There are people who have bad habits but they still live longer. A 146-year old Indonesian man is claimed to be the oldest person in the world, and he does smoke. An average American can live almost half of that at 78.8 years, according to CDC. Americans have good healthcare programs compared to other countries, yet longevity is declining.
Is there really a secret to long life? Some studies say that reading or staying single make a person live longer. There are some bookworms who died early and there are many single people who stayed single even before their entrance to eternity. Now what happened to Mbah Gotho, that even if he is smoking, he still lived that long? Gotho has an identification card and it shows that his birth date is December 1870.
During his interview with the Regional News Network, Gotho said that he wants to die. His sight is blurry and his hearing is a bit impaired but other than these, he is still healthy. His body organs must have been preserved and it is intriguing how aging went slow in his systems. When he was asked about his secret for longevity, he said that all you need is to just relax and take it easy. Americans do not tend to relax and take things easy as pressure is always at the peak of everything that is being done.
Accepting bad habits may not be a threat to your health sometimes, says a Forbes Magazine writer. She said, "Health depends on a number of factors -- genetics, lifestyle, exposure to unknown toxic substances, and luck. You can live the healthiest lifestyle and still get cancer." Americans have bad habits from failure to get good diet, consistent exercise, and positive thinking.
For Americans, longevity is a huge problem. Chronic diseases are all over because Americans have among the worse diets. The foods are not very healthy. And even though many want to live longer because of the pursuit to each one's "American dream," it may seem impossible for many.
What is the key to increase longevity for Americans is still a question to be answered by dieticians, nutritionists, and other medical practitioners. It may take years before the statistics can get better again.
