Life Expectancy

Defined (based on 1997 data)

Male

Black – age 67.3

White – age 74.3

Female

Black – age 74.7

White – age 79.8

United States – average 76.5

World

Most of Africa – age under 55

Central portion of South America – age 65 to 70

Most of Northern Asia – age 65 to 70

India - age 60 to 65

Tables – (Refer to attached and give some samples for both sexes)

Top 10 Causes of Death – in order

  1. heart disease
  2. malignancies (cancer)
  3. cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
  4. C. O. P. D. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
  5. Accidents and injuries
  6. Pneumonia and influenza
  7. Diabetes mellitus
  8. A.I.D.S. (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
  9. Suicide
  10. Liver disease

Preventive Actions for Top 10 Causes of Death – Specific (Review attached chart and columns 1, 2, and 3 for each item)

Chart column 1 – "Cause of Death and number"

Chart column 2 – "Deaths in the U. S. A. in 1995"

Chart column 3 – "Associated Risk Factors"

Preventive Actions for Top 10 Causes of Death - General

Limit alcohol use (this is a factor in as many as 50% of all homicides, suicides, and death by motor vehicle accidents)

Diet

Maintain ideal weight

Avoid saturated fats in excess

Avoid extra salt

Increase fruits, vegetables, fiber

Maintain normal blood pressure

Use protected sexual activity

Use seat belts

Reduce stress

Do breast or testicular self-examinations

Exercise

Female mammograms

Male prostate screenings

Avoid radon exposure (radon being defined as a colorless, radioactive gas formed by the radioactive decay of radium – with human exposure coming from the release of this gas from ground pockets which contains materials capable of generating this)

Use smoke detectors

Avoid tobacco use

Putting It Into Perspective

More than 2,600 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day at a rare of 1 death every 33 seconds

Cardiovascular disease claims more lives each year than the next 7 leading causes of death combined!

In 1996, 505,930 women died of cardiovascular disease and 43,091 died of breast cancer in the same year

In 1996, 35% of deaths from cardiovascular disease occurred prematurely (that is, before the age of 75, the average life expectancy in that year)

Health Risk Assessments – (see attached information on health risk assessments and refer to Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance health risk assessment)

Questionaire – available as

Written

Internet-based (search phrases for locating)

"Longevity"

"Life expectancy"

Calculation of

Health risk

Estimate of life expectancy

Additional life expectancy to be gained by modifying current lifestyle choices

Individual reports and individual education

Comparison to rest of population

Visualization of how individual risk factors directly influence longevity

Motivation for lifestyle change