In Chapter 3, we learn about the science of life expectancy and how our personal choices directly affect it. With the medical advances of the last century, life expectancy has increased by about 30 years, a huge leap from previous centuries. If you live to age 55, your chances of living to 80 or 85 increase dramatically. By 2050, it’s predicted there will be between 800,000 and 4 million Americans over 100 years old. The bottom line is, your chances of living a long life in this day and age are good, and they get better as time goes on.
The quality of that life is largely in your hands, according to Dr. Bob. Actuaries in the insurance industry know that smokers die sooner than non-smokers. Obesity (a BMI over 30) and sedentary lifestyle have the same effect as smoking, from an actuarial perceptive. And even though we enjoy one of the highest standards of health care in the US, our life expectancies rank 48th among all nations. I found it interesting that immigrants to the US live longer than American born citizens, even though they generally receive less health care. Scientists theorize this is because they keep active, healthy lifestyles from their native countries rather than adopting unhealthy American lifestyles and habits.
Then in Chapter 4, Dr. Bob talks about the adverse effects of smoking. If you are a smoker, you should read this chapter ! Although everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, this chapter really gives some interesting ways of looking at it. What I found most interesting is how quickly the body heals itself once a person stops smoking. Within hours and days, your blood pressure begins to fall and your senses regenerate. It’s amazing that after 15 years of quitting, ex-smokers have no higher risk or heart disease than someone who never smoked. However, smoking even one cigarette, cigar or pipe per day increases your risk. He gives specific reasons smokers should quit, and encouraging advice on how to quit. Although quitting is difficult and hardly ever achieved the first time, the benefits of not smoking are worth striving for.
Have any of you successfully quit smoking? Have you seen the health benefits of doing so? Which of Dr. Bob’s tips worked for you ?
Next we will discuss Chapters 5 and 6- Exercise and Weight. See you then!
Dell- a Lumen
