Why are Americans Sick and Getting Sicker?

After decades of steady increase, U.S. life expectancy has plateaued and even declined slightly in recent years. Obesity: Prevalence has risen dramatically, with projections estimating over 260 million Americans affected by 2050. This drives increases in related conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Diabetes: Rates have increased steadily, contributing to complications such as diabetic retinopathy and low vision, which affected about 3.5 million Americans in 2005 and was projected to rise to 4.3 million by 2025. Mental Health Disorders: Anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders have grown, exacerbated by social and economic stressors. Drug Overdose Deaths: The opioid epidemic has caused a sharp rise in overdose deaths, contributing to declines in overall life expectancy. Certain Cancers: Some cancers linked to lifestyle factors have increased, though cancer mortality overall has seen mixed trends due to improved treatments. Parkinson’s Disease: The prevalence is also rising, with nearly 10 out of 1,000 elderly Americans affected. Projections indicate the number of people with Parkinson’s could almost double between 2005 and 2030, reaching 1.3 to 1.7 million cases in the U.S. Overall Neurological Burden: Globally and in the U.S., neurological conditions are a leading cause of disability and ill health. The World Health Organization reports an 18% increase in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from neurological disorders since 1990, reflecting growing prevalence and impact.

The question of why Americans appear to be getting sicker is complex, touching on a variety of interconnected factors from environmental shifts to evolving public health challenges. While life expectancy in the United States is projected to increase modestly to 79.9 years by 2035 and 80.4 years by 2050, this rise is slower than in other developed nations, causing the U.S. global health ranking to drop significantly, from 49th in 2022 to an anticipated 66th by 2050 among 204 countries [4]. This decline is influenced by rising rates of chronic diseases, increasing instances of drug-related deaths, and persistent disparities in healthcare access and quality.

Environmental Stressors: Climate Change and EMF

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a significant public health threat, though its impacts are often indirect and multifaceted. Extreme weather events, changes in disease vectors (like ticks, discussed below), and shifts in agricultural patterns can all contribute to public health challenges.

The potential impact of electromagnetic field (EMF) stress from widespread electronic devices and wireless technologies is another area of ongoing scientific inquiry. While not definitively linked to widespread illness, concerns persist about long-term exposure and its potential effects on human health, contributing to a broader sense of environmental burden.

Hidden Pandemics: The Rise of Lyme Disease

Conditions like Lyme disease, often termed “hidden pandemics,” contribute to chronic illness burdens. Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease cases have been on the rise, influenced by factors like climate change which can expand tick habitats and activity seasons. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to long-term health complications, impacting quality of life and straining healthcare systems.

The Pesticide Paradox: Genetically Engineered Crops and Increased Chemical Use

A significant factor contributing to environmental and potentially human health concerns is the unexpected increase in pesticide use linked to genetically engineered (GE) crops. A study published in Environmental Sciences Europe revealed that GE crops introduced from 1996 to 2011 led to a 404 million pound increase in overall pesticide use, representing about a 7% rise over 16 years.

The initial promise of GE crops was to reduce pesticide use and improve yields by making crops resistant to herbicides and pests. However, this has backfired, leading to widespread resistance in weeds and insects. More than two dozen weed species are now resistant to glyphosate, the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. This has forced farmers to use increasing volumes of herbicides, with some estimates indicating a 25% annual increase in the volume of herbicide needed due to weed resistance.

Furthermore, the approval of new GE corn and soybean varieties tolerant to 2,4-D, a component of Agent Orange, could escalate herbicide use by an additional 50%. Projections from 2013 suggested that if a 2,4-D-resistant corn product were released, the annual use of 2,4-D could reach 103.4 million pounds by 2019, a dramatic increase from 3.3 million pounds in 2010. The toxic nature of 2,4-D raises concerns about potential risks of birth defects and reproductive problems, as well as severe environmental hazards.

Broader Health Trends and Disparities

Beyond these specific environmental and chemical concerns, broader health trends in the U.S. show troubling patterns. Drug deaths among adults aged 65 and older increased by 58% between 2018-2020 and 2021-2023, reaching the highest rates since tracking began [1]. Suicide rates in the same age group also rose by 5% during the same period [1]. While overall cancer mortality rates continued to decline through 2022, averting nearly 4.5 million deaths since 1991, alarming disparities persist, with Native American and Black individuals bearing significantly higher cancer mortality rates for certain types of cancer [5]. Moreover, overall cancer incidence has risen in women, particularly younger women [5].

The U.S. also lags in overall health system performance compared to other high-income countries. Premature, avoidable deaths are higher in the U.S. and rising, even as they fall elsewhere, with significant racial disparities observed across states [2]. These issues are compounded by factors like increasing healthcare costs and persistent rates of uninsurance, though uninsured rates did fall to record lows in all states by 2023, largely due to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansions [3][2].

In conclusion, the declining health trajectory in the U.S. is not attributable to a single cause but rather a confluence of factors, including environmental changes, the hidden burden of infectious diseases, the complex and unintended consequences of agricultural practices, and persistent systemic health challenges. Addressing these multifaceted issues requires comprehensive and coordinated public health strategies.

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2 thoughts on “Why are Americans Sick and Getting Sicker?”

Fred Killer says:

October 20, 2012 at 12:47 pm

According to Jeff Rense, recent definition changes at the FDA allow ‘Organic’ labelled produce in The U.S. to contain only 2% actual organically grown food to qualify as fully organic.

1. Xeno says:
  
  October 20, 2012 at 7:20 pm
  
  Eating really healthy food is one of the biggest challenges we face today. My solution is to grow as much of my own as possible… From organic seeds and plants. I spent much of the weekend planting chard, kale, beets, onions, garlic, and oregano, plus moving my various kinds of peppers and chilies, harvesting the last of my tomatoes, and fertilizing with organic chicken manure and earthworm castings. If your soil lacks nutrients or contains pesticides, odds are the food grown there will as well.