Women, why do they live longer than men?
Spanish women enjoy worse health than men, but they live 6 more years. Specifically, Spain is among the countries where women live the most, with an average of 85 years, only behind Japan, where they reach 87 years, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Although Spanish women enjoy poorer health than men, compared to European women, part of some pretty good health parameters: they smoke less (although it is increasing), drink less alcohol, they get more physical exercise and, on everything, with 85 years, has the longest life expectancy in the entire European Union.
Life expectancy for men is higher in Iceland, where men live 81 years on average. In this ranking, Spain does not appear among the first ten countries for life expectancy among men, and is currently in the79 years
Why do women live longer than men?
There are several causes that explain the 6-year gap between male and female life expectancy. Why do men live less than women in a developed country like Spain? By a combination of social causes, of life habits and, probably, of biological factors.
1. Medical advances. Currently, many fewer women die because of the risks arising from pregnancy and childbirth, thanks to advances in medicine.
2. Prudence. Women flee risk and are more prudent than men. A) Yesamong young people, many more men die than women. And it is that the risk considerably shortens the life expectancy of men. Between 15 and 34 years old, more than twice as many men die as women.
3. Suicide. Statistics reveal that suicide is the leading cause of unnatural death among young people. In this statistic there are also more men.
4. Mortality rate. Men outnumber women in the mortality rate. Males lead the mortality rate in the 15 leading causes of death, with the exception of Alzheimer's disease, which causes more deaths among females.
5. Personal care. Women take better care of themselves than men, but they also take more care of personal relationships. In general, they have a wider social network than men, and in this sense, several studies have shown that life expectancy is longer the more social support you have.
6. Habits of life. Men do more physical exercise than women, but their life habits are, in general, worse.
7. Medical attention. Faced with a health problem, men take much longer to go to the doctor than women.
Women live longer, but with a worse quality of life
It is a fact that women live longer, but also that they do it with a worse quality of life than men. Some of the reasons why women enjoy worse health are:
1. Cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer represent the main health problems between 45 and 65 years. In these 20 years, women have to take care of themselves and be more vigilant because it is the period of time with the highest risk of diseases.
And is that between 45 years and 65, women concentrate more health problems, linked to the risk of stroke, ischemic heart disease and breast cancer, which represent the main causes of serious disease among women.
2. Lung cancer it has increased considerably, due to the tobacco consumption that grows, more and more, among the female population.
3. The disability. Over the course of these twenty years, Spanish women have a lower percentage of disabilities than the rest of European women. However, after 65 years, the situation changes and the Spanish overcome them in pathologies with some disability problem. 40% of Spanish women over 65 suffer some form of disability, mainly caused by problems derived from osteoporosis.
4. Menstrual pains There are also health problems exclusive to women related to the menstrual cycle, hormonal imbalances that alter the harmony of the ovarian cycle and pathological consequences of menstruation disorders such as anemia or severe premenstrual syndrome. In addition, there are other diseases that, although not exclusive to women, are more prevalent in this sex, such as musculoskeletal pain, thyroid disorders, and feeding or obesity.
5. Hypertension. It is one of the most frequent health problems among women. Its control is necessary because it is closely linked to the cardiovascular diseases that represent the first cause of death in the Western world.The prevention of arterial hypertension and its control once diagnosed, is fundamental and the gynecologist plays a fundamental role in the case of women, since it is the professional who follows his health for a large part of his life.
6. Control of obesity. Obesity is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. In our country, as in the rest of developed regions, the number of obese people is growing. Specifically, more than 36% of women between 35 and 64 years old suffer from obesity, directly affecting their health.
One of the best preventions is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as a proper diet, rich in cereals and controlled fat, regular exercise of 30 minutes a day, maintenance of an optimal weight, moderate alcohol consumption and refrain from smoking.
More depression among women
Social inequalities affect the physical and mental health of women. 9% of Spanish women suffer from depression, almost three times more than men. And it is that one of the most indicated causes is the stress that is growing considerably among the female population. Factors such as too many burdens at home and work, being a single mother, caring for children and elderly parents, as well as hormonal, genetic, environmental influences, certain psychological and personality characteristics and, above all, endocrine and reproductive events, are other factors they cause stress and depression.
Marisol Nuevo Espín
