Health study a ‘wake-up’ call to region

The health outlook for people living in rural Appalachia is worsening and the average life expectancy has dropped by more than two years, according to a disturbing new report in a respected health care journal. A study of 428 counties stretching across 13 states from Mississippi to New York, including 29 western North Carolina counties found while life expectancy and infant mortality rates are improving across the United States., Appalachia is struggling to keep up.

For the full e-edition and exclusive web content, subscribe today.