Abstract
The baby boom generation may be young enough yet to benefit from current advances in medical science. These advances are every bit as important as the discovery of antiseptics in the nineteenth century and antibiotics in the twentieth century. The advances include better diagnostic equipment (such as magnetic resonance imaging); better surgical techniques (laser surgery); better corrective techniques (gene therapy); better prevention through diet and exercise; and the growing ability to prolong health (though not life) for an indefinite period.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Reference
Still, this will be an improvement ... Ambry and Russell, Official Guide, 412.
Three chronic conditions are likely ... Ibid., 384–387.
Among married women born between ... Mosher and Pratt, “Fecundity and Infertility,” 3.
But during the baby boom’s lifetime ... Alan L. Otten, “Charting Future Course of Longevity Gains,” The Wall Street Journal (15 November 1991), B1.
If Americans were to receive Social ... Marilyn M. McMillen, “Sex-Specific Equivalent Retirement Ages: 1940–2050,” Social Security Bulletin (March 1984), 7.
In 1990, a newborn boy could expect ... National Center for Health Statistics, “Life Tables,” Vital Statistics of the United States, 1988, vol. II, section 6 (March 1991), 2.
At age 40, Americans can expect ... Ibid., 11; Donald J. Bogue, The Population of the United States—Historical Trends and Future Projections (New York: The Free Press, 1985), 212.
The healthiest women are not housewives ... Lois M. Verbrugge and Jennifer H. Madans, “Women’s Roles and Health,” American Demographics (March 1985), 39.
While life expectancy at age 65 has grown ... National Center for Health Statistics, “Life Tables”: 2, 11; U.S. Bureau of the Census, “Sixty-Five Plus in America,” 3–16.
In a study of elderly Canadians ... Beth J. Soldo and Emily M. Agree, “America’s Elderly,” Population Bulletin, vol. 43, no. 3 (1988), 22.
A majority of Americans rate ... Ambry and Russell, Official Guide 352.
Four out of five people aged 65 ... Soldo and Agree, “America’s Elderly,” 19.
The most common chronic condition ... Ambry and Russell, Official Guide, 390–391.
Heart disease causes one-third ... National Center for Health Statistics, “Annual Summary of Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: United States, 1991,” Monthly Vital Statistics Report, vol. 40, no. 13 (30 September 1992), 6, 19; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1991, 79.
Four out of ten boomers exercise ... The Prevention Index 1992, Summary Report (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1992), 5, 11.
With heart disease eliminated ... U.S. Bureau of the Census, “Sixty-Five Plus in America,” 3–9.
Today, fully 73 percent of people ... Ibid.
The number two killer in the U S . National Center for Health Statistics, “Annual Summary of Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: United States, 1991,” 6, 19; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1991, 79.
If cancer were entirely eradicated ... U.S. Bureau of the Census, “Sixty-Five Plus in America,” 3–9.
The third leading cause of death ... National Center for Health Statistics, “Annual Summary of Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: United States, 1991,” 6, 19; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1991, 79.
Accidents are the fourth leading ... Ibid.
Lung disease, pneumonia, diabetes ... National Center for Health Statistics, “Annual Summary of Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: United States, 1991,” 6.
Today, 13 million Americans ... Mitchell P. LaPlante, Gerry E. Hendershot, and Abigail J. Moss, “Assistive Technology Devices and Home Accessibility Features: Prevalence, Payment, Need, and Trends,” National Center for Health Statistics Advance Data, no. 217 (16 September 1992), 6.
The number of people using wheelchairs ... Ibid., 9.
Today, 7 million Americans have homes ... Ibid., 6–7.
Today, 16 percent of people aged 65 ... U.S. Bureau of the Census, “The Need for Personal Assistance with Everyday Activities: Recipients and Caregivers,” Current Population Reports, Series P 70, no. 19 (June 1990), 4.
Today, 22 percent of Americans aged ... U. S. Bureau of the Census, “Sixty-Five Plus in America,” 6–8.
Over half of Americans say people ... “Fear of Dying,” 55, 57.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Cheryl Russell
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Russell, C. (1993). Improving Health. In: The Master Trend. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6016-0_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6016-0_30
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-44507-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-6016-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive