All parents fondly wish that their children grow to enjoy a full and fulfilling life. Those children too desire to age well so that their lives are not marred by disease and disability. They hope to remain fit and functioning rather than frail and feeble till the end of their life. It will be a poor trade-off if their life expectancy increases but those added years are full of suffering due to poor health.
The 20th century saw a marked rise in human life expectancy globally, despite world wars and a host of infectious diseases. This resulted from a combination of improved living conditions and advances in preventive, diagnostic and curative medical services. Improvements in water, sanitation, nutrition, education, income, occupational safety and women's status in society accompanied economic development and education.
These also stimulated a surge of science and technology. Simultaneously, large populations in Asia, Africa and the Americas wrested freedom from colonial rule and charted their developmental journeys. More diseases were prevented and more lives were saved than ever before, to yield a bounty of long life expectancy. However, even a 'cured' disease often left behind disabilities that detracted from fulsome functionality and impaired the quality of life, increased dependency on others and carried high financial costs of chronic healthcare.
This story is from the December 21, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Madurai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 21, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Madurai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Be A Travel Junkie!
This two-day travel festival in Mumbai this week brings together destinations, cultural experiences, food and more to inspire Indian globetrotters...
SA20: Skipper Markram aims a threepeat with Sunrisers Eastern Cape
FRESH from playing a key role in helping South Africa qualify for the third edition of the World Test Championship, Aiden Markram has set his sights on a threepeat with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20.
BFI Adopts New Weight Classes
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is conducting the men's national championships here in 10 weight categories, in line with the classification introduced by the breakaway World Boxing.
Janssen-sational: TN Dragons pip Team Gonasika
JIP JANSSEN slammed a hat-trick to steer Tamil Nadu Dragons to a tight 6-5 win over Team Gonasika in a high-scoring Hockey India League (HIL) clash here on Wednesday.
AFI's big push: De-centralisation of camps
New-look athletics body's one-of-a-kind policy set to encourage inclusivity & have wider pool of players to pick from
Malaysia Open: Prannoy, Sat-Chi Enter Round of 16
HS Prannoy's match, his first since the Paris Olympics, was halted by rain on Tuesday.
Selective application undermines credibility of sports governance
PT Usha and sports ministry are at loggerheads over the Indian Golf Union recognition.
Newcastle FC put one foot in League Cup final
NEWCASTLE took a giant stride towards the League Cup final as goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon earned a 2-0 semifinal, first leg lead at Arsenal on Tuesday.
Sebi finds broker with 1,103 fake client codes
MARKET regulator Sebi has found that a little known stock broker, Stockholding Services, which is the broking arm of Stock Holding Corporation of India, made thousands of fake client codes in violation of the mandatory KYC norms.
SBI Lowers FY25 Economic Growth to 6.3%
The State Bank of India has revised its forecast for India's GDP growth for financial year 2024-25 (FY25) to 6.3%, down from the National Statistical Office's (NSO) projection of 6.4%.