A new study shows Louisiana is ranked 47th in the nation in terms of life expectancy.
That ranking comes from a new study by SeniorLiving.org. Efforts are already underway to improve the ranking.
In Louisiana, heart disease and cancer account for nearly 90 percent of deaths statewide, with life expectancy now standing at 75.6 years.
That’s three years shorter than the national average.
And that has led to the statewide effort T.A.C.L., which stands for Taking Aim at Cancer in Louisiana.
Greg Sonnenfeld, who serves as vice chairman of T.A.C.L. and coordinates oncology services for Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, said getting more free screenings early on will help raise Louisiana’s life expectancy rate.
“People in Louisiana don’t get screened at the appropriate time. So we know that screening saves lives when we catch cancer at an early stage.”
The nine states with the lowest life expectancy ratings are located in the South, with Arkansas ranked 44th in the country.
