remarkable thing maybe is how there are so many factors involved and trying to figure out what causes what although there can be vicious cycles going on between some of the factors.
I won't be surprised at all if there is going to be a 3rd consecutive year of decline in life expectancy.
And that's disturbing and perhaps indicates America may be in decline towards failure.
Annalee
Iza Running Again
Toni Widmo
Azimech