We all hope to live longer | News, Sports, Jobs

For many residents of the tri-state area, the decision to live here comes down to simply being home. We’re here because we want to be here. But data recently released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that some residents of the region aren’t living as long as residents of many other states.

Ohio ranks 40th in the nation for life expectancy, based on 2021 data. In the Buckeye State, the average life expectancy is 74.5 years (77.5 years for women and 71.7 years for men). The national average is 76.4 years (79.3 years for women and 73.5 years for men).

And the numbers from neighboring states show wide variation. Pennsylvania, for example, ranks 25th with a life expectancy right at the national average of 76.4 years (79.3 for women and 73.6 for men). West Virginia ranks 50th with a life expectancy of 71.0 years (74.2 for women and 68.1 for men).

So what shortens the lives of the inhabitants of our region?

Well, according to a report by WCMH-TV in Columbus, using information from the National Library of Medicine, genetics accounts for about 25 percent of lifespan. The rest is a matter of healthy lifestyle and environment.

We all know we should eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, not smoke, drink alcohol in moderation, if at all, exercise and watch our weight. It’s a little harder to adjust to factors like living in more densely populated areas, fast-food restaurants and even more of the types of jobs that so many people in our region rely on. The WCMH report says a 2020 study by researchers from Penn State, West Virginia University and Michigan State University found shorter life expectancies for people working in the mining industry.

The states with the highest life expectancy in 2021, according to the CDC, were Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The lowest were in Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky. Unfortunately, the latter states are also routinely ranked among the poorest.

What can we do to improve and extend the lives we live in Ohio? Policymakers and elected officials can get to work growing and diversifying our economy in ways that raise the standard of living for people in all regions, as well as improving access to affordable, high-quality health care and healthier food options.

But the burden falls on us as individuals. Better choices about smoking, drinking and exercising are a start. The effort to eat healthier, stay hydrated and get ahead of potential genetic diseases must also start with individuals and families.

There are many reasons to love our region. If we take better care of ourselves and others, we might be able to love it a little longer.