A new study shows that the average life expectancy of men and women with schizophrenia is 15 years and 12 years shorter respectively than for those who do not suffer from the disease

The study followed over six million individuals from 2003 to 2009, of whom 8 277 had schizophrenia, by analysing the Swedish population and health registers.

The results show that people with schizophrenia had contact with the health service over twice as often as people without the condition, but they were no more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or cancer.

“Yet we saw an opposing pattern of death from these diseases. It is clear that the health service is failing to diagnose cardiovascular disease and cancer in these patients,” says Jan Sundquist, general practitioner and professor at the Centre for Primary Health Care Research at Lund University.

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Well, that’s depressing.

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Most of the decreased life expectancy may come from smoking a lot.

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Cardiovascular deaths from little or no exercise and poor diet too…

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I saw this before I got this illness, and though that it was sad schizophrenics would have a shorter life expectancy even with what they have to go through. Now I see it as a blessing of sorts that we don’t have to suffer through this illness longer than most people would.

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Suicide and other drug use. Like I think opiate rate is pretty high in szs, at least I heard that stat before there was even an opiate epidemic.

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With the high rates of smoking, high drug and alcohol abuse rates, poor diets, poor exercise habits, high obesity rates, high diabetes rates, and high suicide rates among the mentally ill, it’s no wonder that we have shorter life expectancies.

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And let’s not forget the increased risk for dementia (atleast from what I read)

That is where I’m headed

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It’s a sad statistic but I hope it applies to me too. Not even thirty yet and sick of life. I should be more grateful I have a good life but life is just so hard

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Yes it’s a sad statistic.
My problem is that I don’t like going to doctors.

I’ll probably die in my 60’s.

But I do go and see my gp every 6 months for blood tests/analysis.

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I have no desire to live over the age of 60.

I am 25 and healthy though.

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Ubfortunately i have known this since day one. I mean our medications aren’t the best for your body and can cause irreversible damage. Schizophrenia causes you to be lazy and sedentary. Suicide rates are higher as well as homeless rates. Most aspects of this illness just aren’t well. Some people did drugs before their schizophrenia too. I don’t know if I’d want s shorter or longer life tbh. Just a decent life without my illness getting further out of control.

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Iam determined not to be another stat in some medical journal!

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I am a 69 year old male schizophrenic; what do you want to know?

And while you’re at it, don’t forget poverty.

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Could on Ya Jayster don’t buy into this medial journal stuff + stats everyone is different,circumstances.lifestlye,varying of how bad their condition is etc

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You know what Bonnie Raite sings about aging? “Life gets pretty precious when there’s less of it to lose.”

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This might explain my stroke-like episode (not a stroke, but similar) that made me stay in emergency overnight and my ongoing heart problems.
Welp.

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