Immigrants from India and their descendants have highest life expectancy 84.3 years

[krsna]

Immigrants Outlive U.S.-Born Citizens

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/

05/12/BAGBL6JOKB1.DTL

 

CALIFORNIA, U.S., May 12, 2004: Immigrants in California live longer

than the state's U.S.-born residents, according to a study released

today by the Public Policy Institute of California. Immigrants have a

life expectancy of more than 81 years, on average, compared to 77 years

for Californians born in the United States, according to the study.

"When people hear that, they're surprised," said Hans Johnson, the lead

author of the report, "because immigrants tend to have lower

socioeconomic status, less access to health care and often come from

countries that have high mortality rates." Johnson speculated that

immigrants may be living longer because they have healthier diets and

are less likely to smoke. He added that a kind of self-selection may

also contribute to the results. "People with chronic diseases or

terminal diseases aren't likely to migrate internationally, he said.

"Coming here means you're healthy." Another factor that contributes to

health is the close-knit community fabric immigrants create, experts

said. "There are strong social support networks that definitely would

have a link to increasing longevity," said Patricia Erwin, manager of

San Francisco's Newcomers Health Program, which serves refugees.

"People who are more social, no matter where they're born, have have a

longer life expectancy."

 

Immigrants from India and their descendants have the highest life

expectancy, 84.3 years, of all ethnic groups in California, the study

found. Healthy habits and a strong community are key, said Anil

Godhwani, president of the India Community Center in Milpitas. "We've

got a lot more people eating vegetarian diets, a lot practicing yoga,"

said Godhwani. The longevity report can be found on the Web

http://www.ppic.org.