How not to die !

[kingrollo]

Just a very morbid observation - in my early 60s and sadly some of friends and colleagues haven't made it this far. Looking at the common denominators in a completely unscientific way this is what I think:-

1.) Smokers - predictable but it's a sure fire way of significantly shortening your life.

2.) Deprivation. Those people who live in less desirable areas seemed to be disproportionately represented amongst my friends who haven't made it this far.


Happy Friday all !

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Look after yourself

 

[raleighnut]

Why is smoking seen as so evil, I endure the exhaust fumes of so many vehicles but no mention is given of that pollution.

I've smoked since I was 13years old and now I'm 63, I know fellas in their 80's who still have a fag.

Smoking is a choice whereas breathing in exhaust fumes ain't.

 

[cyberknight]

Why is smoking seen as so evil, I endure the exhaust fumes of so many vehicles but no mention is given of that pollution.

I've smoked since I was 13years old and now I'm 63, I know fellas in their 80's who still have a fag.

Smoking is a choice whereas breathing in exhaust fumes ain't.

But breathing second hand smoke is not a choice either

 

[PaulSB]

Why is smoking seen as so evil, I endure the exhaust fumes of so many vehicles but no mention is given of that pollution.

I've smoked since I was 13years old and now I'm 63, I know fellas in their 80's who still have a fag.

Smoking is a choice whereas breathing in exhaust fumes ain't.

I believe research has proven someone who starts smoking at 16 or younger is 4 times more likely to develop cancer than a non-smoker and has, on average, a shortened lifespan of 10 - 13 years.

You pays your money........literally

 

[fossyant]

FIL went on till 79 being a 40 a day-er ! Died of nasty lung cancer mind !

One to add... Don't get run over !

TBH, seeing what's happened to a number of people my age and a bit older, I've revised some plans pre-retirement. Two colleagues both retired at similar times, but both wives are now poorly, and not well enough to do the plans they had as a couple during retirement. I've had a mate die of heart attack at roughly my age now, and another died in mid 40 with a heart defect (marathon runner). Live for the day ! Don't let work get you down.

 

[figbat]

Why is smoking seen as so evil…

Because it has absolutely no redeeming qualities. It offers nothing but poor health and unnecessary cost, both to the ‘victim’ and the NHS (so, by extension, everyone paying national insurance). A selfish, short-term high (which quickly turns into just an addict’s alleviation of withdrawal) offers nothing positive at all to society, to the victim’s loved ones or anybody else.

Transport provides mobility and opens up access to numerous benefits. Yes, it comes at a price - that being air quality - but the industry has made huge strides in reducing emissions. How hard does the tobacco industry work to reduce consumption?

 

[kingrollo]

I do know a 40 a day smoker who's exceptionally fit and well into his 80s.

But I would say that's very much the exception.

The more startling revaluation for me was the people who live in poor housing who meet an early demise

 

[Electric_Andy]

I have known quite a few people (Grandparents and friends of theirs) who have lived into their 90's. I remember a Dr once saying, if you can get to 80 and avoid cancers, then you have a good chance of living until 90. My paternal grandparents were good examples. Both smoked a bit when younger but gave up after the war. Both had an outdoor lifestyle (farming) and were generally very happy and content. My Grandad was fit as a fiddle and was still working on the farm at 80. At 81 he was diagnosed with cancer which had spread from his prostate (no syptoms). he died at 82. My Gran had no significant health issues and lived until 99.

My maternal Grandparents were quite the opposite - Gramps was a heavy smoker, had arthritis and heart problems. Died at 69. My Gran did a little better but was a passive smoker and always had respiritory illness. She died at 86

 

[MichaelW2]

The main illness for heavy, lifelong smokers is emphasyma, not lung cancer. The smoking lobby like lung cancer because they can game the stats. They keep very quiet about taking 10 years to drown.

With deprivation, there are all manner of lifestyle issues which are linked, diet, exercise, acess to fresh food and regular-ish doctor and dental checkups. They don't need to be linked, they just are.

 

[wafter]

The more startling revaluation for me was the people who live in poor housing who meet an early demise

There's a well-known correlation between poverty and life expectancy.

While poor quality housing likely plays a part it's going to go a lot deeper than that - with geographical factors such as quality of food in local proximity (a lot of estates are surrounded by fast food places for example), ability to access work and facilities through active travel, proximity to sources of pollution such as roads and flight paths, increased exposure to crime, worse healthcare provision..

On top of all that other poverty-linked factors can include poor diet due to cost, lack of education or lack of time. Poor attitude to health and fitness due to lack of eduction, exposure to hazards in the workplace, increased stress..

 

[Alex321]

I do know a 40 a day smoker who's exceptionally fit and well into his 80s.

But I would say that's very much the exception.

The more startling revaluation for me was the people who live in poor housing who meet an early demise

People who live in poor housing are much more likely to also have other issues related to low income - which on average tend to include poor lifestyle choices such as diet and (lack of) exercise.

 

[cougie uk]

Why is smoking seen as so evil, I endure the exhaust fumes of so many vehicles but no mention is given of that pollution.

I've smoked since I was 13years old and now I'm 63, I know fellas in their 80's who still have a fag.

Smoking is a choice whereas breathing in exhaust fumes ain't.

Do you know any of your smoking pals who haven't made it to retirement ? I certainly do.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

The best thing that you can do to live a long healthy life is





to be born with the right genes

we have all known about people who have smoked 40-60 a day and drunk every weekend and lived to 80 and been hit by a car without every seeing the inside of a hospital
and we have see or heard or a fitness fanatic who ate the best healthy food and keeled over at 40
they have basically just had the good or bad end of the gene spectrum

but for the average person following the advise of people who have studied things like this will maximise you chances of being OK for a long time

and until the genes hit - or don;t - the there is little chance of telling which ones you have

personally my Dad was badly injured in WW2 which must have put huge stress on his body - but he lived until he was in his late 80s and died of a heart attack - although basically his whole body was shutting down but then anyway
Quite similar to his father

My Mum ended up with Altzeimers before that and had a stroke like her Dad - kinda looks like my genes are following my Dad as far as appearance go (I look just like him) but the internals are the same as my Mum
personally I would rather it was the other way round but you don;t get to choose

 

[fossyant]

4. Don't fall off a cliff
5. Don't get eaten by a shark
6. Don't ride mopeds on holiday
7. Don't do 100ft gap jumps on your MTB.
8. Don't stand within 1km when @Drago farts.

Come on it's Friday, let's not be too serious.