Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The average life is stretching longer. A new study in the Lancet—which analyzed 240 causes of death in 188 countries, the Wall Street Journal reports—finds humans today are living 71.5 years on average, an increase of about six years since 1990. Men are living an average 5.8 years longer, while women gained 6.6 years. Experts credit the change to more medical funding for infectious diseases and a 15% decline in deaths from most cancers (pancreatic cancer is the exception here, notes Medical News Today, up by 7%), as well as those from cardiovascular disease, in high-income countries.
I'm not so sure the increase in life expectancy is necessarily a good thing. It is not a good thing if one's quality of life does not also last longer. Personally I don't want to be alive if I am in a wheelchair, if I cannot drive, or if I cannot walk up a flight of stairs (just by way of example, not limitation). That would not be living, but would be a sort of death in life.
It is tough. After I had back fusion they sent me to a nursing home & I couldn't leave until I proved I could walk up & down stairs. It was very painful & they thought I would be there a month but I did the exercise stairs every time I had the opportunity & I was there 2 1/2 weeks. The therapist did make me climb 2 flights of real stairs because they didn't believe I could do it, but I just wanted out of there so bad that I did it through the pain. I will have to use a walker someday and live in a downstairs apartment, to get groceries in, etc. but I can walk and drive. Not very far, but far enough to get me where I'm going.
So do I want to live a long time? At the moment I say no. Who knows what it will be like later. The Dr.(?) who did the operation sent paperwork for me to go over prior to that & it said "patient should be able to walk in 3 days & drive in 10 days." Right. There was a small inclusion that some may take longer & some never do heal. It took me 4 months before I could drive & 2 months to use a cane instead of a walker. So, if this doesn't ever heal (the leg nerves are better, back pain not so much), I really don't want to live years with this pain. It's only been 10 months so we'll see.
Not sure what to glean from this type of study(?) Do you suppose the U.S. life-expectancy of 79-females/76-males has decreased? ... or has it increased by 6.6 and 5.8-years to 86 and 82-years, respectively?
Some of "life expectancy" is driven by how old you are when you ask the question.
**IF** you reach 65 in the US, men can expect to live to 84.3 and women can expect to live to 86.6. Calculators: Life Expectancy
However, "life expectancy" for all Americans is 78.4 years (2012, Source: World Bank).
I assume the difference is people with cancer and heart attacks in the early fifties and early sixties take out some percentage of the American population that mathmatically accounts for the roughly 6 additional years for men over 6,5 and roughly 8 additional years women, live.
Not sure I want to "linger" to 84+, but I would sure love to "live" well past 84+! Health is wealth at this stage of my life!
That's a very dramatic statement about not wanting to live if you cannot walk up stairs!
Millions of people cannot walk up stairs but live very enjoyable worthwhile lives!
Tons of people with arthritis have restricted mobility or movement and live enjoyable lives!
Not to mention the continuum of all other types of medical problems which cause restrictions while people continue to live happy lives.
That is so true. Yes, a back hurts but there are many enjoyable activities we can do. Maybe save up or buy a raised garden if a person loves to garden and therapy teaches you a lot. How to roll out of bed, how to do a lift of one leg so you can put in and take out dishes from the dishwasher, etc. How to strengthen your legs to take the pressure off your back. There are animals to love, sunsets to watch, dreams to fulfill. It is not the time to give up but rather to learn your inner strength.
That is so true. Yes, a back hurts but there are many enjoyable activities we can do. Maybe save up or buy a raised garden if a person loves to garden and therapy teaches you a lot. How to roll out of bed, how to do a lift of one leg so you can put in and take out dishes from the dishwasher, etc. How to strengthen your legs to take the pressure off your back. There are animals to love, sunsets to watch, dreams to fulfill. It is not the time to give up but rather to learn your inner strength.
I could say I live alone, but my three dogs would disagree. I'm looking forward to the puppy getting beyond her 'twos' but they are my kids. I've been 'retired' due to disability for ten years and found a way to fill the time with interesting things. For one thing, I love to write and have the intention of writing a novel. I'll probably self publish it on Amazon.
For more than twenty years I've lived with medical condition which can be relied upon to create problems. It gets frustrating. But I continue to strive for creative if unconventional ways to fix the problems. I recognize that I feel insecure about some things like travel right now, but am working on solutions. I turn frustration into purpose.
So long as I don't have to live with a bunch of people (did that, hated it and moved in with a friend to get away from them) and have my critters, I'm happy. Where I live, they use home health care and assistance over other things since a lot of people have a home but not the money to pay someone to put them up. So long as I can do the things I love, if I can't do everything I can maintain. Some kind of 'home' I'd rather go.
At 63, I've outlived Mom, but my grandparents made it to the late 80's or early 90's and my parents would have lasted longer if they hadn't chain smoked. No heart disease or other severe diseases in either family. So I might see the grandkids I don't have yet grow up.
Its funny, entirely on mom's side, her grandmother and I were born a few years and a century apart. My son and her mom were born a few years and century apart, and we're coming up close on a century and a few for mom. Son is recently married and has said they don't believe in birth control. So, maybe soon?
I believe if life throws you a challenge its to keep you fighting.
I'm not so sure the increase in life expectancy is necessarily a good thing. It is not a good thing if one's quality of life does not also last longer. Personally I don't want to be alive if I am in a wheelchair, if I cannot drive, or if I cannot walk up a flight of stairs (just by way of example, not limitation). That would not be living, but would be a sort of death in life.
I'm not going to try to change your mind, but that statement makes you sound very shallow.
That's a very dramatic statement about not wanting to live if you cannot walk up stairs!
Millions of people cannot walk up stairs but live very enjoyable worthwhile lives!
Tons of people with arthritis have restricted mobility or movement and live enjoyable lives!
Not to mention the continuum of all other types of medical problems which cause restrictions while people continue to live happy lives.
You make an excellent point. First, I was talking for myself only and didn't mean to imply anything about other people who find themselves in those situations.
Second, and in support of your point, there are some very enjoyable things I do which could still be done if I couldn't climb stairs. I just returned from a concert at Disney Hall (home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale) and that hall accommodates wheel chairs and has escalators and elevators.
But nevertheless I stick by my point. For me personally not being able to climb stairs is simply unimaginable.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
