| The twentieth century saw a rapid rise in life | | | | employed in more hazardous occupations (e.g. |
| expectancy due to improvements in public health, | | | | military), and, men generally drive, drink and smoke |
| nutrition and medicine. According to newly released | | | | more than women. |
| government figures, the life expectancy for | | | | The approximate life expectancy during the Roman |
| Americans is approximately 78 years; the longest in | | | | Empire was 25 years; 1900, world life expectancy |
| U.S. history. | | | | jumped to 30 years, and by 1985, 62 years was |
| The improvement in life expectancy is partly due to | | | | achievable! |
| a decline in deaths from 2 of the nation's leading | | | | Life expectancy changes as one ages. If a person |
| killers; heart disease, and stroke. Changes in behavior | | | | survives to late adulthood, the chances of reaching a |
| also seem to be playing a significant role in increasing | | | | ripe old age are quite good. Those who manage to |
| life expectancies; a reduction in smoking has seen a | | | | reach 65 years will have a bonus of an additional 18 |
| prominent decrease in heart disease, and cancer. | | | | years, making their life expectancy almost 83 years! |
| Heart attacks, and cancer, account for more than | | | | Despite the increased life expectancy in the U.S., |
| half of all deaths in the U.S. each year! | | | | compared to the life span achievable in more than 36 |
| Worldwide life expectancy for women has always | | | | countries, 78-83 years still falls short. It is claimed that |
| predominantly been higher than men; in fact, a | | | | Japan holds the world's longest life expectancy rate, |
| National Center for Health Statistics Report states | | | | for both sexes; 30,000 people over the age of 100, |
| that women outlive men by at least 5 years! The | | | | and still going strong! |
| reasons for this difference are not fully understood, | | | | It's thought that the higher the life expectancy, the |
| though it is argued that women are biologically | | | | better shape a country is in, that may be so, but |
| superior to men, thus living longer; men are more | | | | whether we live to be 78 or 116, every day is a gift |
| often murdered; women are less likely to be | | | | from God; make them count! |