Why do men have a shorter life expectancy than women?

If you have ever been to a nursing home or other senior community, you may have noticed that older women are usually outnumbered by men. According to statistics, the average life expectancy for men in China is 72.38 years, while the average life expectancy for women is 77.37 years, with men's average life expectancy being about 5 years shorter than women's.

Globally, the difference in life expectancy between men and women widens even more to 5-10 years, with 57% of people over 65 being women and the proportion of women increasing to 67% by the age of 85. So, why do men live much shorter lives than women?

First, in general, why do men have a shorter life expectancy than women?

In fact, in almost all societies, there is a gap between the life expectancy of men and women. The main reasons for this gap are the following.

1, chromosomal differences

It is well known that women have two X chromosomes, while men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. A recent study in the top international journal Science found that the reason why men's life expectancy is shorter than women's may be related to the loss of the Y chromosome in men.

The survey found that after men reach the age of 60, about 20 percent of them will have a Y chromosome deletion in some cells in their bodies, and the percentage rises to 40 percent after the age of 70.

Scientists have previously found that men with Y chromosome deletions are more likely to die at a younger age and are more likely to suffer from age-related diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

This new study shows that in addition to increasing the risk of age-related diseases, Y chromosome loss in men also increases the risk of myocardial scarring and may induce premature death due to heart failure.

Researchers also found that men with Y chromosome loss have an increased risk of dying from heart failure and other types of cardiovascular disease by about 30 percent and that the risk of death increases with chromosome loss, which is the most common cause of death in humans.

2. Differences in the role of sex hormones

Throughout a man's life, the androgen testosterone, in addition to stimulating male sexual desire, also helps regulate heart function and plays an important role in sperm production, bone health, energy levels, concentration and muscle mass.

As most men age, testosterone also naturally declines, and declining testosterone levels are an important factor in the development of many degenerative changes and chronic diseases in men.

But in reality, testosterone is also a double-edged sword. a 2005 clinical study showed that testosterone suppresses immune function, making men more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and more likely to die.

And another 2014 study found that older men treated with testosterone were more likely to have an acute, nonfatal heart attack. While higher testosterone levels are good for muscle growth, they may increase the metabolic burden on other organs in older men.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that men with both too little and too much testosterone are at risk for shorter life spans. Excessive testosterone levels may increase the risk of diseases such as sleep apnea, heart disease, and prostate cancer in men.

Although women also produce the androgen testosterone in their bodies, it is much less than in men, and women are protected by estrogen. Several studies have shown that higher levels of estrogen can help women prevent cardiovascular disease and cholesterol-related diseases, as well as protect and lengthen the telomeres of DNA, thereby reducing the incidence of disease.

3、Lifestyle differences

The shorter life expectancy of men than women is also related to differences in lifestyle habits. Biological and behavioral studies have shown that men are more likely to smoke, drink, use drugs, lack exercise and be overweight, and are also usually less likely to seek medical help early, and once diagnosed with a disease, men are more likely to not adhere to treatment.

In addition, men are also more avid than women in high-risk sports and activities, such as contact sports like boxing and wrestling, or driving cars, motorcycles, or race cars at high speeds, which leads to a greater risk of long-term disability and premature death due to adverse events such as car accidents, fights or shootouts.

Several epidemiological studies and related statistics have found that most women are more health conscious, usually pay more attention to health care, live a healthier lifestyle, are more physically active than men, and are more willing to go to the hospital for treatment in case of illness.

4, personality differences

The differences in the personalities of men and women also lead to a very different ways of dealing with stress and negative emotions in the face of men and women. When work or life is not as good or too much pressure, men are more inclined to suppress emotions, like to hold back; and women are better at talking, but also through crying and other ways to relieve pressure and improve the mood, which also led to a higher suicide rate of men than women.

Second, want to improve life expectancy, men may wish to learn from women these 4 points

If male friends want to become longer life, it is recommended to learn from women, to develop the following healthy habits.

Strengthen health awareness

Usually pay more attention to the changes in the body, if you find some small symptoms do not ignore them, once sick do not always tolerate them, and should be timely to the hospital and treatment of symptoms.

In addition, we should also develop the habit of regular medical checkups, at least once a year for health checkups, so that we can better understand the health situation, but also to prevent disease.

Change bad habits

Bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late can damage your health and increase the risk of many diseases such as cancer. Therefore, it is recommended that men who have the habit of smoking should quit smoking as soon as possible and drink alcohol in moderation in general, preferably in abstinence.

Also, pay attention to regular work and rest, and try to stay up as little as possible, to ensure that there is sufficient sleep time. The diet should pay attention to balanced nutrition, meat, and vegetables, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, and eating less fried, greasy, high salt, and spicy stimulating food.

Strengthen exercise

Moderate exercise helps to enhance physical fitness and reduce the risk of diseases associated with obesity. Men should adhere to daily exercise, at least five times a week, at least 30 minutes each time, brisk walking and jogging are good choices.

Keep a happy mood

Medical research shows that the stimulation of adverse mental factors will affect the body's metabolism, reduce immune function, and thus increase the risk of many diseases.

Keeping a good mind and a happy mood, and paying attention to the balance of adjusting psychological stress and negative emotions can help promote blood circulation, improve brain cell function, and can also strengthen the immune system.

The wish of many people is to be healthy and live a long life. Whether men or women, want to live longer, it is not difficult, the key is to develop good habits and maintain physical and mental health.