Posted July 27, 2011
At 80, Tom Perry already has beaten the odds. And he’s a living example of how medical advances are keeping us alive longer.
“I had my heart attack, my diabetes, thyroid, prostate. You name it,” the Annapolis resident said. “The doctors are keeping me alive. I would’ve been done 10 years ago when I had my last heart job. Every time I go to the hospital, I can’t wait to come out and start exercising.”
University of Washington researchers conducted nationwide a county-by-county study of life expectancy and found that Anne Arundel County residents are living significantly longer than they did 20 years ago.
The university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that men in the county now live to beyond 75, while women reach 80. The data was published in Population Health Metrics, a peer-reviewed online journal.
Health experts attributed the uptick to better treatment of chronic conditions.
While Perry credits good doctors, he also takes care of himself by lifting weights and walking regularly.
Local senior citizens have many answers to the question of what it takes to live a long life.
“You get up, get your shower every day and move around,” said Marie Sims, a 91-year-old volunteer at the Annapolis Senior Center. “The most important thing is to interact with people over here. You can get in here and see a lot of people here who are worse off than you are.”
The life expectancy study went in 10-year intervals going back to 1987. At that time, there were nearly 208,000 males living in Anne Arundel County who were not expected to reach their 72nd birthday. There were also about 204,000 Anne Arundel County women with a life expectancy near 78, which was a similar age for Maryland women. But in 2007 — the latest statistics available — the county’s roughly 258,000 women had a life expectancy of 80, while the 254,000 men were expected to reach 75.
Out of all the Maryland counties, Montgomery County had men and women living the longest — until 80 and 85, respectively. Baltimore City had the shortest life expectancy, with 67 for men and 75 for women.
There also were differences based on racial categories. A white woman in Anne Arundel County was expected to live to 80 in 2007, which is three years longer than a black woman. A white man in the county statistically was expected to celebrate his 76th birthday, but a black man would be expected to reach 71.
Over the years, the county Department of Health has seen decreases in the rates for stroke and lower respiratory diseases. Fourteen percent of the county’s adult population identified themselves as smokers in 2009, compared with nearly 20 percent in 2005.
“This improvement in health care has made a big difference, and you see that across the board,” said Dr. Kelly Russo, the department’s deputy healthy officer. “We still have some work to do, especially in the areas of decreasing obesity, increasing nutrition, increasing physical activity and continue to decrease the smoking cessation rates even further.”
Officials at the American Association of Retired Persons said this data can be used as a blueprint. It will help government leaders realize how much they should focus on senior issues, such as safe streets and walkable communities, as well as help seniors plan for the future, said Hank Greenberg, AARP’s Maryland state director.
“We have more of an opportunity to fulfill our hopes and dreams for the future and perhaps reinvent ourselves,” Greenberg said. “There are a lot of things we want to do to fill up those years.”
At 64, Joyce Sealey has a way to go before she approaches the county’s life expectancy. But she said the key to a healthy life is to cut down on stress. That was one of the reasons she left New York for Annapolis six years ago.
“You just have to go with the flow,” Sealey said. “It’s all about how you deal with things … you’ve got to take some stress out.”
Annapolis resident Carrie Jones said determination is the key to beating the odds.
“Through all the aches and pains, don’t stop,” said Jones, 71. “The more you move, the better you feel, but don’t give up. Wake up and count your blessings.”
swoodards@capitalgazette.com
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Copyright © 2011, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.