Five notable health care achievements of the 2010s

Here are five medical advancements and health trends that made a significant difference in the last 10 years, according to health administrators.

1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAKES ITS MARK

Artificial intelligence made big strides throughout the decade, though its potential benefits remain vast. 

AI systems allowed health organizations to more easily collect, store and access medical information, helping doctors identify treatments and make better informed clinical decisions. AI also began taking on tasks previously conducted by specialists – like diagnosing Alzheimer's disease – and often performed them better.

2. CROSSFIT, WEARABLES TRANSFORM FITNESS

CrossFit, a branded fitness regimen that combines high-intensity interval training with other exercise styles, was among the most popular fitness trends of the decade, expanding to more than 13,000 gyms in the United States. But other fitness exercises took off too, from Zumba dances to Spin classes to yoga workouts.

Wearable devices became a common workout companion, helping people measure everything from miles run to calories burned. And thanks to streaming services, people began participating in workout classes at home.

3. JOINT REPLACEMENTS KEEP PEOPLE ACTIVE

People received joint replacements at younger ages than in previous decades, a trend brought about by lifestyle changes and technological advancements. 

More people remained active longer into adulthood, increasing their risk of developing arthritis – a major cause for joint replacements. Additionally, new technologies enabled joint replacements to both last longer while permitting people to maintain an active lifestyle.

4. MAJOR VICTORIES AGAINST HIV/AIDS

Scientists have sought a cure for HIV/AIDS since the virus caused an epidemic several decades ago. They have yet to discover it, but they believe they might be closing in on an HIV vaccine that would be "the end of the AIDS story as we know it." 

Several clinical trials for an HIV vaccine remain underway as the decade draws to a close. But there were other advancements in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a pill designed to simplify AIDS medications by combining four drugs them into one pill. A second person gained successful remission from HIV. And Temple University scientists successfully eliminated the virus from mice, potentially moving them closer to identifying a cure. 

The FDA also approved the first HIV prevention pill, Truvada, in 2012. The medication, also known as PrEP, lowers the risk of HIV by as much as 90% when taken regularly. Though the CDC first recommended people at high risk of HIV take PrEP as a prevention method in 2014, prescriptions reportedly remain sluggish. To expand access, the Trump administration began offering it for free to people without insurance.

5. FEWER AMERICANS ARE SMOKING

The percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes dropped to the lowest level since federal health officials began warning about the dangers of smoking in the 1960s. 

About 13.7% of adults were considered current smokers in 2018, according to the latest figures released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the start of the decade, that figure stood at 19.3%. 

Similarly, teenage smoking rates also dropped significantly. Just 3.6% of high school seniors reported daily cigarette use in 2018, down from 10.7% in 2010.

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