There’s a strong possibility that humans are hardwired to see the negative side of life. And if you want any proof of that, just think about this: it often seems as if virtually everyone is complaining about something or another, and that they overlook the positive things in their life.

While it might not always seem like it, there are many reasons why we should all be grateful that we live in the 21st century, rather than at any other point in history. But let’s just focus on one reason: healthcare. This is infinitely better than it was in the past, and will continue to get better in the future.

But why is this the case? Why does healthcare seem to make giant leaps forward? We take a look at a few of the reasons below.

Raised Standards

While the medical community can take much of the credit for improved health, perhaps the industry that can take the most credit for raising the standards of healthcare across the world is the plumbing industry. People used to get sick — and then ultimately — die because of complications related to things such as hygienic conditions and unclean water. These problems still exist, but they affect the smallest percentage of the world than at any point in history. Other raised standards, such as hand washing — especially among doctors — has made a huge difference, too.

Better Research

Though people seem to think, for various reasons, that people are less intelligent than in times gone by, this actually isn’t the case. Studies have shown that each generation is more intelligent than the one that came before it. Combine that fact with increasingly advanced technology, and you have a climate that is a breeding ground for outstanding research. Today, researchers are using things like Patient-Derived Xenografts and stem cells to push their studies further and further, frequently with outstanding results. With the internet allowing easier sharing of results and data, researchers are able to collaborate better, too.

Technology Assistance

The internet has touched virtually every aspect of our lives, and that includes the medical side of things. Internet and technology in general have lead to significant advancements in the medical community, and also on an individual basis, too. There are AI programs in development that’ll take just seconds to diagnose complicated medical issues, compared with hours, days, and weeks using just the human brain. On an individual level, more people than ever are wearing wearable tech that helps them to stay informed of various aspects of their health.

Good Things, Bad Things

Finally, perhaps the biggest reason why healthcare continues to improve is that we know more and more about the things that are good and bad for our health. The communication age has made it easier than ever to learn that smoking, say, is bad for us, and that eating healthy is good for us. These things might seem obvious to us now, but there were times when they were not — and we should be thankful for it.