Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

The Spanish have the highest healthy life expectancy in Europe – and beat Australia, Canada, Norway and the USA as well. This in part is thanks to an excellent healthcare system, ranked seventh in 2000 on the only occasion the World Health Organisation has compiled a league table. The UK was 18th. But it is not just the structures or even the skills of the doctors that matter. It is also the state of health of the people who arrive in the clinics.
Maybe the Mediterranean diet, heavy on fruit, salads, fish and olive oil, is responsible for the low death rate from heart disease – Spain has the 3rd lowest level of years of life lost. It also does well on a number of cancers – pancreatic, prostate, breast and oesophageal. Families still care for ailing relatives – taking daily meals to those in hospital is normal and premature deaths from falls are low. 

According to the European League Table, comprised of data collected over a 20 year period by medical journal, Lancet, Spain is the healthiest place to live compared with 18 other countries in the EU.
Ranking number one for life expectancy, Spanish residents live for an average of 81.4 years-two years longer than people living in Britain. They can also expect to enjoy up to 70.9 years of good health, compared with only 68.6 years of healthy life for the average Brit. The UK was left lagging behind in 12th place behind Greece, Ireland and Germany. It is also considered that the Spanish attitude to drinking alcohol and the weather plays an important role, encouraging a more outdoor lifestyle.

Do you feel you live a healthier lifestyle in Spain?

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LIFEGUARDS on Spanish beaches want to see alcohol banned to keep bathers safe, pointing out the dangers of drinking and then going into the sea.

In the same way as the public is now conscious of the extreme risk of driving after having consumed alcohol, the Spanish Life-Saving Federation (RFESS) says that same awareness needs to be created among sunseekers.

Although children are the most vulnerable to drowning in pools and the sea, statistically, most victims are adults, the RFESS says.

Exactly a third of those who drown are pensioners, according to safety and prevention commission coordinator Jéssica Pino.

“Age-related physical problems, such as a reduction in mobility, heart conditions and the greater risk of heart attacks that come with age are among the main risks,” Sra Pino says.

“The middle-aged and the elderly are not conscious that their abilities, response times and mobility are gradually reducing – add to this the lack of a culture of first aid knowledge in Spain, and the risk is higher.”

What do you think? Should all beaches be alcohol free or would we be tackling the problem in the wrong way?

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What is it that drives someone to move abroad or retire miles away from "home". Are they fed up with their home nation?Need a change of environment? or do they need to find a cheaper place to live so they can further enjoy the rest of their years? Some say it is just down to the weather and can't take anymore grey skies and cold wet mornings, but somehow I think its more than that. In my case it was very simple I was fed up of England and wanted to expand my horizons and you?

Please share your opinon and cast your vote ..