Exploring Longevity: Why Women Live Longer Than Men

For a long time, people have been curious about the disparity in longevity between men and women. Globally, women often outlive males by several years. While factors like genetics, hormones, and environment play a role in longevity, it's crucial to recognize that life expectancy varies, and a longer life isn't guaranteed. Adopting habits such as maintaining a balanced diet, managing stress, regular exercise, minimizing harmful behaviours, and ensuring overall well-being through a healthy lifestyle can contribute to longer, healthier lives for both men and women.

Women's  Ageing Process

Women's ageing processes are very unique. Although there are some broad patterns, each woman's experience and management of ageing are unique and greatly influenced by her genetics, lifestyle, and general health. Women can age gracefully and retain their well-being by adopting a proactive attitude to health, which includes routine check-ups with the doctor and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Hormonal Changes Over Time:

Hormones like estrogen and progesterone play a crucial role in influencing our mood, energy levels, and overall well-being throughout life. In puberty, these hormonal changes bring about both physical and emotional transformations. The menstrual cycle sees fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, impacting mood and energy. Pregnancy introduces a surge in hormones essential for fetal development but affecting the mother's emotional state. In menopause, the decline in estrogen levels influences mood and energy in a different way. Understanding these hormonal nuances helps grasp the physiological basis of mood and energy variations at different life stages.

Physical Changes and Wellness Strategies

As we age, our skin changes, leading to wrinkles and sagging due to less collagen and elastin production. To address this, using sunscreen and a good skincare routine becomes crucial. Bone health is a concern as density decreases, making bones more brittle. Bone density scans, weight-bearing activities, and enough calcium are important to prevent issues like osteoporosis.

Metabolism slows with age, making weight management challenging. Staying active and eating nutritious meals helps in maintaining weight and avoiding related health problems. Decreased muscle mass affects strength and flexibility. To counter this, include resistance training and regular physical activity to maintain muscle mass and functionality.

Reproductive Health:

As women age, reproductive health undergoes significant changes.Aging affects fertility, introducing challenges such as irregular menstrual cycles. Menopause, typically occurring around age 50, signifies the cessation of reproductive capabilities due to declining hormone levels. The interplay between genetics and reproductive health is crucial.Genetic predispositions and family history influence fertility and the timing of menopause. Acknowledging these genetic factors empowers individuals in making informed choices about family planning and personalized reproductive health management.

Gender Differences in Life Expectancy of Male vs Female

In human existence, differences exist between male and female lifespans, with women tending to live longer. In India, the average life expectancy difference between males and females is 2.49 years. Globally, most countries report an average life expectancy at birth of 79 years for women and 72 years for men. In less developed countries, high women's mortality is attributed to factors like a lack of access to healthcare, inadequate nutrition, and limited awareness of issues like haemorrhage. Biologically, women exhibit high resistance to diseases and infections. The additional X chromosome in females provides protection against microbes and viral infections, modulating both innate and adaptive immunity (Schurz et al., 2019).

Lifestyle choices also play a significant role in health. Men often engage in harmful activities such as taking risks for fun, driving aggressively, and participating in physical fights, leading to a greater need for medical attention. The testosterone hormone plays a substantial role in increasing blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke risks, while also sometimes reducing good cholesterol levels. In contrast, estrogen protects women from heart failure.

What are the factors Affecting Women's Longevity

Women face distinct challenges in their quest for a longer and healthier lifespan. Their longevity is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, making it crucial to understand these elements.

Lifestyle Choices

Empowering women to make informed lifestyle choices is pivotal. This involves outlining the correlation between healthy lifestyle practices and increased lifespan. Scientific evidence supports the idea that maintaining a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and engaging in regular physical activity can be considered the elixir of longevity. Women can enhance their lifespan significantly by avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both of which are leading causes of various cancers and cardiovascular diseases. 

Hormonal Changes

Estrogen, beyond its impact on the ageing process, emerges as a protagonist in the longevity saga, underscoring the multifaceted influence of estrogen on various organ systems. This hormonal harmony not only affects the ageing process but also contributes to overall health and longevity.

Women's hormonal fluctuations, especially during menopause, can bring negative impacts that could shorten life expectancy. Certain health issues like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline may become more likely as a result of these changes. Hormonal imbalances can also cause symptoms that affect one's general state of well-being, potentially influencing lifestyle decisions and overall health.

Mental Well-being: The Mind-Body Connection

Scientific literature underscores the profound impact of mental well-being on longevity. Stress management, social connections, and cognitive stimulation play pivotal roles in shaping the narrative of a longer, more fulfilling life.

As women age and enter menopause, hormonal shifts can make them more susceptible to conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood swings. It highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health strategies to ensure a healthier and more resilient ageing process.

Socioeconomic Factors: The Silent Contributors

Delving into the intricacies of longevity involves acknowledging the influence of socioeconomic factors. Education, income, and access to healthcare contribute significantly to women's lifespans. Addressing these factors not only enhances longevity but also promotes equitable health outcomes.

