ArcaMax

New findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine report that Americans live shorter lives than Europeans, regardless of their wealth.

To be sure, people with more wealth tend to live longer than those with less wealth, especially in the U.S., but when comparing all demographics, the wealthiest Americans have shorter lifespans on average than the wealthiest Europeans; in some cases, the wealthiest Americans have survival rates on par with the poorest Europeans in western parts of Europe, such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.

The study analyzed data from more than 73,000 adults in the U.S. and different regions of Europe who were age 50 to 85 in 2010 to determine how wealth affects a person's chances of dying.

"The findings are a stark reminder that even the wealthiest Americans are not shielded from the systemic issues in the U.S. contributing to lower life expectancy, such as economic inequality or risk factors like stress, diet or environmental hazards," said Irene Papanicolas, who directs the School of Public Health's Center for Health System Sustainability at Brown University.

Body of Knowledge

Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin per hour, about 1.5 pounds a year or 105 pounds of skin by the time they are 70 years old. This translates to an entirely new outer layer of skin cells every 27 days, almost 1,000 new skins in an average lifetime.

Stories for the Waiting Room

Swiss researchers have found that neighborhoods with clusters of numerous, well-arranged trees are associated with lower mortality risks than neighborhoods with an equal number of trees more widely spaced out.

Possible reasons: The grouped trees more effectively filter pollutants out of the air, provide greater shade, lower the ambient temperature in hot weather and encourage people to spend more time outdoors.

Doc Talk

Focused H and P: the results of a history and physical examination. The patient is physically examined and interviewed by a doctor about a specific medical complaint before a diagnosis is made. The term "focused" refers to the fact that the exam and discussion are limited to a particular issue. In other words, if the patient is complaining of a headache and double vision, the doctor does not examine the patient's feet as part of the diagnostic process.

Phobia of the Week

Kopophobia: Fear of fatigue, which pretty much leaves you both sick and tired

Life in Big Macs

One hour of riding in a car or truck burns 68 calories (based on a 150-pound person), the equivalent of 0.1 Big Macs. Of course, the weight-loss benefit is pointless if you're driving to McDonalds.

Best Medicine

First guy: Hey man, what's wrong? You look a little green around the gills.

Second guy: I accidentally swallowed some food coloring yesterday. Had to go to the ER.

First guy: What'd the doc say?

Second guy: He said I'd be fine, but frankly, I feel like I've dyed a little inside.

Observation

"I am pretty sure that, if you will be quite honest, you will admit that a good rousing sneeze, one that tears open your collar and throws your hair into your eyes, is really one of life's sensational pleasures." -- American humorist Robert Benchley (1889-1945)

Medical History

This week in 1987, a patent for "keeping a head alive" was issued to Chet Fleming (U.S. No. 4,666,425). A cabinet provided physical and biochemical support for an animal's head severed from its body. Oxygenated blood and nutrients would be circulated through connected to arteries and veins that emerged from the neck. A series of processing components would remove carbon dioxide and add oxygen to the blood. If desired, waste products and other metabolites could be removed from the blood, and nutrients, therapeutic or experimental drugs, anticoagulants and other substances could be added to the blood. The device remains ahead of its time.

Med School

Q: What is the only muscle in the human body that doesn't get tired?

A: The obvious answer is your heart, which beats on average 100,000 times a day, with a force similar to what it takes to squeeze a tennis ball. The heart can do so without fail (well, for a long time without fail) because it is composed of specialized muscle cells called cardiomyocytes that are highly resistant to fatigue.

Like skeletal muscle cells, they are primarily powered by mitochondria, but the density of mitochondria is as much as 10 times higher, boosting cardiomyocytes' energy output. Plus, they are especially efficient at extracting oxygen from blood and are capable of using multiple forms of fuel, including glucose, free fatty acids and lactate.

Epitaphs

"No comment." -- American writer and environmentalist Edward Abbey (1927-1989). The words are also reportedly the last ones he uttered before dying.

========

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2025 Creators Syndicate Inc.