A<unk>  is a unit of risk representing half an hour change of life expectancy. Discussed by David Spiegelhalter and Alejandro Leiva, and also used by Lin et al. for decision analysis,<unk> s are intended as a simple way of communicating the impact of a lifestyle or environmental risk factor, based on the associated daily proportional effect on expected length of life. Similar to the micromort (one in a million probability of death) the<unk>  is intended for "rough but fair comparisons between the sizes of chronic risks". This is to avoid the biasing effects of describing risks in relative hazard ratios, converting them into somewhat tangible units. Similarly they bring long-term future risks into the here-and-now as a gain or loss of time. :"A daily loss or gain of 30 minutes can be termed a<unk> , because 1 000 000 half hours (57 years) roughly corresponds to a lifetime of adult exposure." The<unk>  exploits the fact that for small hazard ratios the change in life expectancy is roughly linear. They are by necessity rough estimates, based on averages over population and lifetime. Effects of individual variability, short-term or changing habits, and causal factors are not taken into account. Graphic representation of<unk> s : +<unk> s gained/lost per day of exposure, based on estimated life expectancy effects of long term lifestyle and demographic risk factors, for men and women aged 35 years. Risk factor Men Women Smoking Smoking 15–24 cigarettes −10 −9 Alcohol intake First drink (of 10 g alcohol) 1 1 Each subsequent drink (up to 6) −½ −1 Obesity Per 5 units above body mass index of 22.5 each day −3 −3 Per 5 kg above optimum weight for average height each day −1 −1 Sedentary behaviour 2 hours watching television −1 −1 Diet Red meat, 1 portion (85 g, 3 oz) −1 −1 Fruit and vegetable intake, =5 servings (blood vitamin C >50 nmol/L) 4 3 Coffee intake 2-3 cups 1 1 Physical activity First 20 minutes of moderate exercise 2 2 Subsequent 40 minutes of moderate exercise 1 ½ Statins Taking a statin 1 1 Air pollution Per day living in Mexico City v London −½ −½ Geography Per day being a resident of Russia v Sweden −21 −9 Era Per day living in 2010 v 1910 15 15 Per day living in 2010 v 1980 8 5
Microlife
Tegaderm
Estrogen patch
Teledermatology
Microdissection
Von Graefe knife
Paper cut
Cryosurgery