Food for thought - healthy life expectancy

BrilliantButScary

https://www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub/health-inequalities/map-of-healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth

This makes very interesting reading for anyone that is planning retirement.  
A George Orwell quotation comes to mind, but I'm trying to avoid political debate.

teaselMay

It's a lot more relevant for those planning families than retirement really

Silvertabby

It's not your postcode that determines your longevity - it's your genes and lifestyle.

westv

Silvertabby said:

It's not your postcode that determines your longevity - it's your genes and lifestyle.

So true. Here the map says 53.8 years for men but I am 62 and in good health.

westv

teaselMay said:

It's a lot more relevant for those planning families than retirement really

Why is that? Is a healthy life expectancy not important once retired?

BrilliantButScary

Silvertabby said:

It's not your postcode that determines your longevity - it's your genes and lifestyle.

https://www.health.org.uk/evidence-hub/health-inequalities/geography

teaselMay

westv said:

teaselMay said:

It's a lot more relevant for those planning families than retirement really

Why is that? Is a healthy life expectancy not important once retired?

It's not about individuals it's about population averages, about the inequalities in health across the country, if you've lived to retirement then the average healthy life expectancy in your area is in most places younger than you are

Linton

I havent yet been able to find out what they mean by "healthy".  Major conditions may restrict your ability to lead a full enjoyable life or may have no day to day impact whatsoever, particularly after treatment.

SouthCoastBoy

Linton said:

I havent yet been able to find out what they mean by "healthy".  Major conditions may restrict your ability to lead a full enjoyable life or may have no day to day impact whatsoever, particularly after treatment.

Yes we really need the definition of healthy to help put some context around the numbers. Interestingly most of the ages, for men and maybe women, but didn't look at the women figures in such detail, seem to be below the state pension age? 

westv

Linton said:

I havent yet been able to find out what they mean by "healthy".  Major conditions may restrict your ability to lead a full enjoyable life or may have no day to day impact whatsoever, particularly after treatment.

Google gives this

"Definition: Average number of years that a person can expect to live in "full health" by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury. Method of estimation of global and regional aggregates: Aggregation of HALE inputs for WHO Member States to regional and global level. "

Wyndham

westv said:

Linton said:

I havent yet been able to find out what they mean by "healthy".  Major conditions may restrict your ability to lead a full enjoyable life or may have no day to day impact whatsoever, particularly after treatment.

Google gives this

"Definition: Average number of years that a person can expect to live in "full health" by taking into account years lived in less than full health due to disease and/or injury. Method of estimation of global and regional aggregates: Aggregation of HALE inputs for WHO Member States to regional and global level. "

That is helpful, but I still have questions!

In my case I was born with a condition which means that I don't see much out of my left eye (my right eye is fine). As I've always had it, I've never known any different. I had my first operation at 6 months old, then two further operations at 4 years old and 27 years old. Other than that it was fine for years, but in the last 10 years or so I've been appying drops three times a day. The drops are hardly difficult to do, and basically mean that the condition is managed, and it's rare for me to have any issues.

I do not identify as disabled, but am very aware this may change as I get older and conditions in perhaps both eyes mean a different quality of life.

But, in the definition of 'heathly', do I count? Or would I have been counted at 6 months when the condition was discovered? Or at around 40 when I started to use the drops everyday (as I will do for the rest of my life). I do feel I live a full and healthy life, and I'm genuinely interested to know if others would agree with my definition.

We need more information about the data - but that is often the case which studies like this!!