Life Expectancy Now at 78

In a recent report, the centers for disease control stated that the new life expectancy is now almost 78 years old. Actually, the number is a weird 77.9 years, which brings the image of people passing onto the pearly gates shortly before they reach their 78^th birthday. The government rounds up the figure for ease of use.

These rates are changed every year or so, and the research shows that this life expectantly is on the rise. The death rates are always at least a year old, so this year's numbers are based on the death rates that occurred in 2005. In 2005, that life expectancy was 78.5, so we can see a slight rise between this year's level and the level in 2005.

This year's jump is up from 75.8 back in 1995 and is up from the 1955 levels of 69.5. As one can see this trend is on the rise and this has been on the rise since the earliest records show.

What factors contribute to this growing life expectancy factors? Medical technology keeps these figures on the rise, and while some people may argue the value of some of this technology, the facts remain. Medical technology is advancing so much that people are living longer with each passing year.

The three leading killers within the United States remain the same for this year's record as they did back in the past. The leading causes are heart attacks, cancer, and strokes each year in the United States

This year's numbers also reveal a good trend. That trend is that deaths from those three leading causes of death are declining in recent years. Those trends could mean that the life expectancy is on the rise again; perhaps we shall see dramatic rises in the next few years.

The rise in life expectancy could be attributed to the new medical technology and medical advances within those areas. One has to wonder if this medical technology is worth the trouble. People who would die from heart attacks are saved because of those medical advances. While some of those heart attack victims regain their full life styles, small portions are left with less then desirable lasting effects, which enable them to live on machines for the remainder of their lives.

There is a list of the leading causes of death and on this list; Alzheimer's comes in at number seven followed by Parkinson's disease at number fourteen. The diseases that senior citizens develop in the later years of life and these death rates are both on the rise in the past few years.

The life expectantly at the other end of life is also on the rise. The infant death rates are rising slowly but they are on the rise as well. Those death rates are up one tenth of a percent in 2005. This change is insignificant, and is largely attributed to birth defects according to the report. However, it is always significant when a baby dies; they are not numbers to their parents.