More money equals long life

The rich not only get richer, but live longer

The more money you make, the healthier you will be, and the longer you will live. Statistics Canada has recently released a report that shows the highest earners in Canada, will have 10 more years of healthy living then their poorer counterparts.

The report shows that at age 25, men in the top income earning group, can expect 11.4 more years of healthy, longer life then those at the bottom of the income scale. Women have a smaller gap between top dollars and bottom, namely 9.7 years.

This "health-adjusted life expectancy" is determined by eight factors including pain, memory, mobility and emotion. The differences start even before birth, with the health of the expectant mother at the time the baby is conceived.

The differences in diet, stress level, and reflected show up in socioeconomic status. How much time you spend working, the amount you drink and whether or not you have access to medical services, will all have an effect. The amount of money you earn, has twice the impact of all cancers combined on the years of healthy living you can expect.

High income-earning men will live almost 7.5 years longer, then men of low income. Rich women will live 4.5 years longer, then poor women. The men in the lower income brackets, will die before their 75th birthday. Only 51% of poorer men will reach the age of 75. If you are wealthy, then 75% of your group will achieve their 75th birthday. Women, once again, do not have as wide a gap as men. Poor women come in at 69% reaching 75 years of age, while 84% of the rich women will live their healthier lifestyles, to 75 years old and beyond.

Stay in school, get a good job, work hard to earn a good living and retire well, seems to still be the pattern for long life in Canada.

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