2006 State Report > Our Health > Healthy Aging
Our Health: Healthy Aging
Life expectancy has increased dramatically in the last century, primarily due to improved medical care and preventative screenings. Life expectancy is defined as the average years of life remaining at birth or at a particular age given current age-specific death rates. In 1900, the life expectancy at birth was 47.3 years; in 2002, it was 77.3 years. Life expectancy rates are highest for whites and females.
2002 Life Expectancy at Birth and 65 and 85 Years of Age
| At Birth | At Age 65 | At Age 85 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 77.3 | 18.1 | 6.5 |
| White | 77.7 | 18.2 | 6.4 |
| Black | 72.3 | 16.6 | 6.6 |
| Male | 74.5 | 16.6 | 5.7 |
| Female | 79.9 | 19.5 | 6.9 |
Source: Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, Trends in Healthy Aging.
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke are the leading causes of death in the United States. In 2001, the leading causes of death in South Carolina for adults aged 65 to 74 were cancer (32.4 percent), diseases of the heart (25.8 percent), and chronic lower respiratory disease (6.7 percent). For the population aged 75 and older, the leading causes of death were diseases of the heart (29.9 percent), cancer (17.9 percent), and cerebrovascular disease (10.7 percent).
These chronic diseases are often preventable, and poor health is not necessarily an inevitable consequence of aging. Adopting a healthy lifestyle with frequent physical activity, a healthy diet, regular health screenings, and no smoking can greatly reduce the risk of developing many chronic diseases.
The Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a random telephone survey of the non-institutionalized population aged 18 or older that is used to track health risks in the United States. The survey provides an overview of the health of seniors in South Carolina in terms of lifestyle, disease, and preventative care.
Health of South Carolinians Aged 65 and Over: 2004
- 34.5 percent reported their general health as "fair" or "poor."
- 37.0 percent reported being overweight (Body Mass Index between 25 and 29) and an additional 22.5 percent were obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or higher).
- 14.4 percent reported that they smoked cigarettes on a daily basis.
- 34.0 percent did not receive a flu shot in the past 12 months.
- 36.0 percent have not received a pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine.
- 33.3 percent reported that they did not participate in any physical activity or exercise in the past month.
- 19.4 percent were diabetic.
- 37.0 percent had never had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to test for colorectal cancer.
- 12.1 percent of men had never received a PSA test for prostate cancer screening.
- 6.4 percent of women had never received a mammogram.
- 26.1 percent reported having a history of cardiovascular disease (heart attack, coronary heart disease or stroke).
- 28.8 percent had some type of disability, defined as any limitation due to physical, mental, or emotional problems.
Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, 2004 BRFSS.