Latest statistics show that the United States is facing a drop in life expectancy but the state of Massachusetts indicates an opposing trend.
Based on recent reports, Americans can now only expect to live until age 78.6 on average, a decline from 78.9 in 2014. People of Massachusetts, on the contrary, will expectedly live 80 years and 8 months on average, an increase from 80 years and 5 months in 2015.
Life Expectancy Rate Rising In Massachusetts
The Department of Public Health (DPH) released the Massachusetts Deaths 2016 report on Friday, Dec. 28 showing an increase in the life expectancy of Americans who reside in the said state. From 2006 to 2016, life expectancy in Massachusetts did not fall below the age of 80.
''Massachusetts has worked hard to have near universal health care coverage that promotes health and we consistently rank as one of the healthiest states in the nation. This report shows that working together at both the state and municipal level, and with our health care partners, we can improve the health and well-being of all Massachusetts residents," said Marylou Sudders, the secretary for Health and Human Services.
Sudders further said that they recognize the need to do more, specifically, in putting an end to the opioid crisis that has a drastic impact on the lives of Americans.
Residents of Massachusetts died mainly because of cancer, with lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in 2016. However, overall, Massachusetts saw 832 fewer deaths in 2016 compared to the previous year.
US Facing A Drop In Life Expectancy
In late November, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a drop in life expectancy of Americans. The CDC pointed out that the decline is due to the rise in drug overdoses and suicides in the United States since 1999.
The rate of drug-related deaths is higher in the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Suicide cases, meanwhile, are almost twice as high in rural areas than in urban areas.
Other than drug overdoses and suicides, the CDC reported a spike in deaths caused by flu from the past winter season as well as chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.
