What Does Your Death Clock Read?

We might be able to guess our life expectancy based on overall health, fitness, family history of longevity and environmental influences but how accurate are “death clock” websites at predicting expiration dates?

Using information such as date of birth, height, weight, body mass index, sex, whether or not you smoke, alcohol consumption and outlook on life, websites like www.death-clock.org lightheartedly predict your likely time of death.  But until recently, there has been little scientific research into calculating your chances of dying.

The attraction of peeking into our own future is so great that researchers in the United Kingdom have developed a test, comprised of about a dozen questions, which claims to predict your risk of dying before the end of the decade if you are between 40 and 70 years old.  Scientists who developed the test say it’s 80 per cent accurate for those who live in the UK.  The test takes into account information such as walking pace and recent history of illness, injury or depression.  To take the test online visit the UK Longevity Explorer website at: http://www.ubble.co.uk/ .

Scientists in Finland have also developed a “death test” based on a blood test that can predict chances of dying from a medical condition within one to five years.  Biomarkers in the body that show signs of abnormality could help shed light on illness in apparently healthy people, allowing them to seek treatment before the condition worsens.   The test requires more study before becoming widely available to the public.

The good news?  Even though our clocks are ticking, it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle choices.  By losing weight, starting an exercise program or quitting smoking,  it is possible to extend life at any age.

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