NOTHIN’ BUT THE DEAD ARE DYING IN MY LITTLE TOWN

Insure.com (2004) “How healthy is your state?” moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance,Insureyourhealth/P35618.asp, 7/12/04

Look to Minnesota. It is the healthiest state in the nation. The worst? Nearly all the bottom feeders in the health food chain are in the land once called “Dixie.” That includes the Deep South, Border States, and Southwest.

Health gets better when you head to the upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and New England.
The measures first used in 1990, report that all states have improved, but look to the northern Yankees for the biggest increases in positive outcomes.

Those in the midrange are Plains, Midwest, and Coastal States (western coast.)

Overall infant mortality rates are down 32% since 1990. 34% drop in infectious diseases, and a 36% decline in motor vehicle deaths also help. Nearly a quarter of the population no longer smokes. Killings? Better work in the EMRs reduces expected deaths (about 70,000) to (20,000.)

The top 10 are Minnesota, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Colorado, and Hawaii.

Mississippi leads the bottom followed by Deep South and Border South to the state of Georgia (#40.) The ranking is based on an overall profile of numerous indicators of health.

In spite of other problems in medicine, we are living longer and are lifestyles are healthier. We can still slow down on what we eat, drink, and smoke. Exercise helps.