In spite of the West Nile virus outbreak and ongoing AIDS epidemic, the overall health of Americans has improved dramatically over the last 50 years, according to Health, United States, 2002, just released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

• both men and women are living longer
• the infant death rate is decreasing
• the gap between white and black life expectancy has narrowed over the last decade
• the violent crime rate has dropped by 50 percent since 1973

Attributing the improved health of Americans to factors like medical advances, improved workplace safety and less smoking, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson stated, "As we take better care of ourselves and medical treatments continue to improve, the illnesses and behaviors that once cost us the lives of our grandparents will become even less threatening to the lives of our grandchildren."

According to Health, United States, 2002, prepared by HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infant mortality rates reached an all-time low, while life expectancy hit a record high in 2000.

The 430-page study examines trends in health care, disease and mortality since 1950, and reports where Americans get health care and how much it costs them. It also describes disparities in health care access and outcomes, by race, ethnicity and income.

The country has gained significant ground in fighting heart disease, stroke and injuries. AIDS emerged as a major killer in the 1980s, but deaths dropped after 1995 due to powerful new anti-viral drugs. However, new AIDS cases are still being reported -- about 40,000 cases in 2000.

Some key findings reported by CDC included:

Deaths among children and young adults from unintentional injuries, cancer and heart disease are down sharply. Among working-age adults, fewer are dying from unintentional injuries, heart disease and stroke. Increased life expectancy for older Americans is attributed to improved treatment of heart disease and stroke.

Not all good news
According to the report, one in four Americans is considered obese, with over 40 percent engaged in no physical activity during leisure time. We do not all feel "great," either. One in 10 Americans age 45-54, one in five of those 55-64, one in four of those 65-74, and one in three of those 75 and older reported being in fair or poor health.

Paying for our good health
Americans easily led the world in paying to be healthy, spending $1.3 trillion on health care in 2000, or 13.2 percent of the total U.S. gross domestic product, far more than any other nation. A third of the health care dollar was spent on hospital care, about one-fifth on physicians, and almost one-tenth on prescription drugs. The cost of prescription drugs increased 15 percent a year from 1995-2000 -- faster than any other category of spending.

Government health care programs -- principally Medicare and Medicaid -- paid 43 percent of all medical bills. Private insurance covered 35 percent, and other private sources paid 5 percent. Consumers paid 17 percent of their health care costs out of their own pockets.

We are also killing each other less often
Another factor contributing to a more healthful America is a 50 percent drop in the rate of violent crimes since 1973, as reported on Sept. 9 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). 

According the BJS, violent crimes dropped from 52 victimizations per 1,000 U.S. residents age 12 or older in 1994 to 25 per thousand in 2001.

"Firearms crimes have declined significantly, and criminal victimizations are at the lowest point since 1973 -- almost a 50 percent drop over the last 29 years," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "America's neighborhoods are more safe, and I applaud the men and women who fill the ranks of our local, state and federal law enforcement agencies."

For complete details on violent crime trends in the U.S., see: "Criminal Victimization 2001, Changes 2000-2001 with Trends 1993-2001," prepared by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.