As I See It / October 2006
Better Than the Good Old Days
Nostalgia tends to skip neatly over the inequities and downright horrors that sometimes attended the idealized past. But, no matter what the headlines, Americans really do live in a better world than their parents and grandparents did. Since 1900, the average lifespan of Americans has lengthened by more than 30 years and much of that gain is directly attributable to advances in public health.
The uncompromising commitment to universal vaccination has resulted in the eradication of smallpox and polio in the US and nearly eliminated measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria.
Engineering has made vehicles and highways safer. Governmental mandates regarding seat belts, child safety seats, motorcycle helmets and drinking while driving have resulted in major reductions in motor vehicle related deaths.
Numerous work-related health problems, like coal workers’ black lung and silicosis, common at the beginning of the century, are under better control. Severe injuries and deaths from mining, manufacturing, construction, and transportation have all decreased and since 1980, safer workplaces have brought a 40% reduction of fatal occupational injuries.
Clean water and improved sanitation have had a huge effect on the publics health and the control of infectious diseases. Typhoid and cholera, transmitted by contaminated water, were a major cause of illness and death early in the 20th century. The discovery and use of antimicrobial therapy has allowed successful public health efforts to control the once devastating diseases of tuberculosis, syphilis and gonorrhea.
Since 1972, death rates for coronary heart disease have dropped 51%. Public education, early detection, risk-factor modification and better treatments have all contributed to the decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke.
Safer, healthier foods produced in safer, healthier conditions have meant fewer fatalities and less illness from improper food handling-and contributed to the increased nutritional content of food in general. Rigorous standards for meat and other food processing facilities have drastically reduced microbial contamination. Identifying essential micro-nutrients and establishing food-fortification programs has almost eliminated major nutritional deficiency diseases like rickets, goiter, and pellagra in the United States.
Since 1900, infant mortality has decreased 90%, and maternal mortality has decreased 99%. Better hygiene and nutrition, antibiotics, greater access to health care, and advances in maternal and neonatal medicine have helped healthier mothers and babies live longer, healthier lives.
Access to family planning and contraceptive services has altered social and economic roles of women. Family planning has provided health benefits for women from smaller family sizes and longer intervals between births; fewer infant, child, and maternal deaths; and the use of barrier contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and transmission of HIV and STD’s.
Since 1945, water fluoridation has been safely, inexpensively preventing tooth decay in children and adults, regardless of socioeconomic status or access to care. Fluoridation is the major contributor in the 40%-70% reduction in tooth decay in children, and the 40%-60% reduction of tooth loss in adults,
After the 1964 Surgeon General’s report on smoking, anti-smoking campaigns discouraged tobacco use and reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, adult smoking decreased, and millions of smoking-related deaths have been prevented.
US public health achievements are remarkable. Countries all over the world use American models to create better environments for their own citizens. Americans, though, take their clean water, uncontaminated food, and paved highways for granted. FDA and OSHA are as familiar, and as uncelebrated, as the ABC’s.
What America has done for the health and well being of its inhabitants is phenomenal. Numbingly familiar reports of sleazy politicians, sexual predators, child pornographers and school massacres can stir a sense of shame for just being a member of the human race and they tarnish the pride of being an American. There’s no doubt we’re doing some things wrong. We must find what they are and fix them. But the country has done some things amazingly right. Longer, healthier lives for every person that lives here is an incredible accomplishment. It won’t make headlines, but it is great news for Americans. PL
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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