Medicine in the 20th Century

What was medicine like in the 20th century?

During the 20th century there was considerable progress when it came to understanding the body and treating illness and disease.

What effect did medicine have on life expectancy in the 20th century?

Medical advances in the 20th century meant average life expectancy increased to 79 years old for men and 83 for women.

What advancements in medicine were made in the 20th century?

There were a wide range of important medical advances in the 20th century. 4 of the most significant were:

• ❖ Between 1946 and 1969, vaccines against diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles and rubella were available free on the NHS in the UK.
• ❖ In the 1950s, British biologist and writer Sir Peter Medawar developed anti-histamine.
• ❖ In-vitro fertilisation, or IVF, was discovered in the 1970s as a way to help those with fertility issues have children.
• ❖ During the 1980s, keyhole surgery using endoscopes, was developed which allowed surgeons to perform complex surgery by making small incisions and reducing the risk of infection.
• ❖ In the 1980s MRI scanners allowed doctors to see inside the body in 3D making it easier to detect disease earlier. Cancer tumours for example.