Did you know that, scientifically, women live longer than men by at least 7 years? And Science already knows how to explain why!
It’s no secret that men have some advantages throughout life. They, for example, tend to gain muscle mass faster, suffer less social pressure and have greater physical strength. However, when it comes to longevity, there is no doubt: women live longer than men in practically all regions of the world.
According to 2016 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the life expectancy of men around the world is 69.8 years. In relation to women, this average rises to 73.8 years.
In Brazil, the average longevity for both sexes is more generous and reaches a life expectancy considered above healthy by at least a decade.
Here, according to IBGE, the vast majority of Brazilian men live 71.9 years; while women live 79.1 years. In other words, they live another 7 years, on average.
After all, why do women live longer?
According to experts, there is no conclusive explanation for this question, although there are some well-accepted answers to it. The first of them, in fact, is the fact that women take better care of themselves throughout their lives.
In general, women smoke less, drink less, work less demanding jobs, go to the doctor more, take more tests and take more care of their diet than men. In short, they harm their bodies less.
Violence
Another reason, even pointed out by IBGE itself, is that violent deaths still affect the male population more intensely.
And, in this case, it is possible to include not only deaths caused by firearms, but also car accidents and incidents caused by the abuse of alcoholic beverages and other drugs.
In 1980, for example, Brazilian men were up to 2 times more likely to die at age 22 than Brazilian women.
Also according to IBGE, in 2009, this probability doubled and the chances of death before the age of 23 were estimated at one female death for 4.5 male deaths.
Female hormones
But Science suspects that these are not the only factors that explain why women live longer than men. This is because this “phenomenon” does not only happen to human beings, but to several other species in nature.
Because of this, there is a suspicion that the difference between male and female hormones is one of the causes of women’s advantage in terms of longevity.
According to doctors, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone can keep the immune system stronger. Estrogen, for example, works as an antioxidant, protecting women from free radicals and neutralizing toxic substances that stress cells.
Furthermore, throughout life, women always seek hormone replacement in some way, which helps prevent a series of diseases. This is why, in addition to living longer, women tend to have a better quality of life than men.
male hormone
Testosterone, on the other hand, has a negative effect on the aging of men, according to studies. At least that’s what scientists were able to observe in relation to eunuchs, men who had to have their scrotum removed, and who had a longer life expectancy by suppressing the production of the male hormone.
This same pattern, in fact, is repeated in nature. According to records, castrated animals live longer than non-castrated ones.
The most accepted explanation for this, according to experts at University College London, in the United Kingdom, is that testosterone is very beneficial in men’s early adult life, increasing seminal production and improving male physical performance.
However, in the long term, it promotes prostate cancer, leads to hypertension and arteriosclerosis.
Interesting, right? Now, taking advantage of the “trick in the ears of males on duty” for health care, they should all also read: Cell phones in your front pocket can make men infertile.
Sources: Uol, Correio do Estado
