US health: Die Easy

[Skybird]

http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/America...come_Countries

On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. The report finds that this health disadvantage exists at all ages from birth to age 75 and that even advantaged Americans – those who have health insurance, college educations, higher incomes and healthy behaviors – appear to be sicker than their peers in other rich nations.

“We were struck by the gravity of these findings,” said Steven H. Woolf, M.D., professor of family medicine in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and chair of the panel that wrote the report. “Americans are dying and suffering at rates that we know are unnecessary because people in other high-income countries are living longer lives and enjoying better health. What concerns our panel is why, for decades, we have been slipping behind.”

I would have expected these findings as a general tendency, but that it is not just a trend but such a massive, substantial finding that puts the US explicitly on the last ranks in almost all categories they examined, then surprised me a bit.

German pointer:
http://www.welt.de/gesundheit/articl...n-sterben.html

[mookiemookie]

But whatever can they mean?! I was told that the U.S. healthcare system is the best in the world.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

But whatever can they mean?! I was told that the U.S. healthcare system is the best in the world.

No. The medical competence is not much different than over here. You only pay twice as much than what we need to pay with our "socialist" insurance system. You are being told that that is your freedom. I tell you that obviously you still have too much money.

It is much about eating habits, and food quality. Also crime. Drugs. Traffic. And individual behavior (=careless habits like not using helmets on a bike or not using safty belts, risky hobbies, etc.). The German article that got me pointed to the study, lists these and some other examples as content of that study. But high calory food intake seems to be one of the priority factors.

Also: for people who have made it to the age of 75, the follow-on life expectancy is higher than in other countries.

[Méo]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I was told that the U.S. healthcare system is the best in the world.

That's the problem with America, no offense intended, but some americans always think they're the best in the world. (best military, greatest liberty, etc.)

BTW, I'm fully aware it's not all americans, some here are pretty cool!

I'd be curious to see if it's the same with education

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Méo

I'd be curious to see if it's the same with education

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2199795.html

(SUCK IT SWEDEN!)

[Méo]

Originally Posted by Dowly

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2199795.html

(SUCK IT SWEDEN!)

Thanks, I remember seeing a local TV program showing particular interest for the Finnish educational system.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Dowly

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2199795.html

(SUCK IT SWEDEN!)

To be fair, the population of Finland isn't great so there is only about one class full of kids to teach.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

To be fair, the population of Finland isn't great so there is only about one class full of kids to teach.

Yeah.. but.. suck it sweden.. right?

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Méo

Thanks, I remember seeing a local TV program showing particular interest for the Finnish educational system.

I love foreign programs about our education. Half of them come across as being made by people who can't even find Finland on the map, let alone having actually observed our educational system for a minute in their lives.

But but but... if Amerika was to adapt an actual good healthcare system that would mean becoming COMMUNIST.

You wouldn't want MURICA to become dirty COMMUNISTS would you?

[HundertzehnGustav]

no. we wamnt muricains to die young.
that is why we invented the Hamburger, the wiener schnitzel and the Bier.

or so they say.

[Takeda Shingen]

You are godless communists and I hate you all. That your schools are performing better than our's serves only as further evidence of the failure of your systems of government. The denial of this statement or demonstration of the paradoxical nature of it serves as proof the depth of your moral depravity. You are the Axis of Evil.


America has no learing. America needs no learning.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

But whatever can they mean?! I was told that the U.S. healthcare system is the best in the world.

Far be if for me to introduce logic in a GT thread, but having the best healthcare system in the world and having citizens die at an earlier age are not exclusive of each other.

We can, in theory, have the best health care system in the world, but if I choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle it won't help much. I will still die at an earlier age. Not because of the quality of health care, but because of my life choices.

I believe that the US does have a very good health care system (I tend to avoid terms like best/worst). Our problem is that it is too expensive! But at the same time, I believe that the US Citizens, as a whole, chose not to live a healthy lifestyle. This is changing... just not with me.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I believe that the US does have a very good health care system (I tend to avoid terms like best/worst). Our problem is that it is too expensive!

A healthcare system that prices many people out of it isn't a very good one, in my opinion. But even the article admits that even well to do Americans are unhealthier than their counterparts in other countries, so there's probably something to your theory.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

America has no learing. America needs no learning.

I would have thought that was obvious, perfesser.