Americans’ declining life expectancy

Poor health conditions and inadequate broad-based medical care are key culprits. The pervasive spread of opiates and a growing culture of violence are also major factors. Addressing these complex challenges should be prioritized. This will require fundamental shifts in state and national policy to actively promote more life-affirming policies, particularly in ensuring adequate basic health care becomes accessible to all. Yes, the price of such polices would be costly, but, in our era of large concentrations of mega-wealth, it should be affordable. It would also be the right thing to do.

Brian G. Crowe, Rockville

I appreciated the important article on declining American longevity.

I see declining life expectancy as a metaphor for so much that needs fixing in American life. Poor nutrition, lack of sleep, little exercise and addictions (to electronics, drugs, material things). All this is a real national spiritual void.

Spend a day in my pediatric office, which serves people of many national origins, and you will readily appreciate that the seeds of a shorter, less healthy life are sown in the earliest years.

I fully agree that we need a comprehensive, coordinated national health policy that is founded on the basis of optimism.

Let’s look at the hard evidence and work together to make this happen.

Daniel J. Levy, Owings Mill

The writer is a past president of the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and president of the Child & Teen Wellness Center.

A key driver of the health and well-being of Americans is our public health system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals.”

Even in Maryland, it has been challenging to ensure that our public health infrastructure has what it needs to provide optimal services to all residents. I’ve seen this in my 20 years as a health-care-reform consumer advocate. Why? Because the public and many elected officials fail to understand the true value of public health. The result is a lack of adequate staffing and financial supports.

Yes, Maryland’s residents should be grateful that they live in a state that actually cares about their health and longevity. But even here, some health officers were not safe from threats during the pandemic. Elsewhere, we continue to see health officers under pressure to ignore the most fundamental public health principles, such as masking. Then there is the case of the political appointment of Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph A. Ladapo, who has been a source of misinformation on the coronavirus. Now, he has gone further, putting the lives of Floridians in jeopardy by calling for a halt in the use of mRNA vaccines. He has based his state bulletin upon questionable “science” with a widely debunked theory.

Remember: Public health is designed to prevent disease and prolong life. Therefore, there should be no confusion about the fact that a strong system, empowered to apply proven public health strategies, is essential to improve the longevity of individuals and strengthen our communities.

Leni Preston, Bethesda