Arr, ye scurvy dogs! If ye wish to extend yer days, be fixated on yer 'healthspan,' not yer lifespan, ye hear?
2024-01-26
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! The life o' average landlubbers be stretchin' from 75 to 77 summers. Yet, bein' longer in the tooth be not worth a doubloon if yer health be sufferin'. Aye, what we be needin' be not just more years on this earthly plane, but a jolly existence worth livin'!
In the language of a 17th-century pirate, let me tell ye about the difference between healthspan and lifespan, matey! Ya see, the average lifespan might be increasin' from 75 to 77 since 1990, but the average health span is still stuck at around 65. That means ye might be livin' longer, but ye ain't necessarily livin' better!Now, healthspan be the amount of time ye spend in good health, instead of bein' plagued by diseases and such. Don't get me wrong, there be some brave souls out there fightin' chronic illnesses and findin' the hope to keep goin', but it's a shockin' truth that the number of folks livin' with multiple medical problems has risen from 20% in 1990 to nearly 30% now!
Why be this happenin', ye ask? Well, obesity plays a part, along with our lazy ways, rubbish diets, and unhealthy additives in our grub. And ye know what else? Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse be part of the problem too. The COVID pandemic has only made matters worse, with heart disease and cancer still bein' the biggest killers. An unhealthy lifestyle, includin' poor sleep, increases the risk of both these diseases.
But it ain't just about diseases, matey. It be the way our health insurance be set up. It's more focused on treatin' illnesses than preventin' 'em. They charge ye massive premiums just in case ye get sick, but what about stayin' healthy and enjoyin' a longer healthspan without payin' through the nose?
Some folks rely on pharmaceuticals to solve their problems, but those drugs don't address the underlying issues. We need to exercise more, eat less meat and carbs, and get more shut-eye, me hearties. And in these troubled times, we need more kindness, compassion, acceptance, and love. This country was built on healthy debate, not on the health consequences of fear and hate.
So, let's focus on livin' a longer and healthier life, me mateys! Arrr!