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5 Reasons Why Women Live Longer Than Men


"Women on average live anywhere from 5 to 10 years longer than men".


Many factors determine the life expectancy differences between men and women.

Men have higher tendency to get involved in risky and violent behaviour than women.

For instance more men die in war, rival clashes, reprisal attacks than women.

However, majority factors that influence life expectancy are of genetic composition.

Women typically live longer than men because of their genes.

Below are some of factors that influence life expectancy difference between men and women:

1. Sex Hormones

Male sex hormones increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases while of female does the opposite.

Male and female gonads produce sex hormones necessary for the growth and development of primary and secondary reproductive organs.

The male sex hormone "testosterone" raises levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The female sex hormone estrogen however, lowers LDL levels and raises high-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels, hence reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular related diseases.

Though, women tend to develop cardiovascular diseases later in life, typically after menopause.

But the diseases kill men sooner than women, since they tend to develop these diseases earlier in life.

2. Mutations in Sex Chromosomes

Genetic mutations in sex chromosomes also influence life expectancy. 

The sex chromosomes in male are XY while in female are XX.

Sex-linked  gene mutations that occur on the X chromosome will be expressed in males because they only have one X chromosome.

These mutations often result in diseases that lead to premature death.

For instance haemophilia (bleeding disease) is usually passed from mother to son but not mother to daughter.

Since females have two X chromosomes, a gene mutation on one X chromosome can be compensated by the other X chromosome as a result of dominance relationships between alleles.

3. Men Age Faster

Many researchers suggested that the key reason why women live longer than men is due to gene mutation. 

Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA  of men account largely for the differences in life expectancy between men and women.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA were found to increase the rate at which males age, thus lowering their life expectancy.

But these same mutations in females however, do not influence aging.

4. Men's Immune System Age Faster than Women's

In both male and female, the number of white blood cells (WBCs)  decrease with age.

As men age, the rate of decrease in specific lymphocytes (B cells, The cells, and natural killer cells) is faster than in women.

Also, high rate of decline in red blood cells (RBCs)  is occurs in men as they age, but not in women.

5. Men are the Primary Preys of Attack

In time of war, rival clashes, reprisal attacks, etc men are mostly the primary targets to be killed.

Women are often abused sexually or in other way but less often killed in such scenarios.

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