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Throughout history, life expectancy has steadily risen, thanks to numerous medical advancements. In the past 100 to 150 years, these developments have caused a significant increase in longevity. For example, in 1900, the average life expectancy in the United States was just 49 years, and in 1800, it was even lower—estimated between 30 and 40 years.
Our growing understanding of medicine, disabilities, and science has been crucial in enabling this dramatic improvement. Let’s take a look at ten medical advancements that have led to increased life expectancy. Some of these innovations date back to the nineteenth century, while others are more recent as ongoing scientific progress continues to revolutionize healthcare.
10. The Discovery of Germ Theory
From an early age, we are taught about germs, and children are frequently reminded to wash their hands. However, this was not always the case. In the mid-1800s, the widely accepted belief was that disease arose from spontaneous generation, a far different concept than the germ theory we know today.
Spontaneous generation is exactly what it sounds like: the idea that disease can appear out of nowhere. Fortunately, in 1861, French microbiologist Louis Pasteur, known for developing the pasteurization process, proved to the world that diseases were not caused by spontaneous generation. Instead, he discovered that diseases were caused by microscopic organisms, known as 'germs' or pathogens.
The medical and scientific communities eventually adopted this groundbreaking theory, leading to the prevention of countless deaths from infectious diseases such as typhoid fever, influenza, dysentery, and more. The benefits have been immeasurable. Gaining an understanding of how diseases form and spread has been a fundamental driver of medical and scientific progress and has had a positive impact on human life expectancy.
The Germ Theory may very well be the most significant advancement in the history of medicine.
9. Anesthetics
In today’s world, surgeries are routine, with many individuals undergoing multiple procedures over the course of their lives. However, just 150 years ago, this would have been unheard of. While numerous innovations in surgical science have taken place in recent years, none have been as transformative as the introduction and use of anesthesia.
Before the widespread use of anesthesia, it wasn’t uncommon for patients to choose death over undergoing emergency surgery. Surgery was typically a last resort, performed only when doctors were left with no other options. Without anesthesia, the thought of surgery must have been utterly terrifying, with patients left with little more than the option of opium, alcohol, or a leather strap to bite down on. Unsurprisingly, many surgeries were unsuccessful as well.
The first documented use of an anesthetic during surgery occurred in 1846 when William G. Morton used sulfuric ether on a patient with a neck tumor. In the beginning, however, the use of anesthesia was unpredictable and risky. But as its use became more widespread, the practice was refined. Today, the risk of anesthesia-related accidents is extremely low, allowing more patients access to life-saving surgeries and greatly improving life expectancy over time.
8. Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
The next item on our list isn’t from the distant past, but rather something that seems to belong to the future. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a groundbreaking technology with immense potential in many scientific fields, including medicine. Sometimes referred to as 'machine learning,' AI software can process and catalog information far more efficiently than humans.
The potential applications of AI in medicine are vast. Currently, AI is utilized in numerous areas such as diagnosing patients, facilitating doctor-patient communication, maintaining medical records, managing prescriptions, remotely treating patients, and more. While the current impact of AI has already saved countless lives and improved medical processes, its future potential is even more exciting.
AI is capable of screening for diseases, customizing patient treatments, and even editing genes. It’s truly exciting to imagine the future advancements in medicine and science that could result from the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence technology.
7. Laparoscopic Surgery
As mentioned earlier in our list, surgery was much less common before anesthetics were introduced. Another significant breakthrough in surgical practice occurred over 100 years later with the development of laparoscopic surgery. This technique involves making smaller incisions than traditional surgery, allowing the procedure to be performed with less risk using small tubes and miniature cameras.
Laparoscopic surgery, which emerged in the 1980s, is often referred to as minimally invasive surgery due to its more delicate approach. Its numerous advantages include:
- Shorter recovery time and hospital stays
- Reduced risk of complications
- Smaller scars
- Less pain for the patient
Although laparoscopic surgery is still a relatively new technology, it has become nearly as prevalent as traditional surgeries in modern hospitals due to its numerous benefits. The ability to perform less invasive and less risky surgeries has already saved countless lives through preventative care and will continue to play a key role in increasing life expectancy.
6. Organ Transplants
Organ failure has long been a leading cause of death, prompting scientists to explore organ transplants for many years. The first successful organ transplant—a kidney—took place in 1954, thanks to doctors David Hume and Joseph Murray. This was a major milestone in the medical field, and the success of organ transplants has only continued to grow.
