American Heart Association by Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News
Published: January 14, 2025
The American Heart Association discusses healthspan, defining it as the number of years one lives free from significant chronic disease or disability, and contrasts it with life expectancy. It highlights the concerning trend of shrinking healthspans in the U.S. despite recent rebounds in life expectancy. The article emphasizes that improving healthspan often also extends lifespan and offers practical advice for increasing healthy years. This includes following the Life’s Essential 8 checklist, which covers key health factors and lifestyle behaviors, and suggests starting with small, enjoyable changes to build sustainable habits.

Audio Overview
(from Google NotebookLM) (12 minutes and 43 seconds)