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How can scientists tell how long we've got left?
OK, so we know that smoking is bad for us and that being overweight could cause problems but who decided how many years this might take of our lives and where's their proof?
How do scientists know how long someone is likely to live?
Scientists calculate your body clock by looking at the aspects of your lifestyle that have the greatest statistical impact on your life expectancy and comparing them to your age. This gives an estimation of the time you have left. It relies on data collected in scientific studies of the death rates in large numbers of people. So the average death rates in 10,000 smokers are compared to the death rates in 10,000 non-smokers to find the effect that smoking has on your lifespan. Of course, there will always be lucky individuals who smoke 40 cigarettes-a-day all their lives but live to be 90, However, for every one of these there will be 20 others who don’t make it past 50 years old.
What has the most impact on my life expectancy?
The most relevant piece of data is your age, then your sex and then whether you’re a smoker or not. Those are the biggest three impacts on how long you will live for, unless you do illegal drugs, which have an even bigger impact.
The most relevant piece of data is your age, then your sex and then whether you’re a smoker or not. Those are the biggest three impacts on how long you will live for, unless you do illegal drugs, which have an even bigger impact.
If I only smoke one cigarette a day do I really count as a smoker?
Statistically, you’re more likely to die if you smoke and yes, one cigarette a day does count. The two big milestones where smoking death rates jump up significantly are at 20 and then 40 cigarettes a day. If you smoke over 40-a-day your chances of survival decrease sharply.
Statistically, you’re more likely to die if you smoke and yes, one cigarette a day does count. The two big milestones where smoking death rates jump up significantly are at 20 and then 40 cigarettes a day. If you smoke over 40-a-day your chances of survival decrease sharply.
Why does my weight and height affect my life expectancy?
Your height and weight are used together to calculate your Body Mass Index. This is a sliding scale from underweight to overweight and obese. Seriously obese people are more at risk from heart disease. You should be aware that if you’re very tall, very short or very muscular this calculation can be misleading.
Your height and weight are used together to calculate your Body Mass Index. This is a sliding scale from underweight to overweight and obese. Seriously obese people are more at risk from heart disease. You should be aware that if you’re very tall, very short or very muscular this calculation can be misleading.
How does my alcohol consumption affect my body clock?
The first question is: are you a regular, heavy drinker? If so you’ll be damaging your liver and reducing your life expectancy. The second question is are you a binge drinker who may only drink once a week but does so to get drunk? This will also damage your liver but may kill you in other ways because statistics show you’re more likely to be hit by a car, fall down stairs or get beaten up if you’re drunk.
The first question is: are you a regular, heavy drinker? If so you’ll be damaging your liver and reducing your life expectancy. The second question is are you a binge drinker who may only drink once a week but does so to get drunk? This will also damage your liver but may kill you in other ways because statistics show you’re more likely to be hit by a car, fall down stairs or get beaten up if you’re drunk.
What’s a safe level of alcohol consumption?
The GP recommended safe limits are 21 units per week for men and 14 for women, but these have to be spread out over the week (three units a day for men and two for women). There is some medical evidence to back up claims that a glass of wine a day or a small amount of other alcohol is actually good for you.
The GP recommended safe limits are 21 units per week for men and 14 for women, but these have to be spread out over the week (three units a day for men and two for women). There is some medical evidence to back up claims that a glass of wine a day or a small amount of other alcohol is actually good for you.
What about where I live?
Death rates are far higher in Glasgow, for instance, than London or Manchester because the population generally drinks more alcohol, smokes more and eats badly. And if you live in an affluent area you are likely to live for longer.
Death rates are far higher in Glasgow, for instance, than London or Manchester because the population generally drinks more alcohol, smokes more and eats badly. And if you live in an affluent area you are likely to live for longer.
