Thumbs Up: Is coffee truly a life-saver? Maybe

Ever hear yourself say that finding a cup of coffee is a matter of life or death? That may not just be hyperbole. There might be some science to it.

According to two studies published Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, drinking coffee may prolong your life. One study looked at the coffee-drinking habits of more than 185,000 Americans over the age of 16 and found that regular coffee intake was linked to a lower risk of dying from a number of illnesses. A second study followed the habits of more than 520,000 people in 10 countries over 16 years and found similar results. The researchers found that coffee intake was linked to fewer deaths due to heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The real shocker? There also seems to be a link between decaffeinated coffee and living longer. Amazing. And you thought there was no point to drinking decaf.