What Is 1.314 years' worth to you? Better quality of life starts with mental health
"Improving healthspan—the years lived in good health, free from serious chronic disease or disability—can feel overwhelming. In the United States, people now spend an average of 12.4 years in poor health, up from 10.9 years in 2000 (AMA). This places the U.S. last among 183 countries worldwide (WHO). If we focus on just one factor—mental health—we find it accounts for 10.6% of those lost years globally. That translates into 1.314 years of diminished quality of life."
Decisions that shape longevity
"A recent discussion left me reflecting on the connection between our daily choices and our lifespan. I was speaking to Dr. Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, chief of health innovations at Canyon Ranch, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, and Distinguished Laureate Professor at the University of Arizona. Dr. Carmona reminded me that humans are biologically capable of living to 122 years old. Guinness World Records lists the world’s verified oldest person as Jeanne Calment, who was born in France in 1875 and died there in 1997, aged 122 years, 164 days. Yet, despite this potential for extreme long life, average life expectancy in the United States hovers around 78.3 years, according to research that The Lancet published in 2024 from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. "
