Chicagoans Living 7 Years Longer, New Health Report Says

(CBS) -- Chicago Health officials are issuing a new report that shows the average life expectancy in Chicago is going up, dramatically.

WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports.

Medical Director Julie Morita of the Chicago Health Department says records from 1990 to 2010 show Chicagoans are living longer than ever before.

The average life expectancy is now is a record-high 77.8 years, compared with 70.3 years at the start of the period.

"The great news about that is our rate for improvement is nearly twice as fast as it has been for the national average. And what's even more exciting than that is we're seeing those improvements throughout the city of Chicago – in all neighborhoods, and also among all racial and ethnic groups as well," Morita says.

Dr. Morita says major factors include fewer deaths from heart disease, cancer and HIV, and other infectious diseases.

For a breakdown of life expectancies across Chicago, click here.

In:
• Craig Dellimore