According to this article, the CDC says that US life expectancy is now at a record 78.1 years for babies born in 2006. I'm not sure what it is for the rest of us. I assume around the same.
The funny part of that? My father died in January 2004, one month before his 78th birthday. This man smoked 2 packs of cigarettes per day for 60 years, drank at least a six-pack of beer per day for 60 years and had open heart surgery at the age of 50. Yet he met the average life expectancy in the US.
Why the hell are we so obsessed with what we eat and drink then? Hell, my dad had a pretty good time and still met the US average. Maybe we need to quit trying to live forever and just live.
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8 comments:
If the ten years you save are the ones where you sit in the wheelchair drooling on yourself, I'll have the steak and potato please.
This has significant implications for businesses - yet most completely ignore it. If we don't start planning for longer lives we'll be overtaken by events. Read more at http://www.ThePhoenixPrinciple.com
"Why the hell are we so obsessed with what we eat and drink then?"
I've got my reasons and they are -- I don't want to develop any horrible illnesses when I'm old and grey. Crap like that I'd rather not have to deal with. Hopefully I'll be a healthy old man.
My grandmother traveled the world into her 80's because she kept healthy. People can live into their 80's and be vibrant and have little wrong with them.
Why, especially with children and potentially grandchildren, would you not want that? Would you rather have the people who love you see you all sickly and in just a really sad state where they have to take care of you and make a decision on whether or not to throw you away (into a nursing home)? Not living right raises your chances of that. But what if that could possibly be prevented by always consciously taking care of yourself??
One of the partners in our firm is 52, a vegetarian, hikes, runs, doesn't smoke, drink, or anything else. He just had a malignant tumor the size of a grapefruit removed from his chest. This is his second bout of cancer in 2 years.
Nothing is a guarantee in life.
Hey Zooma - Two words:
JIM FIXX.
Nuff said.
;o)>
Dude, I for one was surprised to hear that your dad could even die. Figured he'd outlive us all, if for no other reason than to say "see, if you assholes had just fucking listened to ME..."
Seriously, though, like the partner in your firm...you just never know. Exercise, eat right, die anyway. BiW, I'll be having the steak also, so rare a good doctor could bring it back.
Jim Fixx and a 52 year old with a tumor & 2 bouts of cancer...
it happens to some people... not to all people.
The thing is -- if you're not predisposed to something like that...
taking care of yourself RAISES THE CHANCES that you'll be healthier in your old age.
I'd rather raise those chances and not have to deal with a tumor or cancer or some crap that makes be a burden on the U.S. healthcare system.
And especially if you have kids, why would you rather raise your chances that you'll be a burden on them because of your poor health?
No kids. Dogs. I decided I'd rather my carpet was ruined than my life...
:oD>
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