Ye, betul. Men have a shorter life expectancy than women.
Rupa rupanya 1 in 5 men will die before their 65th birthday because men are more at risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to women. But despite knowing that men are more prone to this leading cause of death, men are still not as proactive as women about their own health. Interestingly, many of us are aware that when illnesses or diseases are spotted early, then treatment will be more effective. Tetapi ramai je lelaki yang continue to neglect their health, ignoring certain signs and symptoms until it is too lat./e.
But the big question is…
Kenapa Lelaki Die Earlier Than Women?
For starters, biology may be one factor why women live longer than men. While women are blessed with two X chromosomes, men have X and Y chromosomes. Now, ingat ni because it’s going to be important.
So, moving on.
While the majority of women find menstrual cycle a (literal) pain, what the ladies might not be aware of is that it has its advantages too. For instance, did you know that a woman’s heart rate increases during the menstrual cycle and that it offers the same benefits as moderate exercises? Sure, maybe the difference is sikit je but it doesn’t dismiss the fact that it does have an impact on the way the cells age.
Nevertheless, it is theorised that having two X chromosomes may offer women a genetic advantage over men because the female body keeps two copies of every gene. In other words, women have a “spare gene” in the event the first copy is damaged. Unfortunately, men do not have that advantage. This working theory suspects that this is one of the reasons why men are at a greater risk of a handful of diseases due to the fact that more and more cells begin to malfunction with time.
While we are still on the topic of biology: thanks to estrogen, the hormone actually helps to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). So, how does this benefit women? Well, it reduces cardiovascular risk amongst women.
Meanwhile, testosterone operates the complete opposite – it increases blood levels of bad cholesterol and decreases the levels of good cholesterol. That is why men are more at risk of hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
To top it all off, men are more at risk of fatal diseases and conditions, so much so that heart disease typically begins 10 years earlier in men compared to women. Women, on the other hand, are at a higher risk of chronic diseases such as arthritis, which can be disabling, but not at all fatal.
Or maybe, just maybe, it could be a matter of size.
Tall(er) people are more prone to developing harmful mutations because they have more cells in their bodies. Additionally, bigger bodies burn more energy compared to their petite counterparts, which contributes to wear and tear of the tissues. Because men, generally, tend to be taller than women, they are at risk of more long-term damages.
Men Can’t Do Anything About It Ke?
Mesti lah boleh!
It sounds like such a simplistic solution, but the truth is playing a more proactive role on your health, to lead a healthier life is the first step to improving your life expectancy. Some of the changes men can consider are:
- Do not smoke or drink
- Eat a healthier diet
- Exercise at least three times a week
- Getting enough sleep and rest
- Learn to manage your stress levels
- Go for regular doctor visits, inducing annual check ups
Paling penting is point 6 lah.
So, schedule an appointment with your nearest and reliable general practitioner to undergo a basic check-up, start being more informed and gather information on your family’s health history.
Men, it is high time that you take charge of your health because your health does matter. And if you need a little motivation: think about your loved ones.
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
