SOC 100 Principles of Sociology

Elizabeth Olah
Health and Life Expectancy Assignment

For each of the following questions, use information from the websites provided as well as
information from the course readings/videos whenever possible to support your answers.

Questions about the Living to 100 website:

1. Please visit the Living to 100 website and perform the calculation for your life expectancy
and provide the results. https://www.livingto100.com/.
Answers should be approximately one sentence (2 points)

I should live up to 92 years.

2. Consider the questions that were asked of you. (a) What are some social factors that were
not included in this calculator that may influence your life expectancy? (b) Why might these
factors be of some importance in calculating your life expectancy?
Answers should be approximately one paragraph (3 points)

My ethnicity definitely factors into my life expectancy. My Cuban great grandmother is 98 years
old, but my grandmother on my mothers side passed away from a stroke at the age of 65. She
was primarily French and Italian; therefore, I truly believe that ethnicity has a strong influence
in ones life expectancy.

3. What could be done to improve your calculated life expectancy?

Answers should be approximately one paragraph (2 points)

I didnt realize how many medical examinations I had not taken yet. I seriously need to go to
the doctor and run some tests to make sure that everything is okay. I also could drink less;
actually answering a question of how many drinks do you drink a week was really eye-
opening. I can definitely cut back!

Questions about the World Life Expectancy:

4. Go to the World Life Expectancy website and select your gender and approximate age.
Compare your new calculated life expectancy to the average life expectancies in other
countries. (a) Is your calculated life expectancy on the high end, low end, or somewhere in the
middle when compared to average life expectancies around the world? (b) What kinds of
countries tend to have higher average life expectancies than yours? (c) What kinds of countries
have lower average life expectancies? (d) Using knowledge gained in this course, what are
some factors that might explain these variations in life expectancy? Be sure to explain your
answer. http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/your-life-expectancy-by-age

Answers should be approximately two paragraphs (4 points)

My current life expectancy is on the high end compared to other countries. The hightest
life expectancy age was 89, while I got 92. The countries who had the highest life expectancy
rates were Asian countries like Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and more.
I believe that diet has everything to do with ones life expectancy. Asian cuisine is known
for incorporating whole foods into their daily menu; while places like the United States fry
everything and use a ridiculous amount of butter and sugar. I also think the air pollution is
significantly different in Asian countries compared to other countries.

5. How does the social institution of medicine influence life expectancy? Think about gender,
race, and social class when talking about the U. S. How might access to health care influence
variations in life expectancy within the United States? How might differences in medicine
between countries influence variations in life expectancy?
Answers should be approximately one paragraph (6 points)

Medicine prevents diseases, so it definitely can affect ones life expectancy. Actually, the lack of
medicine can have more of an effect. Access to health care is an issue in the United States that,
like education, is defined by income. Those in a lower income are more likely to not receive the
medical care they need compared to those in the upper class. Planned Parenthood was a huge
breakthrough for healthcare for women offering scans and tests for many life-threatening
diseases. However, medicine is more available in the United States than in other countries
especially countries in Africa where modernization has not affected many villages.

6. What are some things that could be done to improve life expectancies around the world?
Answers should be approximately one paragraph (3 points)

Being eco-conscious is huge; recycling and do whatever it takes to prevent air pollution
are big steps. Advocating for more universal health care coverage for the general population
would affect the life expectancy. Proving more smoke-free environments, or even making
smoking illegal. Being aware of womens health care and how having the facilities for that is
essential.