Lower-income individuals often face limited access to high-quality healthcare checkups, screenings, and nutritious food. They can only access a restricted range of nutritious foods, often opting for less healthy alternatives. Poor nutritional choices impact physical well-being, and financial instability and economic hardships can lead to stress, affecting both physical and mental health.

Cultural and Environmental Factors

Environmental and cultural factors wield a significant influence on women's life expectancy. In countries marked by gender gaps, women often face limited access to healthcare and education. Harmful cultural practices, including female genital mutilation and underage marriage, contribute to health problems and impede overall well-being.

Women's health is further compromised by environmental issues such as air pollution and poor water quality. Additionally, the disproportionate impact of war and violence on women raises death rates, amplifying the challenges to their longevity. The combined effect of these factors diminishes women's life expectancies in specific areas and communities. Addressing these cultural and environmental challenges is crucial for fostering gender equality and improving the overall health and longevity of women.

Reasons Why Women Live Longer Than Men

Women tend to live longer than men due to a combination of biological, behavioural, and healthcare factors. Genetic advantages, such as having two X chromosomes and higher estrogen levels, may offer some protection. Women's healthier habits, greater healthcare-seeking behaviour, and more effective stress management contribute to their longer life expectancy.

• Biological Differences: Genetics play a crucial role. The presence of two X chromosomes in women may provide a survival advantage (Davis et al., 2018). Additionally, study says women have higher levels of the hormone estrogen, which may have preventive effects against various disorders.

• Behaviour: Differences in dietary habits and physical activity between men and women are noteworthy. Risky behaviours like smoking and binge drinking are more common among men, elevating the risk of accidents and chronic illnesses. Loneliness can also lead to behavioural changes, inducing anxiety and fear in women.

• Healthcare: Women are more likely to follow medical advice and schedule routine check-ups with healthcare providers. Proactive health management can result in early identification and improved handling of medical conditions.

• Stress Management Women often respond to stress differently than men, typically turning to social support and adopting healthier coping mechanisms. Persistent stress can significantly impact longevity and overall health (Mariotti, 2015).

How to Slow Down Ageing in Women

Slowing down the ageing process in women is a holistic approach that involves taking care of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here are key strategies to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Healthy Diet

Scientific evidence strongly supports a diet rich in antioxidants. Incorporating colourful fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids can combat oxidative stress and promote skin elasticity. The ageing process in women can be significantly slowed down by following a nutritious diet. The body requires vitamins, minerals, and vital amino acids from nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, for optimum cellular function and repair. These foods are rich in antioxidants that fight against free radicals and oxidative stress, known to hasten aging and contribute to some age-related illnesses. Adequate water intake is essential for a balanced diet, keeping the skin supple, minimizing wrinkles, and imparting a youthful appearance to the skin.

One of the most important things you can do to slow ageing is to drink enough water. Maintaining healthy skin and a youthful appearance requires adequate moisture. Proper hydration of the body makes skin cells look fuller and plumper, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Besides preserving the skin's natural suppleness, proper hydration also helps the skin stay tight.

Dehydration can lead to dry, flaky skin, accentuating existing wrinkles. Moreover, well-hydrated skin is better equipped to defend against environmental stresses like pollution and UV rays, both of which accelerate the ageing process. Additionally, sufficient water intake facilitates the delivery of vital nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, promoting skin cell renewal and repair.

Regular Exercise

Engaging in regular physical activity is a potent tool in the quest to slow down ageing. Exercise not only maintains muscle mass but also enhances cardiovascular health, contributing to youthful vitality. Women can slow down the ageing process by participating in regular exercise, providing a comprehensive strategy that enhances mental, emotional, and physical health. As people age, the loss of muscle mass and bone density decreases. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Additionally, regular exercise improves metabolic health, reduces the risk of age-related chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, and aids in weight management. It is also essential for preserving balance and flexibility, lowering the chance of injuries common in the elderly. Exercise releases endorphins regularly, providing psychological and emotional benefits.

Sun Smart: Protect Your Skin

The sun, while a source of vitality, can also hasten aging. Emphasize sun protection as a crucial anti-aging strategy. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to shield your skin from harmful UV rays, preserving its youthful glow. Premature ageing of the skin is mostly caused by exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation causes collagen and elastin fibres to break down, essential for preserving the firmness of the skin. Additionally, it results in the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, fine lines, and uneven skin texture. Long-term sun exposure without sufficient protection plays a major role in the development of these obvious ageing symptoms.

Applying sunscreen with a broad spectrum of UV protection and using protective apparel like sunglasses creates a barrier against UV damage. This reduces the chance of developing skin cancer and maintains the skin's youthful appearance.

Beauty Sleep is Real

Sleep is not just a daily necessity; it's a crucial ally in the battle against ageing. Quality sleep has a significant impact on skin health and overall well-being. Aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep to create an optimal environment for cellular repair and regeneration.

For women, getting enough sleep is essential to delaying the ageing process. The body undergoes crucial processes during sleep, directly affecting general health and a youthful appearance. Cells, especially those in the skin, replenish and repair during sleep, reducing ageing symptoms like wrinkles and fine lines.

