Are We Really Living Longer?
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
October 16, 2017 4:11pm CST
I have a friend who claims we are not living any longer than we did 100 years ago. Here’s how he explains it.
When they figure the average age they figure everyone’s age–babies and all. Now days babies live longer than they did 100 years ago. Therefore the average age of those who are living today changes to a higher age. So the general public is not living longer, babies are. Fewer babies are dying.
He thinks if you take people who have reached the age of 20 or so 100 years ago and today and average their ages you would find there is very little difference in the average of life longevity.
He believes the pharmaceutical companies are pushing the belief that we are living longer due to modern drugs in order for people to take more and more of their drugs so these companies can make more and more money.
Many drug companies no longer invest in developing new antibiotics because it costs too much. But also because antibiotics don’t make them enough profit because people do not take antibiotics for a lifetime. Therefore they concentrate on drugs people will have to take for a lifetime. And they hope those drugs will cause side effects so they can get people on more of their drugs.
Is it possible we are not living any longer than people of 100 years ago lived? Is it something pharmaceutical companies want us to believe so we will lap up more of their drugs?
7 people like this
6 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
16 Oct 17
I think your friend makes some good points. I'm not sure how true they are.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
16 Oct 17
I'm not sure about that either.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18369)
• Orangeville, Ontario
17 Oct 17
My mother's mother lived to be 98. My mother's sister also lived to be 98 (a couple of days shy of her 98th birthday). Her brothers lived to be 90 and 91. My mother will be 93 on Sunday. I don't think many families can say they have that kind of longevity.
@much2say (55633)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Oct 17
Although I think I see what he's getting at number-wise, I'd still have to believe that we are living longer than the people of 100 years ago. I have my opinions about pharmaceutical companies too - I don't doubt it's all about the money. Honestly I think the ones that live a very long life are the ones who live a simple, healthy lifestyle . . . it's not necessarily thanks to pills they popped to prolong their lives.
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
16 Oct 17
Very interesting and a good read. I do believe that people are living longer though. I know in my family going back through the generations that is the case and I am sure it would be the same in a lot of families.
1 person likes this
