Vital statistics & Life expectancy
Rationale & Instructions
The elements of vital statistics listed in this section do not all provide insights into health except for information on height, weight, blood groups and hair color. The latter were amenable to scoring per instructions, whereas all other elements were pre-scored as 0. Multiple online life expectancy calculators are provided for consultation since these tools could be useful for general life planning or actuarial purposes. The user is encouraged to review the information provided by each calculator to appreciate its usefulness and limitations as a statistical tool. The corresponding result applies to a cohort with certain shared characteristics, and not an individual.
Some of the ways you can best use the results of life expectancy calculators online are:
· To compare different scenarios and see how changing certain factors can affect your life expectancy. For example, you can see how quitting smoking, exercising more, or eating healthier can increase your life expectancy by a certain number of years1,2. This can help you set realistic and achievable goals for improving your health and well-being.
· To plan for your future needs and expenses. For example, you can use your life expectancy estimate to calculate how much money you will need to save for retirement, how long your savings will last, or how much insurance coverage you will need3,4. This can help you prepare for the financial challenges and opportunities that may arise in your later years.
· To appreciate the value and uncertainty of life. For example, you can use your life expectancy estimate to reflect on how much time you have left to live, what you want to accomplish in your life, or what legacy you want to leave behind5. This can help you prioritize what matters most to you and make the most of every moment.
However, some of the ways you should not use the results of life expectancy calculators online are:
· To assume that you will live exactly as long as the calculator predicts. For example, you should not take your life expectancy estimate as a guarantee or a deadline for your life span1,2. There are many factors that can influence your actual longevity that are beyond the scope of the calculator, such as genetics, medical conditions, accidents, or unforeseen events.
· To neglect or ignore your health and well-being. For example, you should not use your life expectancy estimate as an excuse or a justification for engaging in unhealthy or risky behaviors1,2. Your health and well-being depend on your daily choices and actions, not on a number generated by a calculator.
· To feel anxious or depressed about your mortality. For example, you should not use your life expectancy estimate as a source of fear or sadness about your inevitable death5. Your life is more than a number; it is a journey full of experiences, relationships, and meanings.
Longevity reflects our health. We approached it here from a statistical point of view. In the last section we will revisit it again from the angle of biological versus chronological age.
1 Life Expectancy Calculator | John Hancock
2 Life Expectancy Calculator (bankrate.com)
3 Life Expectancy Calculator: Estimate How Long You Will Live (annuity.org)
4 Life Expectancy Calculator | Longevity Calculator (calcuworld.com)
5 Life expectancy calculator | Sun Life
"Prevention is better than cure" Desiderius Erasmus