Although it’s almost spring and the spate of “best of the year” lists are now long gone, I recently came across this list from the AMA news. It’s a summary of their most intriguing facts of 2006. It’s fascinating stuff. Some of the highlights with links are below. Click here to view the entire list.
- People born in 2000 have an average life expectancy 7 years longer than for those born in 1960.
- 15 of the nation’s top 100 golf-playing physicians are orthopedic surgeons.
- Three-quarters of the sodium in American diets is from processed, restaurant or fast food.
- Half of all medical care is provided by primary care physicians.
- Hospital infections affect 2 million patients and cause about 80,000 deaths annually.
- Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
- 3 in 4 Americans have acted on health information obtained from the media.
- Only 1 cent out of every health dollar goes toward prevention and public health research.
- 20% of people who have heart attacks have no traditional risk factors.