Less than a decade later, in 1963, the first successful lung transplant was performed. Soon after, in 1966, a pancreas transplant took place, followed by successful liver and heart transplants in 1967. These procedures have become routine, with hundreds or even thousands being performed annually. Organ transplants have made a significant impact on patients with failing organs, saving many lives.
As medical technology evolves, organ transplants have expanded to include transplants from animals to humans, such as a kidney transplanted from a pig to a human. This practice is known as Xenotransplantation. In the near future, it’s possible that organ replacements could be created using 3D printing or even grown in labs or medical facilities. Organ transplantation has undoubtedly been one of the most important medical advancements in boosting human life expectancy.
5. Antibiotics
In 2010, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh conducted a vote to determine the most significant medical advancements of the previous 50 years (see the complete list here). The top choice? The discovery of antibiotics.
In 1928, one of the most fortunate accidents in medical history occurred. Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming stumbled upon a mold growing in a petri dish, which turned out to be penicillin, the first-ever antibiotic. Although penicillin didn’t immediately become widespread, the development of antibiotics continued to progress throughout the 1940s.
Penicillin’s mass production began during World War II, with notable contributions from scientists Howard Florey and Ernst Chain. Thanks to the efforts of these scientists and many others, antibiotics have saved countless lives and extended even more.
It’s hard to argue with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh’s conclusion—antibiotics have undoubtedly been one of the most important medical advancements.
4. ACE Inhibitors
Next on our list is a treatment that, while incredibly important, is often underappreciated. ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors are used for a variety of health concerns, including high blood pressure, heart issues, and kidney disease.
In simple terms, ACE inhibitors work by relaxing or widening the blood vessels, which increases the flow of blood from the heart. This makes them effective for reducing high blood pressure, but they’re also prescribed for heart failure, diabetes, heart attacks, and for individuals at risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Each year, millions of people in the United States are prescribed ACE inhibitors. This breakthrough treatment not only helps prevent organ failure, but it has also significantly improved the quality and potentially the longevity of life for many patients since it was introduced in 1975.
3. Vaccine
The vaccine is arguably the most powerful tool humanity possesses in preventing diseases. First developed in the late 18th century, its creation stemmed from the urgent need to combat widespread health crises.
Smallpox, which devastated populations globally, was one of the most lethal diseases known. Edward Jenner pioneered the use of vaccinations to fight this epidemic, and thanks to this method, smallpox was eventually eradicated. Other major vaccines developed in the 1800s and 1900s targeted diseases such as rabies, tuberculosis, cholera, and polio.
Driven by necessity, the development of new vaccine technologies continues. The advent of mRNA technology has enabled rapid creation of vaccines, reinforcing their critical role in safeguarding public health and saving millions of lives.
2. Medical Imaging Technologies (MRI, X-Ray, CT, Ultrasound)
CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and ultrasound technologies represent another major leap in medical progress. For centuries, doctors had no way of viewing the inside of the human body while patients were still alive. This changed with the discovery of the X-ray in the late 19th century by German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
Soon after, a hospital in Glasgow established the world’s first radiology department, marking a major milestone in medical imaging. Further advancements didn’t emerge until the 1950s and 1960s, when the use of ultrasound and CT scans began to grow in medical diagnoses.
In 1973, Paul Lauterbur introduced the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which quickly became a key diagnostic tool for healthcare providers. The advantages of medical imaging are immense and continue to evolve as technology progresses, greatly enhancing our understanding of the human body.
1. Kidney Dialysis
Kidney dialysis is a medical procedure that removes waste and excess fluid from the blood of patients whose kidneys are no longer functioning properly. Typically, this is achieved using a dialysis machine that filters the blood before returning it to the body, essentially acting as an artificial kidney.
Though not a perfect or comfortable solution, dialysis has saved countless lives by providing a temporary solution for those in need of a kidney transplant. It allows patients to stay alive and healthy while waiting for a compatible donor. Remarkably, this life-saving procedure was developed in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation of World War II.
Dr. Willem Johan Koff developed the first dialysis machine (dialyzer), creating it from spare parts, including soda cans and components from a washing machine, to assist his patients. His resourcefulness, along with the ongoing innovation within the medical field, has saved countless lives and significantly improved the life expectancy of those suffering from kidney disease.
