Why do elderly women far exceed men? Perhaps it is related to these four points, most of which are worth learning by men
Why are there so many women living long lives? Only because of these commonalities, the last two points that men can learn from
People have never stopped exploring longevity, and the aspects involved are increasing. It might have been limited to genetic factors and physical fitness, but gradually people started paying attention to living environment, habits, and gender, which also reflects their desire for longevity. In fact, the pursuit of longevity can be traced back thousands of years. Even in times of extreme material scarcity, people never stopped aspiring for longevity. Over the years, with the improvement of living standards and medical technology, life expectancy has been extended, leading to a greater desire for longevity.
For many, longevity is seen as something that can’t be sought but only encountered by luck. However, through experiments and data analysis in recent years, it has been found that long-lived individuals tend to cluster, perhaps in certain similar living environments or sharing similar routines. There might even be strong gender characteristics. For instance, in our country, there are nearly 12 million elderly people over the age of 80, with around 7.5 million being women and about 4.5 million men. Regardless of the country, men’s average lifespan is generally at least 5 years shorter than women, which poses interesting reflections.
Why do elderly women far exceed men? Perhaps it is related to these four points, most of which are worth learning by men
Chromosome factors
With the spread of knowledge, it is now common knowledge that the sex of offspring is not determined by women but by men playing a crucial role. Regardless, women can only pass on an X chromosome, while the other determines the child’s sex. Women typically have XX chromosomes, while men have XY chromosomes, meaning if there is an issue with one of a woman’s chromosomes, the other can provide support and aid in repairing. This is not the case for men, hence women tend to age at a slower rate than men.
Lifestyle factors
Due to different body characteristics, the types of hormones secreted by the body also differ, leading to women having relatively weaker innate physical fitness compared to men. However, women are particularly attentive to body care and display strict discipline in various lifestyle habits. In contrast, men often have many unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, staying up late, neglecting hygiene, and so on. These seemingly common habits stealthily chip away at men’s lifespan.
Metabolism factors
Experimental data has shown that even though women have relatively weaker physical fitness, their metabolism rates are slower, resulting in lower substance requirements. This significantly reduces the operational burden on various organs as there is lower calorie consumption and oxygen intake. Consequently, the vitality of organs increases, and the aging process is relatively slower.
Survival mode factors
Although there have been global efforts to promote gender equality in recent years and achieved significant progress, gender equality does not imply that men and women should shoulder the same social responsibilities. Instead, it involves distributing responsibilities based on individual characteristics. Generally, men tend to engage in various physically and mentally demanding work to support their families, leading to higher overall stress levels. Prolonged exposure to repressed emotions disrupts the endocrine system and weakens the immune system, naturally resulting in a shorter lifespan compared to women.
Nutritionist’s perspective: The factors possessed by long-lived women, such as chromosome factors, cannot be emulated by men. However, survival mode, lifestyle habits, and metabolic factors can be improved through postnatal efforts. As long as one maintains a regular routine, finds suitable ways to relieve stress, and conserves physical energy, longevity may not be limited to women alone.
