Bermudian men have less chance of enjoying a healthy old age than Americans, a doctor claims.

Dr. Cyril Gryfe said ill health could be linked to bad eating habits, stress and lack of exercise.

"I say that the prospects for an aging Bermudian are worse, because here the frequency of circulatory disease, together with its potential for heart attacks, strokes and loss of legs to gangrene, is substantially greater than in other countries of comparable economic development,'' he told Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday.

Dr. Gryfe, a Canadian consultant in geriatric medicine, was appointed physician-in-charge of the extended care unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

He told Rotarians the disabilities arising from circulatory problems were familiar to many -- and easily imaginable by others.

"But it should be kept in mind also that these diseases are largely determined by lifestyle in the earlier years, including what we eat, how much we exercise and how we learn to cope with stress.'' Dr. Gryfe said there could also be a major genetic factor.

This was usually the case with confined societies, where opportunities to enlarge and mix the "gene pool'' were relatively limited.

He added: "These are some of the realities to be faced when you're still in your active and productive years.'' Dr. Gryfe said there was another reality faced by those already old and diseased and disabled.

Like other prosperous societies, Bermuda's elderly -- those 65 years and older -- had risen in number and at a rate faster than any other segment of the population.

They now constituted about ten percent, or 6,500, of the total, Dr. Gryfe believed.

About 390 of this number had virtually dropped out of society and were staying in long-term care facilities, he added.

Dr. Gryfe stressed ageing was not a disease and proceeded at different rates with people. And, furthermore, nobody died of it.

"Yes, body parts do wear out or slow down, but the critical failure of a vital organ can usually be blamed on a true disease, and not on aging itself.

"For example, while the common cold virus usually only throws you slightly off stride when you're 35, it can knock you right over and right off when you're 95.'' He added: "However, more and more people during the past 50 to 75 years have been able to preserve more and more strength and adaptability, for more and more years, resulting in a population that has more and more older people.'' Men have lower life expectancy Dr. Gryfe said the average life expectancy for Bermudian boys at birth was 73.

That was one year longer than American-born boys, and one year less than those born in Canada.

Bermudian girls had an average life expectancy of 77 -- a trend reflected everywhere.

"But compared to the USA, Bermudian girls don't do quite as well, because American girls on average can expect to live to 79, while Canadian girls can look forward to 81 years,'' said Dr. Gryfe.

"As I just mentioned, life expectancy is a useful measurement. But it is important to qualify that statement by pointing out that most of the gains that we have made worldwide in life expectancy, are in terms of life expectancy at birth.'' Dr. Gryfe said the gains had little to do with progress in medical care, with the possible exception of penicillin and antibiotics.

"Most of the gain in life expectancy at birth can be credited more directly to more clean water, better nourished mothers, and more people with more general education,'' he said. "It is not a case of `people living longer', but rather of case of more people having the opportunity to live long.'' SENIORS SR HEALTH HTH HOSPITAL HOS