The math of living longer--how does living longer happen?

We know that a healthy lifestyle can help us live longer, in the prior post, I quote an article that says being active starting in middle age can help us live 12 years longer.  How does that happen?  Do we suddenly tack 12 years on the end?  Read on for an explanation.   

This explanation is a simplified life insurance actuarial explanation, taken from my book, "What Healthy People Know" (ISBN 0-9764918-8)  A healthy lifestyle promotes greater longevity (living more than the average number of years) by decreasing your risk of dying at any age.  And, by the same token, an unhealthy lifestyle increases the risk of dying at any age. 

As an example, I am going to use groups of 1000 people all age 60. 

Females first:

• if the group is average, 7.7 women will die before age 61;
• if the group is unhealthy (e.g., smokers), 15.4 women will die before age 61; and
• if the group is healthy (exercises 30 minutes most days of the week, does not smoke, eats 7 fruits and veggies, olive oil, fish, nuts, whole grains, a little alcohol, is not morbidly obese, and takes medications to control hypertension or hypercholesterolemia if indicated), 3.85 women will die per year. 

Males:

• The average group of 1000 men, age 60:  12.3 men will die before age 61
• The unhealthy group: 24.62 will die before age 61
• The healthy group: 6.15 will die before age 61.

Why does the unhealthy group die?  They have developed any of the chronic diseases that are both the result of unhealthy lifestyles or they have not treated their hypertension or bad cholesterols.  These same bad habits continue to increase both the annual risk of death and the risk of deteriorating health leading to a difficult and prolonged terminal phase.   

And why does the healthy group have fewer deaths?  Because at each stage of life, they reduce their risk of developing a chronic disease; and, when they do get sick, they are more vigilant in following treatment instructions.  This gives them a healthy start at every age, less disease, less disability, and fewer deaths; it also gives them more activity, more strength, more independence, and a shorter terminal phase. 

Go for the healthy lifestyle--it is definitely worth the effort. 

Stay well.   Dr. Bob   

Comments

[Michael Brickey]

Point well taken. There is also a wealth of data that psychological factors such as optimism, gratitude, a sense of purpose, and good coping skills also increase life expectancy.
--Anti-Aging Psychologist Michael Brickey, Ph.D., ABPP