3) Tennessee
When it comes to life expectancy, Tennessee comes in 8th for shorter life spans. The average life span in the Volunteer State is 76.3 years. The state’s infant mortality rate is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is an improvement but still higher than in many states. The leading cause of death for adults in the state is heart disease followed closely by cancer. A high poverty rate could be a contributor to those medical conditions, as many people living in rural areas with financial limitations don’t eat as healthy as medical professionals and nutritional experts would recommend. Reports indicate more 24% of adults in the state are smokers, which also leads to heart problems and cancer. The third leading cause of death for all ages is accidents, and with the rural roads and farming industry, many deaths could be contributed to the terrain and lifestyles of the area.
