Smoking Laws Credited as NYC Life Expectancy Hits Historic High

New York City residents now live longer than ever, and experts say that the city’s tough laws on smoking deserve some of the credit, the New York Daily News reported Jan. 26.

A baby born in the city in 2007 could expect to live 79.4 years, the greatest life expectancy since records have been kept. That includes a life expectancy of 76.3 years for men and 82 years for women, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene report (PDF).

“This probably reflects less on medical care than it does on the improvement of a few behaviors and conditions that have a big impact on health problems, particularly smoking, HIV/AIDS reduction and reductions in injuries,” said city health commissioner Thomas Farley.

Two smoking-related illnesses were responsible for a majority of deaths in the city in 2008: heart disease (39 percent) and cancer (24 percent).