Contrary to the frequent pronunciamentos from our president and politicians about our “broken” healthcare system, Americans seem to be living longer than ever. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control that examines data for the year 2007, U.S. life expectancy that year reached an all-time high of 77.9 years.

Furthermore, says the CDC:

The 2007 increase in life expectancy – up from 77.7 in 2006 — represents a continuation of a trend. Over a decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007.

More good news from the CDC:

– For the first time, life expectancy for black males reached 70 years.

– The U.S. mortality rate fell for the eighth straight year to an all-time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2007 — 2.1 percent lower than the 2006 rate of 776.5. The 2007 mortality rate is half of what it was 60 years ago (1532 per 100,000 in 1947.)

– Heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death, accounted for nearly half (48.5 percent) of all deaths in 2007….

– Between 2006 and 2007, mortality rates declined significantly for eight of the 15 leading causes of death. Declines were observed for influenza and pneumonia (8.4 percent), homicide (6.5 percent), accidents (5 percent), heart disease (4.7 percent), stroke (4.6 percent), diabetes (3.9 percent), hypertension (2.7 percent), and cancer (1.8 percent)….

– The preliminary infant mortality rate for 2007 was 6.77 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a 1.2 percent increase from the 2006 rate of 6.69, though not considered statistically significant. Birth defects were the leading cause of infant death in 2007, followed by disorders related to preterm birth and low birthweight. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was the third leading cause of infant death in the United States.

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

h/t: Ace of Spades HQ.