In the 1960s, the average Norwegian woman had the highest life expectancy in the world. Now both the Japanese and the Swedes can expect to live longer than us.
"Several countries have moved past us when it comes to life expectancy," says Director of Health Bjørn Guldvog. In spite of having one of the world's best health systems, and being the best country in the world to live in according to the UN, Norwegians do no longer live the longest.
"We probably lose many good years of living because of how we eat," is Guldvog's theory. "I think other countries have worked more systematically with people's use of tobacco, obesity and high blood pressure," the director tells NRK.
He thinks the work to improve people's health needs to be intensified in Norway. Whereas the Japanese now see a decline in heart disease, eat less salt and more seafood; Norwegians eat too much salt, and not enough fruit, nuts and fish.
High blood pressure is a very important risk factor in Norway, and is linked to how much salt we eat, as well as obesity, Guldvog explains. On a positive note, young people between 16-24 years old and their use of tobacco has declined from 45 percent in 1973, to approximately eight percent in 2013.
The average life expectancy in Norway is currently 83,5 years for women, and 79 years for men.
(NRK)
Julie Ryland
The Norwegian company Algeta has developed a drug against prostate cancer that has been approved by American authorities...
A recent report shows no more cases of suicide or cancer among Norwegian war veterans who served in Afghanistan and Kosovo, than in the general population.
..
Norway is to provide NOK 30 million in support for the Inter-American Development Bank’s efforts to promote transparency and combat corruption. ..
Norway is to increase its level of support for efforts to eradicate polio to NOK 240 million (USD 40 million). - Polio can be completely eradicated within the space of five to six years, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says...
Minister of International Development Heikki Holmås has announced that Norway and Tanzania have signed an agreement under which Norway will provide NOK 700 million over a four-year period...
The Government's evaluation report following the terrorist attack on the BP/Statoil gas plant in Algeria concludes that the Norwegian authorities handled the crisis In Amenas in a good way...
Parliamentary elections are still 7 months away, but it is already clear that health issues will be one of the main topics during the election campaign. The National Health Plan has already come under fire from within...
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide says Norway condemns the increasingly brutal attacks against the Syrian population and the recent use of Scud missiles, and urge the Security Council to respond decisively.
..
Health Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has proposed that the smoking of heroin should no longer be considered a criminal offence in Norway, in order to make drug addicts switch from injections to smoking the drug.
..
