A long life free of disease and illness is preferable for many of us. The evolving science behind life expectancy gives us clues on how to achieve this goal by looking at eight risk factors – the ones most under your control – that can add years to your life and, evidently, life to your years.
Socioeconomic determinants of health
The "Broken Window" theory is among the most widely-known ideas in policing. It’s been very controversial to say the least. But what if we don’t understand how to address the broken window? A new study looks at fixing the window, rather than pursuing the one who threw the rock.
A recent survey found that fewer than 40% of Americans trust their federal public health agencies. Could “mission creep” into issues such as climate change, gun violence, and racism rather than a focus on traditional public health issues be a cause? Did mission creep impact our response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
The idea was promoted with much fanfare. And to be honest, it made a lot of sense. For the 5% of patients who are chronically ill, the superusers that use up to 20% of our healthcare resources provide them with the necessary additional support. In the tradeoff, their health will improve, and our costs will decline. With similar coverage, the New England Journal of Medicine says that there was no improvement in outcomes. But there's more to it. Let's take a look.
Socioeconomic determinants of health, diet, housing, transportation, literacy, and income all impact our health and response to care. But is it healthcare's responsibility to meet those needs?