(CBS) There is good news for those hoping for a long life.

A recent study conducted by the Government Actuary's Department in Britain, following the trends in mortality rates, found that a typical professional woman in her 20s will likely live into her mid-90s. And women born in 20 years time are in line to hit triple digits if current trends continue. And although the numbers aren't as dramatic for men, their life expectancy is also on the rise.

There are a number of reasons why we're living longer says Dr. Robert Butler, founder and president of the International Longevity Center.

"According to the researchers, infectious and respiratory diseases that affect babies in the womb are on a steady decline. So more and more babies are born healthy, and that increases their longevity," Dr. Butler tells The Early Show. "Also, overall advances in medicine have increased our life expectancy. And continued improvements in hygiene have reduced the spread of infectious diseases."

Looking back, he says, 50 to 100 years ago, the local butcher was not wearing protective gloves and antibacterial soaps and cleansers were not available. Plus, today there have been advancements in vaccines and antibiotics that are keeping people alive longer.

According to Dr. Butler, centenarians are the fastest growing age group in America. There are currently about 54,000 centenarians in the United States, and there may be as many as 840,000 by 2050. Also, 85 percent of the country's centenarians are women.

Women, on average, live 5.3 years longer than men. And the reason is because they spend more time in the doctor's office, Dr. Butler says.

"They have babies, so they meet the obstetrician," he says. "Then they take the child to the baby clinic and see the pediatrician. They're sensitive to their bodies and see the doctor when they need to."

Also, women don't smoke and drink as much. However, Butler says recent data suggests the number of female smokers is on the rise.

Women also may handle stress better.

"They don't deny feelings of anxiety, and talk about it openly when they feel stressed," he says. "Men are much more likely to have that 'stiff upper lip' approach and let that stress just fester. Also, women are usually smarter about their food choices. Plus, they control the kitchen and the choices they make are usually healthy ones."

This research seems to contradict a study earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, which said that the rise of obesity is going to essentially put an end to the rise in life expectancy.

"I was one of the co-authors of that study, and we're deeply worried about Type II diabetes in 10-year-old children, for example," Butler says. "The overweight population in this country is growing. Hopefully we'll turn out to be wrong. But our projection in the New England Journal Study is that we may lose some of the life expectancy we've gained."

So if you are looking forward to live a longer and fuller life, there are things Butler says you should do now:

Don't smoke: If you're a smoker, think about quitting. If you don't smoke, stay that way. It's no secret, but smoking can really do major damage to your heart and lungs and respiratory system.

Have a purpose in life: Have a reason to get up in the morning; a lifelong goal. People who have no goals, no passions, usually don't live as long as those who do.

Keep a strong network of friends: Having a strong support system or a close group of friends is something seen often among women. Men are usually not as good at sharing concerns and looking out for each other. Sure, they'll share a joke in the locker room or have a casual conversation while watching the football game. But women are much more inclined to look out for each other's well-being and that's one of the reasons women live longer than men.

And of course, he says, it is important exercise and limit alcohol consumption.

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