Everyone Dies (Every1Dies)

USA's Falling Life Expectancy, and Deaths of Despair

Dr. Marianne Matzo, FAAN and Charlie Navarrette Season 5 Episode 32
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How does the USA have a declining life expectancy while other developed countries are rising? Researchers feel it is from deaths of despair. Learn what the factors are and how we can help reverse the trend for ourselves and our communities. Show Notes and Resources: https://bit.ly/3Cm4SLI

Americans Die Prematurely More than Twice as Often as Countries with Similar Wealth - Why?
In 2015, life expectancy in the United States, the wealthiest country in the world, fell for the first time in decades.  When compared with similarly wealthy countries, Americans die prematurely more than twice as often. “Deaths as despair” is an explanation given the trend of despair-related mortalities, and evaluated how despair contributes to the rising drug-, alcohol-, and suicide-related deaths among different racial groups.

We talk about the research surrounding this phenomena and what we as a society can do to help reverse the trend for ourselves and others.

In This Episode:

  • 02:40 - Celebrating Supercentenarians: Sister André dies at 118
  • 04:43 - Recipe of the Week: French Chocolate Truffles
  • 06:26 - Why is the USA's Life Expectancy Falling and What Can We Do About It?
  • 24:23 - Old Age is a Gift, an Essay by Margaret Berry (at 100 Years!)
  • 27:52 - Outro

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