New Yorkers are now living longer than ever, according to new data released by city health officials as reported by the New York Daily News. City health commissioner Thomas Farley attributed New Yorkers’ longevity to better lifestyle habits.

“This probably reflects less on medical care than it does on the improvement of a few behaviors and conditions that have a big impact on health problems, particularly smoking, HIV/AIDS reduction and reductions in injuries,” Farley said.

According to the health department’s annual statistics report, life expectancy for infants born in 2007 grew to 79.4 years, an improvement of nearly five months over life expectancy in 2006 and 19 months longer than in 2001.

On average, women in New York City are predicted to live for 82 years and men for 76.3 years.

In 2008, the main cause of death was heart disease, which accounted for 39 percent of deaths. Cancer was the second leading cause, responsible for 24 percent of deaths. And pneumonia and the flu were third, with 4 percent. For people ages 15 to 34, homicide was the leading cause of death.