Moreover, sufficient sleep strengthens the immune system, making the body more resilient to infections and long-term conditions that might hasten aging. Deep sleep and hormonal homeostasis are closely related, supporting growth hormone secretion and tissue repair by maintaining lean muscle mass. Women can maintain their mental and emotional well-being by getting enough sleep, which is also necessary for cognitive performance and memory power.

Stress Less, Live More

Chronic stress accelerates ageing, but managing stress can be transformative. Incorporate stress reduction techniques, including mindfulness and meditation, into your routine to promote mental well-being and slow down the ageing process. Stress management is essential for delaying the ageing process in women. Prolonged stress sets off a series of physiological reactions that can be harmful to the body, such as the release of stress hormones like cortisol and age-related problems, including immune system dysfunction, inflammation, and cellular damage, which accelerate the ageing process.

Furthermore, stress can result in unhealthy coping strategies like binge eating, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol, all of which contribute to the ageing process. By using stress reduction methods like yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness, individuals can lessen their stress levels.

Stay Socially Active

Maintaining social connections is a key ingredient in the recipe for longevity. Recognize the positive impact of social engagement on cognitive health. Foster meaningful relationships to enrich your life and slow down the ageing clock. Incorporating these strategies into your lifestyle creates a holistic approach to slowing down ageing in women. Remember, ageing is a natural process, but embracing these practices can add vibrancy and vitality to the journey.

Having strong social bonds can affect one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Whether with friends, family, or the community, maintaining robust relationships fosters emotional support, lowers stress levels, and improves overall psychological health. There is a chance of reducing the risk of developing age-related diseases like anxiety, sadness, and cognitive impairment. Social interaction frequently promotes a more active lifestyle because friends and social groups can inspire people to engage in physical activity, which preserves their physical well-being and mobility.

Longevity Supplements for Women

Longevity supplements for women encompass a range of essential compounds designed to address skin ageing and overall health. Key components include NMN - Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a precursor to NAD+ that combats age-related decline by enhancing DNA repair, activating sirtuins, stabilising telomere length, and improving cognitive and cardiovascular function. Trans-resveratrol, an antioxidant, neutralizes free radicals responsible for skin ageing, activates sirtuins for DNA repair, and supports brain health. Ca-AKG, or Alpha-ketoglutarate, crucial in the Krebs cycle, plays a pivotal role in neuroprotection, skin health, and combating factors such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, TMG - Trimethylglycine, found in beetroot, works synergistically with NMN to promote cellular health, reduce homocysteine levels, support heart health, and contribute to athletic performance while addressing aspects of ageing. These supplements collectively offer a comprehensive approach to enhancing longevity and well-being in women.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women's longevity is influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices, healthcare practices, hormonal changes, and emotional well-being. While some factors, like genetics, cannot be controlled. Adopting healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, balanced lifestyle, regular health check-ups, and the use of longevity supplements can contribute to a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life. Women have an extra X chromosome which helps them fight infections, while men do not have it. By making informed choices and taking care of physical, mental, and emotional well-being, women can age gracefully and enjoy a better quality of life. 

 

 

FAQs

1) What is the life expectancy of a female?

The life expectancy of a female varies by country and region, but on a global average, it's approximately 73 to 76 years. However, this can change based on factors like healthcare, lifestyle, and genetics. It's important to note that these figures are subject to change over time due to advancements in healthcare and other factors.

2) What is the life expectancy of a male?

The life expectancy of a male varies by country and region, but the global average is around 71 years. Factors like genetics, lifestyle, healthcare access, and environmental conditions can influence individual life expectancy. It's important to note that these numbers can change over time due to advances in healthcare and societal factors.

3) Why do females have longer life expectancy?

Because of various biological and social processes, women often live longer than men do. Sociocultural factors include women taking fewer risks and adopting healthier behaviours; biological factors include the protective effects of oestrogen on the cardiovascular system. The gender difference in life expectancy is influenced by several factors.

4) What is women's longevity in India?

The average life expectancy for women in India is approximately 68 years. However, this can vary significantly depending on factors such as region, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare. In urban areas and among more privileged populations, women tend to have higher life expectancies, while in rural and disadvantaged areas, it may be lower.

5) Are women healthier than men?

There isn’t an answer to whether women are healthier than men, as health depends on various factors. Women tend to live longer and are less prone to certain diseases, but they may face unique health challenges like reproductive issues. Overall, health disparities between genders exist, but it varies based on individual circumstances and lifestyles.

 

References

Schurz, H., Salie, M., Tromp, G., Hoal, E. G., Kinnear, C. J., & Möller, M. (2019). The X chromosome and sex-specific effects in infectious disease susceptibility. Human genomics, 13(1), 1-12.

https://humgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40246-018-0185-z 

Davis, E. J., Lobach, I., & Dubal, D. B. (2019). Female XX sex chromosomes increase survival and extend lifespan in aging mice. Aging cell, 18(1), e12871.

https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12871 

Mariotti, A. (2015). The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication. Future science OA, 1(3).

https://doi.org/10.4155/fso.15.21