Last week, one of the biggest announcements in the country was the expansion of the Narendra Modi government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to cover people over the age of 70.
One of the interesting things that came out of the announcement is the government statistics which show that more than half of the people aged 70 and over are women where 54 percent are widows.
This shows that women live longer than men, which many studies have shown to be true. According to the analysis of United Nations statistics, World Population Prospects (2022) in 2021, the world life expectancy gap was five years, with women having an average of 73.8 years compared to 68.4 years for men.
According to the latest data – which was last updated on 12 July 2024 – in some countries, the life expectancy of women is significantly higher than that of men, while in others, it is only slightly higher.
In Russia, for example, women’s life expectancy is 12 years longer than men’s. Life expectancy for men is around 67 years and for women it is 79 years. Similarly, in Belarus, life expectancy for men is around 69 years and for women it is 79 years. In Kazakhstan, women are expected to live up to 78 years while men are expected to live live up to 70 years (on average).
In India, the life expectancy for men is 70 years and for women it is 73 years.
Let’s examine the factors that contribute to women’s longevity and why men generally live less than women.
Many scientists and researchers have tried to find a scientific reason why men often die earlier than women. For example: In 2021, a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health noted that women are now living longer than men in all countries of the world and that the difference is even greater in high-income countries, although the gap it is. not as big in rich countries as it used to be.
“The patriarchal countries of the Middle East have very small life expectancy differences and high-income western countries have narrowed the gender life expectancy gap as women have achieved greater gender equality.”
Heart Attack Is Higher Among Men
Biologically, it is believed that the presence of estrogen hormone in women’s bodies helps protect the heart as well as reduce inflammation and improve muscle and bone density.
Studies have shown that women are diagnosed with heart disease about a decade later than men, generally in the postmenopausal period when the protective effects of estrogen are reduced.
Experts also believe that women have stronger social circles where they share their stress and end up managing stress better than men.
Excessive smoking, Alcohol consumption, Impairment of judgement
According to Robert H Shmerling, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, there are several reasons why the ratio of men to women, which is roughly equal in young adulthood, increasingly shifts in favor of women over time.
In the Harvard Health Blog, Shmerling listed seven reasons behind men’s shorter life expectancy, including a greater likelihood of heart attacks, risks from hazardous work, suicide, fewer social connections and a tendency to avoid doctors. .
Shmerling pointed out that men take longer to mature and therefore, take greater risks in life, showing a lack of decision.
“The frontal lobe of the brain – the part that controls decision-making and considering the consequences of action – develops more slowly in boys and boys than in their female counterparts. This may contribute to the fact that more boys and men die in accidents or from violence than girls and women. “
He added: “Examples include cycling, drunk driving, and murder. This tendency to be indecisive and focus on consequences can also contribute to poor lifestyle decisions among young men, such as smoking or drinking too much alcohol.”
His analysis is consistent with United Nations data showing that youth death rates among boys and men are higher due to accidents, violence, suicide, poisoning, and other causes while it is lower among women.
Unique genetic structure
Statistics show that the gap in life expectancy begins at birth. Baby boys have higher mortality rates compared to baby girls as boys have a higher risk of diseases and genetic disorders.
Males have XY chromosomes and females have XX chromosomes. It is believed that the Y chromosome in males is mutated more frequently than the X chromosome. “…The lack of a second X chromosome in males means that X-linked defects among boys are not “suppressed” by the second, normal version…” Shmerling explained in his blog.
He said that survival in the womb is also not dependent on male fetuses (for reasons that are uncertain, and probably many) and developmental problems are also more common among boys; some of these can shorten life expectancy.
In short, although researchers are still understanding the specific reasons for the difference in life expectancy, the question of why women generally live longer than men remains unanswered. It may be related to the unique nature of women having the XX chromosome and oestrogen, or perhaps it is due to factors such as better stress management and social circle that contribute to their longevity.
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