Study: Even richest Americans face shorter lifespans than European counterparts | Hacker News Reader

Study: Even richest Americans face shorter lifespans than European counterparts

brown.edu

14 pointscar7 comments

And even worse:

The researchers also highlighted a “survivor effect” in the U.S., where poorer individuals with worse health outcomes were more likely to die earlier, leaving behind a population that is healthier and wealthier as age groups progress. This creates the illusion that wealth inequality decreases over time, when in reality it’s partly due to the early deaths of the poorest Americans.

“Our previous work has shown that while wealth inequality narrows after 65 across the U.S. and Europe, in the U.S. it narrows because the poorest Americans die sooner and in greater proportion,” Papanicolas said.

I wonder how much this effect is due to lifetyle (e.g. diet) and how much is due to preventative healthcare? Certainly poorer people in the U.S. would be less likely to see a doctor due to the substantial costs involved and thus not get early treatment for preventable diseases.

This suggests it's not due to healthcare effects: though healthcare for the rich is surprisingly bad in the US, I don't think it's so bad as to be on par with the poorest Western European groups. It suggests that the cause is something else, like living far from extended family or eating synthetic imitations of food.

It's surprising, in that I always understood the most expensive and revolutionary treatments are available in the US on top insurance, but generally less so in Europe (not totally unavailable though).

Apparently even that doesn't help.

The US lives around the car. I can go by walk nearly anywhere in 70-80 km^2 or by cheap public transport, and then walk a little towards the destination.

Also, the food regulations are many times more strict. Tons of food from the US is not legal in Europe. On top of that, you place corn syrup everywhere. That leads to really bad health. Public healthcare helps a lot, too.

You can have top tier treatments, but when the odds or getting a cancer/diabetus are far lower here, we won't need them until very late in life. And, still, living up to 80, 85 or 90 years it's a great achievement.

Finally, insuline here is not a luxury item, but a basic need which saves the state TONS of money on further treatments.

Lifestyle trumps (excuse the word usage) expensive treatments, which usually just give you a few more years of life and a lifetime of good environment, eating, and exercise is going to give you a much longer lifespan. Also, just seeing a doctor every year and getting the basics taken care of can go a long way.

I don't think Europeans feel quite so driven to acquire wealth or feel so much that they have failed if they don't. It is the key to American financial success, but probably not good for you.

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