The average American's life expectancy increased from 49 to 77 years during the 20th century, according to the textbook "An Invitation to Health." Advances in fighting infectious diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis, childhood diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia, and complications during childbirth were crucial factors in the longevity increase. Smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet are among the crucial longevity factors in the 21st century.
Smoking
American women who smoke live 14.5 fewer years than female nonsmokers, and American male smokers live 13.2 fewer years than male nonsmokers, according to the American Cancer Society's "Guide to Quitting Smoking" report. Cigarette smokers are 20 times more likely to suffer a heart attack and 10 times more likely to get lung cancer than nonsmokers. Another American Cancer Society report, "Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2009," estimates that 443,000 Americans, including 49,000 nonsmokers, die prematurely each year because of smoking. The good news is that quitting smoking will increase your longevity. Ex-smokers who quit at ages 30, 40, 50 and 60 live 10, nine, six and three years longer, respectively, than people who continue to smoke.
Obesity
Overweight middle-aged people are far more likely to die prematurely than people who weigh a normal weight, as defined by the weight-for-height and body mass index tables. Obesity particularly increases your risk of dying of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. A body mass index higher than 40 is, by itself, a life-threatening condition. So is a BMI higher than 35 if you have another serious condition like high blood pressure. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal. Obesity in smokers can be very dangerous. Male smokers with the highest weights are twice as likely to die early as smokers with the lowest weights.
Lifestyle
Your activity level is one of the crucial factors of longevity, regardless of your weight. Harvard University graduates who reported participating in vigorous exercises, such as running and swimming, lived about 18 months longer than classmates who participated in light exercises such as bowling and housekeeping, according to a study of 13,485 men by the Harvard School of Public Health. In addition, fitter people live longer. The least fit have a death rate "more than three times greater than the most fit," reports "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease."
Diet
Diet is another crucial factor of longevity. People who eat a diet high in fruits, legumes and vegetables and low in animal fat have lower rates of cancer and heart disease, and are at a lower risk of dying of these diseases. Eating too much meat increases your colon-cancer risk, and eating too many salty foods increases your hypertension risk.
References
- "An Invitation to Health"; Dianne Hales; 2010
- American Cancer Society: Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2009
- American Cancer Society: Guide to Quitting Smoking
- Harvard Medical, Dental and Public Health Schools: Research Briefs
- "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program For Reversing Heart Disease"; Dr. Dean Ornish; 1996
- "Essentials for Health and Wellness"; Gordon Edlin and Eric Golanty; 2004
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