Japan is atop the list of countries with high life expectancy rates. According to Statistics released by World Health Organization, Japan has the highest life expectancy at 84.3 years.
Life expectancy at birth shows the general mortality level of a populace. It is the average period that an individual expects to live. Important factors in life expectancy encompass the gender, genetics, cleanliness, food, healthcare, lifestyle, and crime rate.
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Relationship between socioeconomic development and life expectancy
Socioeconomic development and life expectancy have a positive relationship. When the socioeconomic development of a country enhances the life expectancy rate decreases. When the GDP of a country increases it means people have more access to healthy food and better healthcare facilities, thus enhancing the chances of long lives of the populace.
Life expectancy in the U.S. and UK is less than in other developed countries
Given the industrialization of the United States and the United Kingdom, it is surprising that both nations are comparatively low on the life expectancy table. Both countries spend huge money on healthcare. Although there are no proven reasons for the aforementioned phenomenon. Yet many believe that food may be the prime cause. Other reasons attributed to relatively lower life expectations are excess smoking and failure to extend health care to far-off areas.
Countries with high life expectancy have different outlook toward life. They do not live like any other human being. Although such countries have a huge chunk of the GDP dedicated to health care. Yet it takes a lot to live a healthier life. People of these countries eat healthy food, avoid junk food and carry out regular exercise. Recent studies in modern health science reveal that given the right circumstances, an average human being can live up to 150 years.
Life expectancy in less developed countries
Various studies indicate that life expectancy is mostly affected by certain developments such as Urbanization, Industrialization, and education. Secondarily, public health measures like access to safe water, health care, and food.
As the industrialization in developing world causes air, noise, water and other pollution. Consequently, taking toll on life expectancy of people living in these countries.
Most people in the developing world have inadequate access to healthcare, healthy food, and safe water which is detrimental to human health.
Life expectancy in develoed countries
Life expectancy in developed countries is much higher than in underdeveloped countries. The country with high life expectancy includes Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Switzerland etc. it can be seen that the state in these countries is much more attentive toward the health of its citizen. Huge sums are spent on health care, recreational facilities, environment thus enabling the people to live more than average life.
Does gene determine longevity?
Scientists are doing their research mainly on people who have attained 90 years of age or those more than 100 years old. People in the 90 age group are called nonagenarians and the hundred cohorts are centenarians. The similarities they found are related to the lifestyle i.e nonsmokers, no obesity, and managing stress. Most aged people are women because women have healthy habits and thus are less likely to develop diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, etc than same-age men.
The children of aged people are more likely to live a healthier life. If children do show age-related diseases such diseases will appear later than the general population. The science of longevity Genes is relatively new which estimates that 25 percent of the variation in the human life span is due to genes. Only advancement in the said science will tell how accurate it is.
Reasons behind higher life expectancy
Although there are many reasons responsible for high life expectancy. But the most important is
- Doing regular exercise is the hallmark of long life. Countries with high life expectancy have a proper setup for exercise like walking tracks, gyms, etc.
- Infant mortality rates are on the lower side due to an improved healthcare system.
- The enabling environment makes these countries stand out. Streets are safe, and access to transportation, and avenues for family picnics.
- A balanced diet means a healthy life. Mostly the diet in these countries is nutritious thus giving a sound body and mind.
This blog page has a very unique and interesting explanatrion on the reason why Japanese people live longer. According to the author, Japanese is programmed to have lonvegity.
