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Right now, life expectancy in U.S. is dropping, not rising: https://datacommons.org/place/country/USA https://datacommons.org/place/country/USA The fact that s

Right now, life expectancy in U.S. is dropping, not rising: https://datacommons.org/place/country/USA https://datacommons.org/place/country/USA The fact that some individuals survive longer than the average isn't an indication of the average outcome. I sincerely hope that the trend does change direction, but I am currently skeptical.

seanmcdirmid 4y ago
You need to ignore dips and look at long term trends when reading graphs. If the end of your graph ends in a dip, that in no way implies the start of a downward trend.
- gorjusborg 4y ago
  I agree with this in general. Living in the U.S., though, there are some real problems with the healthcare system that came to a head at the same time as (and partly due to) the pandemic. I just find it interesting that an someone would make predictions about drastically higher life expectancy during a period where the trend isn't even directionally accurate.
  - bjtitus 4y ago
    70 years of trend vs 2 years below the trend. Hmmmm.... I suppose the downturns in 1967-69, 1992-1995, or, historically, the Spanish Flu period were also indicative of a massive break with the historical trend? It's clear that COVID and overdoses are the overwhelming contributors[1]. 1: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220831.htm https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/...
ozim 4y ago
Minor nitpick. Not some individuals - really wealthy individuals.
- masklinn 4y ago
  The statement of TFA, which GP defends, is > Today's 5-year-olds will likely live to 100 Notably missing from the sentence: "born in rich families" and "who don't fall into the trap of lifelong substance abuse".
valine 4y ago
“Life expectancy is dropping in the US” is a great clickbait headline. Life expectancy has been rising steadily for decades, with a tiny blip downwards the last two years. You think maybe that big pandemic that killed a million people in the US had anything to do it? The handwringing about lifestyle changes is exhausting.
- ygjb 4y ago
  Well yeah, but the long tail of shitty health policy is coming home to roost. What kind of a health care impact do you think the recent criminalization of routine women's medical health procedures will have? (Hint - there are already women who are dying or having significant health impacts due to doctors delaying or outright refusing treatment out of fear of legal action in several states).
- gorjusborg 4y ago
  > You think maybe that big pandemic that killed a million people in the US had anything to do it? I'm not making judgements, just stating the fact. You obviously seem to have it all figured out though.
  - bjtitus 4y ago
    Kind of seems like your eyes are making judgements to assume 2 downward data points indicate a change in the overall trend.
ryandvm 4y ago
Life expectancy dipped due to COVID, opioid overdoses, and suicides. They all count obviously, but the last two are particularly avoidable. In other words, I'm not too worried about accidentally committing suicide or overdosing on heroin.

seanmcdirmid 4y ago

You need to ignore dips and look at long term trends when reading graphs. If the end of your graph ends in a dip, that in no way implies the start of a downward trend.

gorjusborg 4y ago
I agree with this in general. Living in the U.S., though, there are some real problems with the healthcare system that came to a head at the same time as (and partly due to) the pandemic. I just find it interesting that an someone would make predictions about drastically higher life expectancy during a period where the trend isn't even directionally accurate.
- bjtitus 4y ago
  70 years of trend vs 2 years below the trend. Hmmmm.... I suppose the downturns in 1967-69, 1992-1995, or, historically, the Spanish Flu period were also indicative of a massive break with the historical trend? It's clear that COVID and overdoses are the overwhelming contributors[1]. 1: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220831.htm https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/...

ozim 4y ago

Minor nitpick. Not some individuals - really wealthy individuals.

masklinn 4y ago
The statement of TFA, which GP defends, is > Today's 5-year-olds will likely live to 100 Notably missing from the sentence: "born in rich families" and "who don't fall into the trap of lifelong substance abuse".

valine 4y ago

“Life expectancy is dropping in the US” is a great clickbait headline. Life expectancy has been rising steadily for decades, with a tiny blip downwards the last two years. You think maybe that big pandemic that killed a million people in the US had anything to do it? The handwringing about lifestyle changes is exhausting.

ygjb 4y ago
Well yeah, but the long tail of shitty health policy is coming home to roost. What kind of a health care impact do you think the recent criminalization of routine women's medical health procedures will have? (Hint - there are already women who are dying or having significant health impacts due to doctors delaying or outright refusing treatment out of fear of legal action in several states).
gorjusborg 4y ago
> You think maybe that big pandemic that killed a million people in the US had anything to do it? I'm not making judgements, just stating the fact. You obviously seem to have it all figured out though.
- bjtitus 4y ago
  Kind of seems like your eyes are making judgements to assume 2 downward data points indicate a change in the overall trend.

ryandvm 4y ago

Life expectancy dipped due to COVID, opioid overdoses, and suicides. They all count obviously, but the last two are particularly avoidable. In other words, I'm not too worried about accidentally committing suicide or overdosing on heroin.