Life expectancy has reached a new record of more than 78 years in the United States, a preliminary report given by the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention showed on Wednesday.

The report said the life expectancy of a baby that was born in the United States in 2009 has increased to 78 years and 2 months from 78 years in 2008. Also, the life expectancy of women increased one-tenth of a year to 80.6 years while the life expectancy of men rose two-tenths of a year to 75.7 years.

In 2009, an estimated number of 2.4 million deaths were recorded in the United States. However, the number was 36,000 lesser than the recorded deaths a year ago.

According to the report, deaths decreased for various kinds of causes such as heart diseases and homicide cases. Thus, experts believe there is no one plain reason for the rise in life expectancy. But, enhanced medical treatment, increased campaigns for vaccinations and better public measures to prevent smoking are thought to have a significant impact on the increase.

Since the 1940s, life expectancy in the country has been increasing, although there were some years that it held even and there were few times when it momentarily dipped.

In 2008, the CDC believed that life expectancy dropped to 77 years and 11 months. But, the agency corrected the estimate to 78 years in the report released on Wednesday. CDC said it was due to an error in computer programming.

The 2009 preliminary report by the agency’s National Center for Health Statistics is based on almost all of the death certificates issued that year. The agency is expected to submit a final report later this year.

South Asia is experiencing a health crisis because of increasing incidents of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The region is also facing rising poverty as patients use their own money to pay for hospital expenses and other medical treatment, according to the World Bank’s statement on Wednesday.

The Bank reported that while the region’s economy is getting better and most people are living a longer life, poor people have had virtually no benefit from the rising incomes, healthier nutrition, improved conditions and access to efficient healthcare.

The report covered 8 countries mainly, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. According to the report, South Asians are likely to experience their first heart attack by the age of 53. That is, six years ahead than people elsewhere in the world.

Today, heart disease is the leading cause of death among South Asians 15 to 69 years old. The non-communicable disease accounts for about 55 percent of the total disease burden in the entire region. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis make up the remaining percentage, including issues of child and mother health and nutrition.

Michael Engelgau, senior public health specialist of World Bank and one of the authors of the report said that the unjust burden is particularly rough on poor people.

After thier first heart attack, the poor will face life-long illnesses and pay for their treatment with their own money or by putting their properties up for sale. Soon after, they find themselves trapped in poverty where they can’t work and get better.

The report mentioned a study made in India that was published last year. It found that some non-communicable diseases leave patients not capable of working for about 50 to 70 days.