Life expectancy refers to the average number of years an individual is expected to live.
However, as mentioned, life expectancy can be affected by certain factors.
One example is the assigned sex at birth.
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Changes in Life Expectancy
Life expectancy can change.
Deaths at young ages impact life expectancy averages much more than deaths at older ages.
Young deaths impact life expectancy at birth statistics.
Each year a person lives means they have survived multiple potential causes of death.
This means that life expectancy actually can increase with age.
For instance, the life expectancy at birth of someone born in 1943 was about 68 years.
As far as drinking alcohol, the data are mixed.
Its clear that drinking to excess negatively affects health, but moderate drinking might actually be protective.
Taking measures to stay safe can also play a role.
Examples include wearing a seatbelt in a car or a helmet and other safety gear when engaging in sports.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.Health, United States, 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.Health, United States, 2019.
