There's good news this morning for Gotham: New Yorkers are living longer than ever before.
The average lifespan of a New Yorker has gone up by 19 months since 2001, which is better than the national trend.
Life expectancy has reached 82 years for women and 76.3 years for men, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley said yesterday.
The results, published in the city health department's Annual Summary of Vital Statistics, concluded the overall death rate remained at a historic low and deaths from many causes had actually declined.
Between 2007 and 2008, deaths due to HIV fell by 4 percent in New York, drug-related deaths dropped by 13 percent and cardiovascular disease claimed 284 fewer lives.
"Helping people live longer, better lives is the core responsibility of government, which is why nearly every initiative we take on is focused on that goal," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference. "The steady, continued increase in life expectancy demonstrates the remarkable progress we have made and the need to continue to press forward with bold health policies."
