Methodology: The Science Behind the Numbers

Beats Till Death uses actuarial data and medical research to estimate your remaining lifespan and total heartbeats. While no calculator can predict the future, our model is based on peer-reviewed scientific studies.

1. Baseline Life Expectancy

We start with baseline life expectancy data based on your age, sex, and country of residence. This data comes from the World Health Organization (WHO) and national actuarial tables. This gives us a statistical starting point—the average age a person of your demographic is expected to reach.

2. Adjusting for Lifestyle Factors

We then adjust this baseline based on several key lifestyle factors that have been proven to impact longevity.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the most significant factors affecting life expectancy. Research shows that long-term smokers lose an average of 10 years of life compared to non-smokers. However, quitting matters:

• Current Smokers: We apply a penalty of approximately 8-12 years depending on intensity.
• Former Smokers: We credit back years based on how long ago you quit. After 10-15 years of cessation, mortality risk approaches that of a non-smoker.

Physical Activity

Regular exercise is a powerful longevity booster. Our model adds years for active individuals:

• Moderate Activity: (e.g., 150 mins/week) adds approximately 3-4 years.
• High Activity: (e.g., 300+ mins/week) can add up to 5+ years.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: No years are added, and in some combinations, this may act as a negative factor relative to the healthy baseline.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

We calculate BMI from your height and weight. While BMI is an imperfect metric, it correlates strongly with population-level mortality.

• Healthy Weight (BMI 18.5-25): Neutral impact.
• Overweight/Obese: We apply a reduction in life expectancy ranging from 1 to 8 years depending on severity (Class I to Class III obesity).

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol's effect is dose-dependent. Light to moderate consumption has a neutral or slightly positive association in some studies (though this is debated), while heavy consumption significantly reduces life expectancy.

3. Heart Rate Calculation

To convert your remaining time into heartbeats, we need your Resting Heart Rate (RHR).

• If you provide your RHR: We use your specific data.
• If you don't know your RHR: We estimate it based on your age and activity level. Active individuals typically have lower RHRs (50-60 bpm), while sedentary individuals average higher (70-80 bpm).

We calculate total beats per year (RHR × 60 minutes × 24 hours × 365.25 days) and multiply by your estimated remaining years.

4. The "Optimism" Factor

Our calculator includes a unique "Optimism" setting. This doesn't change the science, but it adjusts which statistical percentile we use for your projection.

• Pessimistic: Uses the 25th percentile of survival (conservative estimate).
• Realistic: Uses the median (50th percentile).
• Optimistic: Uses the 75th percentile, assuming you will outlive the average.