One thing that happens each day we live is that we stay alive... which is unfortunately not always the case.
Life expectancy has been increasing for some decades since the end of the Second World War as a result of lifestyle change, healthcare and other environmental factors... (safer workplace, better treatment of disease, smoking ban) and a generally peaceful times in world politics. Geographers also use a more helpful measure called HALE which refers to the number of years that people live in a condition of good health. We all hope that we will be healthy for as long as possible.
HALE stands for Health Adjusted Life Expectancy and like Life Expectancy itself can't really be applied to individuals as it is a measure across the population as a whole (although some sectors of the community might be expected to have different expectations.)
Life expectancy has been increasing for some decades since the end of the Second World War as a result of lifestyle change, healthcare and other environmental factors... (safer workplace, better treatment of disease, smoking ban) and a generally peaceful times in world politics. Geographers also use a more helpful measure called HALE which refers to the number of years that people live in a condition of good health. We all hope that we will be healthy for as long as possible.
HALE stands for Health Adjusted Life Expectancy and like Life Expectancy itself can't really be applied to individuals as it is a measure across the population as a whole (although some sectors of the community might be expected to have different expectations.)
Click the link above to download a PDF document explaining its use as a measure.
A podcast with Professor Danny Dorling from a couple of years ago explores reasons why the UK's life expectancy is not growing (as it has done for some time...) and what that means... it predates the COVID-19 pandemic. I wonder what the impact of the pandemic has had on the statistic of the 'million years of life' that may be lost.
A podcast with Professor Danny Dorling from a couple of years ago explores reasons why the UK's life expectancy is not growing (as it has done for some time...) and what that means... it predates the COVID-19 pandemic. I wonder what the impact of the pandemic has had on the statistic of the 'million years of life' that may be lost.
It's a reminder that life expectancy relies on many things.
For some, running has been an escape over the last year and also a chance to increase fitness which is probably going to be helpful, or give peace of mind. Others consider diet to be important, with vitamin D supplements selling out when people thought they might also help.
Others take comfort from genetics, and the longevity of parents and other members of their family. Veganuary is a time when some change their diet, others give up alcohol in Dry January or try to stop smoking.
To conclude, I hope that you live long, and prosper... and wear a mask.
And come back tomorrow for the next quotidian post...
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