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
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