older people’s health issues
Overview of Aging
Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy of Americans has been increasing dramatically over the past century. A male child born in 1900 could expect to live only 46 years, and a female child, 48 years. In 2019, the average life expectancy in the United States for the total population was 79 years. Although much of this gain can be attributed to the significant decrease in childhood mortality, life expectancy at every age beyond 40 has also increased dramatically. For example, a 65-year-old man can now expect to live to about age 83, and a 65-year-old woman, to about age 86. Overall, women live about 5 years longer than men. This difference in life expectancy has changed little, despite late 20th-century and early 21st-century changes in women’s lifestyle, including smoking more and experiencing more stress. Despite the increase in average life expectancy, the maximum life span—the oldest age to which people can live—has changed little since records have been kept. Despite the best genetic makeup and healthiest lifestyle, the chance of living to be 120 is tiny. Madame Jeanne Calment had the longest documented lifespan: 122 years (1875 to 1997). Several factors influence life expectancy: Heredity:Heredity influences whether a person will develop a disorder. For example, a person who inherits genes that increase the risk of developing high cholesterol levels is likely to have a shorter life. A person who inherits genes that protect against coronary artery disease and cancer is likely to have a longer life. There is good evidence that living to a very old age—to 100 or older—runs in families. Avoiding smoking, Overview of Substance-Related Disorders , Exposure to toxins in the environment:Such exposure can shorten life expectancy even among people with the best genetic makeup. Health care:Preventing disorders or treating disorders after they are contracted, especially when the disorder can be cured (as with infections and sometimes cancer), helps increase life expectancy. 