Do you nean they leave you in the road then aa they are so busy.
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For the richest country in the world, the US life expectancy is dismal - ranking well down the list of countries. Ahead of the US are countries like Greece and Albania. In fact, there is not a single major western country below the US. That average of 79 years is in fact dismal and reflects a country that does not care about its people.
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yet somehow the people that live the longest are fairly ordinary, they just seem to have good genes and a purposeful way of living life
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Very true, those are the exceptions. However some societies seem to have more of them - I think there are (or soon will be) over a million Japanese over 100 years old. So many more in all countries could be living to older ages with the right lifestyles and health / social support. That is what makes the relatively low average lifespan in the US so bad - the knowledge and the wealth is there to make it a higher number but the key resources are reserved for the rich.
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How many of those living to over 100 in Japan are billionaires? Is there money going into keeping them alive for so long or is there something else we are missing in the West?
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I’m 86+ and still wading my way through life and all it hurls in my direction.
If you are awaiting for a trip-hazard to intervene in your progression through life, you could worry yourself into the grave prematurely. Last week I underwent a heart operation and now I’m back and feeling as though I’m ready for my next major birthday at 90. . 
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I’m 18 months short of my 90th LongDriver and my sister is 93. When our father died at 71 and our brother at 63 we discovered that we both had familial cholesterolemia. Diet and lifestyle only has a marginal effect on this condition so we were prescribed medication which has given us a few more years.
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Been reviewing different information site about the statistics. Ya, the numbers don’t match. Not sure which one is correct.
Noticed one a couple of sites they bunch the UK as one and not broken down by country, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. While the have the US separated by US, US Virgin Islands, US Samoa, Puerto Rico. And some of the difficulties are up 5 to 12 % different.
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There is something going in Japan on that is not going on in the west. Examples include:
Schools prepare fresh meals for all children each day with a focus on good nutrition. Each school has a qualified nutritionist assigned to the school - they manage the meals being produced and provide nutrition and cooking classes to the children.
Japan has one of the lowest obesity levels in the world. In part from the diet (low in red meat, high in fish, soya, and foods containing antioxidants) and from exercise - the average exercise, even gentle exercise, is 2x 30 minute sessions per week. They also eat less - about 1,000 calories less a day than many western countries. Japanese also consume a lot less salt than most western countries.
But here are some wow things. “In 2002, Japan took the remarkable action of stipulating by law that citizens must deepen their interest in and understanding of the importance of healthy lifestyle habits, be aware of their own health status, and strive to improve their health throughout their lives.”
In 1961 health insurance was extended to the entire population - plus there has been huge investment in universities, hospitals, local medical centres. So today Japan has many more small clinics compared with other developed countries. In addition, in Japan, patients can freely choose a hospital or clinic by directly approaching their outpatient departments; they do not need to be referred by a primary care doctor.
In 2000, Japan launched a long-term care insurance system for elderly, this is mandatory for everyone over 40. Japan also established a regional medical cooperation network in order to provide home care as well as a local comprehensive care system.
In summary, Japan has made health and long term health the objective of everyone and supports everyone equally in that goal. Certainly the very rich can pay for treatment or care beyond that basic level. But the basic level in Japan is much higher / better / comprehensive than the basic level in other countries.
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All that Miso and Soy seems v salty
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Funny math there 101 thousand Americans over 100 years old. There are 99 thousand Japanese over 100.
By average throws a lot of “what ifs” into the problem.
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You are of course correct, both contain a lot of salt per gram and are salty. But one of the UK’s favourite condiment is salt and I find that to contain quite a lot of salt per gram and be very salty. So maybe the trick in Japan is the same as here - use less.
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Exactly, so the US has one third fewer.
Oh, and consider using median, rather than average.
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The Japanese consume more salt than we do yet live longer, which is interesting.
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Hi Robin
The Population of the USA is 2.8 times the Population of Japan.
So Japan wins hands down by a mile.
Please don’t play Poker with your family money.
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Fact, like me the hundred year old people in a line and guess what country would have more people in line. Bottom line.
Talked about funny math before. If you want to compare apples to apples get the oldest people from the US to match the population of japan, the US would have the oldest population comparison. Funny math use numbers that don’t exist. They are made up numbers of people that are not alive and be able to be counted.
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See, you live so long but, everyone you have ever known is gone, is that a good outcome?
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Yes, I know the feeling spitfire. I have lost a lot of acquaintances lately.
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Because of AI .
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It is a fair point - and certainly one similar to the hanging on in the old, not really suitable house, in the familiar town where all your friends are … to find those friends are all gone and you should have moved to that sheltered housing flat when you’d a chance.
On the other hand - can you not make new friends?
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