by
Carl Hampton
09/28/2007
The twentieth century saw a rapid rise in
life expectancy due to improvements in
public health, nutrition and medicine.
According to newly released government
figures, the life expectancy for Americans
is approximately 78 years; the longest in
U.S. history.
The improvement in life expectancy is partly
due to a decline in deaths from 2 of the
nation’s leading killers; heart disease,
and stroke. Changes in behavior also seem to
be playing a significant role in increasing
life expectancies; a reduction in smoking
has seen a prominent decrease in heart
disease, and cancer. Heart attacks, and
cancer, account for more than half of all
deaths in the U.S. each year!
Worldwide life expectancy for women has
always predominantly been higher than men;
in fact, a National Center for Health
Statistics Report states that women outlive
men by at least 5 years! The reasons for
this difference are not fully understood,
though it is argued that women are
biologically superior to men, thus living
longer; men are more often murdered; women
are less likely to be employed in more
hazardous occupations (e.g. military), and,
men generally drive, drink and smoke more
than women.
The approximate life expectancy during the
Roman Empire was 25 years; 1900, world life
expectancy jumped to 30 years, and by 1985,
62 years was achievable!
Life expectancy changes as one ages. If a
person survives to late adulthood, the
chances of reaching a ripe old age are quite
good. Those who manage to reach 65 years
will have a bonus of an additional 18 years,
making their life expectancy almost 83
years!
Despite the increased life expectancy in the
U.S., compared to the life span achievable
in more than 36 countries, 78-83 years still
falls short. It is claimed that Japan holds
the world’s longest life expectancy rate,
for both sexes; 30,000 people over the age
of 100, and still going strong!
It’s thought that the higher the life
expectancy, the better shape a country is
in, that may be so, but whether we live to
be 78 or 116, every day is a gift from God;
make them count!
“Your” Money Matters by Carl
Hampton
