Cancer, heart ailments, accidents mar Greek health

GREEKS were the second longest-lived Europeans in 1990, dying at an average age of 77, EU studies then showed. The average might have moved up to 78, but Greeks are now ranked seventh. According to the latest EU figures, heart conditions, cancer and accidents in the '90s have taken their toll increasing the number of deaths. A decrease observed in the number of heart-related deaths over the past two or three years is mostly due to improvements in medical treatment and much less to the incidence of ailments. An analysis of the survey will be presented during the 3rd Panhellenic Health Promotion Conference due to begin in Athens on December 5.

SOURCE: "Athensnews" newspaper