We live longer but...

HIGH death rates from lung diseases, problems with tooth decay in schoolchildren and a significant burden of preventable cancers have been revealed in a report detailing the health of the island.

Health and Social Services has released the first Health Profile, which covered 34 indicators on a range of health issues.

Director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman, pictured, said that the figures showed some good news. For instance, life expectancy improved by three to four years from 1995-7 to 2006-8, smoking prevalence has halved over the last 40 years and infant death rates were low.

However, he also said that there were major areas of challenge for the islands to tackle.

These include disappointing breastfeeding rates; large variations by school in preventable tooth decay in children; high death rates from lung diseases; a significant burden of preventable cancers and cardiovascular disease; and a relatively high house price-to-earnings ratio.