September 23, 2009 – In men in their 50s, the absence of three risk factors for cardiovascular disease could extend life expectancy by about 10 years. The good news: these risk factors can be eliminated.
Concretely, rather than living to 83 years on average, a 50-year-old man who smokes, in addition to having high blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, can expect to live to 74 years. A difference of 9.6 years.
This is indicated by a British study which followed 19,000 men from 1967 to 2005.1, that is, for about 37 years.
Thus, compared to those who had no risk factors at the start of the study, those who combined smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol were 3 times more likely to die from heart disease when they arrived. at the age of 50. In addition, they were twice as likely to die from any other cause.
When they took into account 3 additional factors – hypoglycemia or diabetes, body mass index and type of job held – the researchers observed a difference in longevity of up to 15 years.
Small changes
By isolating each of the 3 risk factors measured, the researchers found a difference in longevity of:
- 6.3 years between smokers and non-smokers;
- 5.2 years between the most hypertensive and those who were not;
- 1.9 years between those with the highest cholesterol levels and those with the lowest.
As we can see, smoking is the most important factor limiting longevity – in addition to greatly affecting the quality of life.
By quitting smoking at â € ¦ |
We extend our life byâ € ¦ |
60 years |
3 years |
50 years |
6 years |
40 years |
9 years |
30 years |
10 years |
As previous research has shown, this study also shows that the death rate from heart disease increases dramatically over the last 10 years of a person’s life.
“Also, small changes made in your 40s or 50s can extend life for a decade,” say the researchers. And, although the study specifically looked at men, we can expect the effect to be similar in women. “
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC.
1. Clarke R, et al, Life expectancy in relation to cardiovascular risk factors: 38 year follow-up of 19,000 men in the Whitehall study, British Medical Journal, Sep 16, 2009, 339: b3513.