We're Living Longer
The number of early deaths in the US is at its lowest in 20 years. But there are still pockets where people are dying young at more than twice the rates of those in the healthiest counties, says a recent health report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin. Some trends from the report: Child poverty rates have not improved since 2000, with over one in five children living in poverty; violent crime has fallen by 50% in the last 20 years; and counties where people don't live as long have the highest rates of smoking, teen births, and physical inactivity. Foundation president Risa Lavizzo-Mourey says the rankings are meant to encourage government, business, health care, and citizens to improve community health. Reached for comment, a glazed donut just started laughing manically.
