Discover 15 reasons women outlive men and 6 proven ways men can close the longevity gap, from biology to lifestyle habits that impact lifespan.
It might sound like an old wives' tale, but women do indeed live longer than men. It's actually the case for the majority of mammals in the animal kingdom. This is nothing new: The female species has enjoyed a longevity edge since researchers started reporting these statistics.
And research suggests that while their years on the planet may be longer, they are filled with more age-related illnesses and overall"dings" to theirThe longevity gap likely stems from a combination of biological factors and behavioral differences between the sexes. Even though they live longer, women have a shorter healthspan than men, meaning they have a lower quality of life due to age-related illnesses.Yes, women do tend to outlive men. On average, global research shows that women live about 5.4 years longer than men. In the, women live to an average age of 80 while men live to an average age of 75, according to the Centers for Disease Control.Researchers have many hypotheses about women's longer lifespan, and the longevity gap is likely due to a combination of many factors working together.1. Sex Chromosomes: Women Have a Lower Risk of Genetic Mutations One of the leading hypotheses concerns sex chromosomes. Females carry two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. In females, only one X chromosome is expressed in each cell; the other is inactivated. So about half of her cells express her father's X chromosome and half express her mother's. Why does this matter? Because males have only one X chromosome, if that chromosome carries a harmful mutation, it gets expressed in every cell. For females, though, whether the mutation gets expressed depends upon whether it is recessive or dominant, and whether she inherited the same mutation from both parents. This explains why there are plenty of X-linked disorders that are more prevalent in men, such as hemophilia and color blindness.Some X chromosome-linked genes are also associated with longer, which—as long as they're not too long—may be linked to a lengthier lifespan.Another hypothesis focuses on the intense competition males face for mates. The idea is that evolution may favor traits in males that boost their chances of reproduction, even if those same traits shorten their lifespan. For example, in many species, males show higher levels of aggression and larger body size, which can help them compete for mates but also increase their chances of injury, exhaustion or early Hormones and biology go hand in hand, and researchers point to certain hormones playing a part in longevity. Women generally have higher levels of estrogen and lowerbenefits. Before menopause, women are naturally more protected against visceral fat accumulation thanks to estrogen. Even women with obesity tend to carry less of that dangerous visceral fat than men who are comparably overweight. Estrogen's perks extend to the heart, too. Cardiovascular disease tends to appear later in women than in men. But this protection doesn't last forever: Once women hitWhile it might seem like the men in your life never get sick, the data shows that women tend to have stronger Men are more susceptible to infections from birth through adulthood, research shows. And it turns out that the X chromosome is rife with immune-related genes affecting both the innate and adaptive immune responses. The flip side is that women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions, since their immune systems are more active. Still, more people die from infections than from autoimmune conditions. Men may also develop immunosenescence earlier than women. Research shows that as they age, men experience more spikes associated with inflammation.As you might recall from high school biology, mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. Women generally have more mitochondrial DNA and better cellular respiratory function, meaning their cells are more efficient at converting oxygen and nutrients into usable energy. Men also tend to have a lower mitochondrial DNA copy number, which is linked to faster aging, reduced cognitive and physical abilities, and higher mortality rates. One hypothesis for this gap is called the"mother's curse," which suggests that mitochondria are inherited from mothers and thus mutations that harm males but not females can potentially accumulate over generations.6. Epigenetic Age: Biologically, Women Are Younger Than Men With the Same Birthdayepigenetic age than women. While this is still an emerging area of research, there appear to be some sex-related differences in DNA methylation patterns that lead men to be"epigenetically older" than their same-age female counterparts.Biology isn't the whole story. Compared with women, men also tend to engage in riskier behaviors and lifestyle choices that can shorten their lifespan. Here are the vices worth noting:Statistics show that men are more likely to drive drunk, speed, smoke, or engage in otherwise dangerous behavior . This risky behavior can raise the risk of death from accidents and violence. Why are men less risk-averse? Social expectations surely play some role, but it's also likely due to how hormones affect parts of the brain associated with decision-making.use is more common in men than in women. But it's worth noting that this gap is closing, and we may see the effects on female lifespan statistics if this trend continues.Historically, men tended to imbibe more alcohol than women. This gap, too, is closing as women have been drinking more. But similar to smoking, it's too soon to see the effects of this change., by which we mean both illegal drugs and misuse of prescription medication. They're also more likely to overdose and require drug-related visits to the emergency room.Men may work in more dangerous jobs , and this increases their risk of work-related accidents.In addition to avoiding healthcare, men may also be less likely to seek out help in general, preferring to"handle it themselves." This applies whether they're lost driving and won't ask for directions or need emotional support.While men and women tend to report similar levels of loneliness and report having social networks of about the same size, men tend to reach out to their social networks less frequently than women do. Single men, specifically, seem to be more isolated than single women. Social isolation is well-documented to put a dent in both the quality and quantity of our years.How Men Can Narrow the Longevity Gap Men can help close the lifespan gap by tackling the lifestyle and behavioral factors that contribute to earlier death. Here's what that looks like in practice.or none at all. The CDC defines"moderate" drinking as no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. If you drink more than this, cut back or quit altogether., especially if you work in a hazardous job. Wear protective gear, handle potentially dangerous materials properly, and follow safety protocols without cutting corners.for bloodwork and a general checkup—or more frequently if you have existing health conditions or a family history of serious illness. Don't fall victim to toxic ideas of masculinity. When you're struggling—physically, mentally, or emotionally—talk to friends, family members, or a professional.Men don't really start"falling behind" at any specific age. In fact, certain factors may be present starting at birth. However, men are more likely to die at many stages of life. Men aged 15-40 are about three times more likely to die than women of the same age bracket.It might seem as if the answer to this question is an obvious"yes" since women live longer, but there's a catch: those extra years are not always good ones.and non-communicable illnesses than men. While there is a female advantage to lifespan, there is a male advantage to healthspan.The female survival advantage is real and rooted in both biology and behavior .
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