Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Life expectancy reaches all-time high in Massachusetts
By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff
Massachusetts residents are living longer than ever, according to a report released today by state health officials. Life expectancy in the state rose to nearly 80 years, about two years longer than the national figure.
Heart disease and cancer remain the state's top two killers, although mortality rates for both are declining.
The number of AIDS deaths in the state is the lowest since the start of the epidemic in the 1980s.
At the same time, the state's epidemic of heroin and OxyContin continues to kill an increasing number of Bay Staters, rising 43 percent between 2000 and 2005.
Posted by Karen Weintraub at
11:23 AM
