Last week, one of the major announcements in the country was the extension of the Narendra Modi government’s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, to people above the age of 70.
One of the interesting aspects to emerge from the announcement is government data showing that more than half of individuals aged 70 and over are women, with 54 per cent widowed.
This reflects that women live longer than men, a fact that multiple studies consistently show to be true. According to an analysis of United Nations data, World Population Prospects (2022), in 2021 the global difference in life expectancy was five years, with women averaging 73.8 years compared to 68.4 years for men.
According to the latest figures – which were last updated on 12 July 2024 – in some countries life expectancy for women is significantly higher than for men, while in others it is only slightly higher.
For example, in Russia, the average life expectancy of women is 12 years longer than that of men. The average life expectancy for men is about 67 years, while for women it is 79 years. Similarly, in Belarus, life expectancy for men is around 69 years, while for women it is 79 years. In Kazakhstan, women are expected to live up to 78 years, while men live to be (on average) 70 years old.
In India, the average life expectancy for men is 70 years, while for women it is 73 years.
Let’s explore the factors that contribute to women’s longer life spans and why men generally live less than women.
Many scientists and researchers have tried to find the 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 now live longer than men in all countries of the world, and that the gap is greatest in high-income countries, although the gap is not as great in rich countries , as it was in the past.
“Patriarchal countries in the Middle East have very low gaps in life expectancy, and high-income Western countries have narrowed their gender gap in life expectancy as women have achieved greater gender equality.”
Infarction is higher in men
Biologically, the presence of the hormone estrogen in women’s bodies is believed to help protect the heart along with reducing inflammation and improving muscle mass and bone density.
Studies have shown that women are diagnosed with heart disease about a decade later than men, usually after menopause, when the protective effects of estrogen are weakened.
Experts also believe that women have stronger social circles in which to share their stress and ultimately manage it better than men.
Excessive smoking, drinking, lack of judgment
According to Robert H. Shmerling, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, there are several reasons why the male-female ratio, which is roughly equal in young adulthood, shifts more and more in favor of women over time.
On the Harvard Health Blog, Shmerling listed seven reasons behind men’s shorter life expectancy, including a higher risk of heart attack, risk from hazardous occupations, death by suicide, less social contact and a tendency to avoid doctors.
Shmerling pointed out that men take time to mature and therefore take more risks in life, demonstrating a lack of judgment.
“The frontal lobe of the brain – the part that controls judgment and weighing the consequences of actions – develops more slowly in boys and young men than in their female counterparts. This can contribute to many more boys and men dying in accidents or as a result of violence than girls and women.’
He added: “Examples include cycling, drink driving and murder. This tendency to lack judgment and consider consequences can also contribute to young men’s negative lifestyle choices, such as smoking or excessive drinking.
His analysis is consistent with UN data showing that youth mortality among boys and men is higher due to accidents, violence, suicide, poisoning and other causes, while it is low among women.
Unique genetic makeup
The data show that the difference in life expectancy begins at birth. Boys have a higher mortality rate compared to newborn girls because boys have an increased risk of disease and genetic disorders.
Males have XY chromosomes while females have XX chromosomes. It is thought that the Y chromosome in males tends to develop mutations more often than the X chromosome. “…The lack of a second X chromosome in males means that X-linked abnormalities in boys are not ‘masked’ by a second, normal version…” he explained Shmerling in his blog.
He said that in utero survival is also less reliable for male fetuses (for uncertain and probably multiple reasons) and developmental disorders are also more common in boys; some of them can shorten life expectancy.
In short, while researchers are still understanding the specific reasons for differences in life expectancy, the question of why women generally live longer than men remains largely unanswered. This could be attributed to the unique genetic makeup of women who have XX chromosomes and estrogen, or perhaps it is due to factors such as better stress management and a social circle that contributes to their longevity.
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