Deaths

• Tranter

  over three-quarters of the decline in the death rate from about 1850 to 1970 was due to a fall in the number of deaths from infectious disease
• McKeowen

  argues that improved nutrition accounted for up to half the reduction in deaths
• Better nutrition increases

  resistance to infection and increases the survival chances for those who become infected
• Medical improvements from the 1950s led to a decrease in the death rate

  The National Health Service in 1948, improved medical knowledge, techniques
• More recent medical improvements

  by-pass surgery, improved medication and others have reduced deaths from heart disease by one-third
• Harper

  the greatest fall in death rates has come from the reduction in the number of people smoking
• Obesity has replaced smoking as the new lifestyle epidemic
• Death rates from obesity have been kept low as a result of drug therapies
• Harper - 'American' health culture

  lifestyles are unhealthy but a long lifespan is achieved by use of costly medication
• Clean air acts reduce air pollution such as smog
• The 20th century saw a more effective central and local government passing laws which led to a range of improvements in public health
• Harper - 'radical longevity'

  if the trend to greater longevity continues
• Currently, there are around 10,000 people in the UK aged over 100

  by 2100 there are projected to be one million
• Less expectancy for men in 1901 was 48.5

  In 2012-2014 it was 79
• Improved health education means that people are now more aware of how to stay healthy and understand the types of life-style that can be life-shortening. This has led to longer life expectancies.