Next up on the World Cup Health showdown is Denmark. Denmark might have taken a beating from the Netherlands in a recent game, but how do they stack up health-wise against the USA?
Well, in the healthcare system, America does seem to score higher than the Danes. It takes a long time to see a doctor in Denmark, and the average ratio of doctor to patient is 2.93 to 1,000.
While American’s healthcare system may seem a dream next to the Danish nightmare, let’s see how Americans stack up on life expectancy. Life expectancy in Denmark is 80.75 years of age for women and 76.52 years of age for men.
Now, compare that to the life expectancy for Americans. For men, it’s 75.3, and 80.4 years for women. America’s life expectancy has actually been on the rise due to better drugs to fight diseases and the decrease in incidents of diseases.
But, Denmark does outdo us in Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE). HALE refers to the number of years where we will still be healthy and disease free. Denmark ranks 15th amongst countries with its citizens healthily living up to the age 70.1 while the United States sits at 22 with 67.6 years.
It may be another draw for the Americans. What do you think?
I grew up dual US/Denmark citizen, so I have a little better insught than most. I think the US has the edge for 3 reasons.
1) Alcohalism. Danes drink a ridiculous amount. While the resulting deaths are already factored into life expectancy, the quality of life of many takes a hit here.
2) Moral Health. Along with the alcohol and other mind altering substance consumption in Denmark, there is blatant and rampant imorality. Some of my friends who attended High School in Denmark have told me about their teachers teaching/showing them how to make alcohol at home sleeping with students. High school students.
3) In the US we have a choice. We can improve. The average Dane can’t increase the quantity and quality of their national health care system (which by the way is inferioir to Americas in quality as well in # of doctors). Anyone can cut down on the junk foor consumed. If Americans ate fast food as often as the Danes do (very rarely), they would pass them in life expectancy and HALE by several years.