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In conclusion, therefore:

• Improvements in life expectancy in the twentieth century came about because of improvements in social surroundings rather than in improvements in medical technology.
• The major killers today are cancer, heart disease and strokes. These all have major lifestyle and psychological components. 
• Health psychology has a major role to play in all of these lifestyle areas. It should have a key role to play in improving the health of the nation. 

Reading You should now read one of the introductory chapters in any good general health psychology text book (as indicated in the reading list). Ogden (2004) is a good starting point.

Exercise Go and try this longevity web-site or the life-expectancy calculator which will tell you your life expectancy on the basis of your behaviours: try altering the lifestyle behaviours and you will see the effect it has on your life expectancy.