In our country, the average life expectancy for men is 72 years, for women it is 77 years, with women living 5 years longer than men. It’s not just in our country, in various countries around the world, the average life expectancy for women is almost 5-10 years longer than men.
Although life expectancy is influenced by genetic factors, the relationship with environmental factors is even more significant. The reason why male life expectancy is shorter than females is largely attributed to poor male lifestyle habits. Several common factors that shorten male life expectancy are advised to be avoided.
Common factors that shorten male life expectancy
Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, one of the most common diseases among men. Smoking can decrease your life expectancy. While not smoking doesn’t guarantee longevity, long-term smoking almost certainly reduces life expectancy. The harmful substances in cigarettes amount to thousands, leading to increased chances of liver, lung, and cardiovascular problems with prolonged smoking.
Alcohol consumption can lead to pancreatitis, an often overlooked condition. The likelihood of pancreatic issues arising in men over 40 is relatively high. Pancreatic problems are hard to detect early, usually diagnosed at a later stage, significantly impacting life expectancy. Alcohol also damages the liver, increasing the risk of liver diseases with excessive consumption.
As men reach middle age, they are prone to developing a beer belly, a significant increase in abdominal fat. A large belly is unfavorable as it indicates excessive visceral fat, elevating the risk of cardiovascular complications and ultimately shortening life expectancy.
Men are often considered the backbone of their families, carrying heavy responsibilities and facing significant mental stress. High mental stress is detrimental to life expectancy. Emotional well-being influences longevity, excessive mental stress leads to increased negative emotions, such as anger and anxiety, burdening the internal organs, disrupting blood circulation, ultimately shortening life expectancy.
After falling ill, men often tend to tough it out, unwilling to seek medical attention, a harmful practice. According to surveys, 67% of men state that they would not seek medical help unless they experience severe symptoms like chest pain or dizziness. The number of men who voluntarily undergo health check-ups is only half that of women. Neglecting minor ailments can escalate into severe conditions, affecting life expectancy.
Due to heavy workloads, indulgence in gaming, and other factors, men tend to stay up late. Regular sleep deprivation can strain the cervical spine, cause eye strain, liver damage, disrupt hormones, significantly impacting health. Prolonged sleep deprivation decreases memory function, accelerates cognitive decline, raises the risk of dementia, thus affecting life expectancy.
Excessive fatigue is also a notable factor in shortening male life expectancy. Overexertion puts the body in a state of exhaustion, weakening the immune system, making it vulnerable to bacterial infections. Prolonged overexertion can lead to liver and kidney issues, cardiovascular complications, inadvertently shortening life expectancy.
Without avoiding these factors, life expectancy is unlikely to be considerably extended. To enhance longevity, men should steer clear of smoking and alcohol, manage body weight, combat abdominal obesity, regulate mental well-being, control emotions, promptly seek medical attention when unwell, avoid sleep deprivation, ensure bedtime before 11 p.m., maintain a balance between work and rest, avoid excessive exertion.
Additionally, dietary control is crucial – reduce consumption of high-fat, sugary foods, opt for a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and adopt a light diet. Avoid prolonged sitting, engage in moderate physical exercise such as push-ups, squats, running, all of which are beneficial for men’s health. Cultivate good lifestyle habits, undergo regular health check-ups after 50, evade factors that shorten life expectancy – with these practices, longevity should not be unattainable for you.
