U.S. Turns to Holistic Healthcare as Life Expectancy Drops

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/09/01 - Updated: 2025/02/23
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Longevity and Life Span - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article provides insights into the declining life expectancy in the United States and the growing interest in holistic healthcare approaches. It highlights the concerning trend of decreasing life expectancy for the first time in decades, attributing it to factors such as obesity, chronic diseases, and the opioid crisis. The article is particularly useful as it presents an alternative solution to this issue by discussing the benefits of integrated healthcare practices that focus on preventive care and multidisciplinary approaches. By emphasizing the importance of lifestyle choices, nutrition, and alternative therapies, the article offers readers a comprehensive understanding of how holistic healthcare can potentially extend life expectancy and improve overall quality of life. This information is both helpful and insightful for individuals seeking to take a proactive approach to their health and longevity - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

For the first time in decades, life expectancy for adults in the United States has declined. As healthcare consumers realize how important preventative care is, they're turning to integrated healthcare practices to ensure both longevity and optimal health.

Main Content

It's now expected that a person born in 2015 will live approximately 78.8 years, an average projected to be the lowest among wealthy nations by 2030.

As more healthcare consumers realize how unhealthy lifestyle choices impact the likelihood of living longer, there is growing interest in integrated healthcare practices, like HEALTH AT LAST, which take a multidisciplinary approach to optimizing patients' health.

Decline in Life Expectancy

The decline in life expectancy is multi-factored, but research suggests many lifestyle choices impact a person's ability to live longer. As a nation, more than one-third of all adults are obese, which has already tied to an eight-year reduction in life span compared to non-obese individuals. Additionally, the rates of obesity may be helping to increase deaths from major health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Also, unintentional injuries and overdoses leading to early death are rising due to the opioid crisis. Because opioids have been prescribed excessively, over 2 million Americans have become dependent on them. Doctors see over 1,000 people each day in emergency departments nationwide for prescription opioid abuse.

Stephanie Higashi, founder of HEALTH, AT LAST, says;

"Even though we, as a country, spend an excessive amount of money on dealing with devastating health issues, we're not extending our lives or improving their quality. We're doing the opposite: our life expectancy decreases while chronic disease and addiction rates increase. We need to focus on preventive, holistic care that avoids the use of prescriptive medications, wherever possible, to ensure longer lives and happiness."

As part of the integrated healthcare approach of franchises like HEALTH, AT LAST, patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team composed of professionals from several healthcare disciplines, including medicine, chiropractic, nutrition, massage, and acupuncture. Patients reap the benefits of knowledgeable healthcare professionals while achieving optimal health and pain reduction through exercise, proper nutrition, chiropractic therapies, and access to complementary treatments, like acupuncture. By following these integrated healthcare models and achieving a moderately healthy lifestyle, individuals can help extend their life expectancy by as much as seven years.

"Taking care of patients means significantly more than dealing with a problem after it's started. We believe patient care success is a comprehensive approach, treating each patient like they are family, addressing their individual medical needs while educating them on the importance of a sustainable lifestyle - diet, exercise, and stress management. Good health and longevity doesn't start when you're already sick - it's a lifelong process requiring a supportive, nurturing community group of care environment," says Higashi.

Stephanie Higashi

As a pre-med student in 1997, Stephanie Higashi was dismayed to find a national healthcare model focused on prescribing medications and performing invasive surgeries without exploring alternative therapies. She began searching for different solutions to medical problems, incorporating alternative healthcare methods into one unique, all-encompassing practice model. Higashi's unique approach to patient care has helped to bring medical professionals from diverse disciplines together with one common goal - to avoid the use of unnecessary drugs and surgery treatments as much as possible while effectively addressing the complex and varied medical needs of each patient. The results are healthier patients and happier doctors.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

In light of the concerning decrease in life expectancy, adopting a holistic healthcare model emerges as a promising solution. Emphasizing preventive measures and collaborative care not only addresses existing health challenges but also fosters a proactive approach to well-being. Holistic healthcare approaches can help counteract the decline in U.S. life expectancy by focusing on preventive care and multidisciplinary treatments. This paradigm shift is essential for improving quality of life across diverse populations

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.