Why Women Age Slower Than Men and What You Can Do to Help Yourself
It's no secret that women, on average, outlive men. Right now, that number seems to be about five years difference. For the longest time, no one really knew why this was, but scientists are finally beginning to discover the reasons behind this mystery of life.
Apparently, slight mutations in our cells mitochondria play a role in this difference in lifespan. Mitochondria exist in the cells of the vast majority of animals and help convert food into energy. These are an essential part of our existence, and when mutations occur it can make the difference in how long we live by affecting the speed of the aging process.
One recently concluded study looked at fruit flies and made a surprising discovery. They found that mitochondrial mutations had a significant effect upon the males of this species but there was no effect upon female fruit flies. Researchers believe that males are simply more susceptible to the mutations that occur naturally and that females are not prone to the effect that mitochondrial changes have on the aging process. Apparently this affects the rate of aging in males all across the animal kingdom.
The difference is occurring in how mitochondrial genes are passed down from parent to child. When genes are passed down, mitochondrial genes are only passed down from the mother. Over the millennia, there have been many mutations and conditions that only effect males, so when genes are passed down, the males' genes here are not taken into the equation. This leaves females unharmed by the potential for speedier aging and leaves males totally at the mercy of natural selection.
Women live about five years longer than men, and while the exact science behind this is not conclusively known, it is safe to say that scientists are making progress toward understanding why. Mitochondrial mutations look like they speed up the aging process in some males, and this brings down the average lifespan for men across the board. Not all men will pass away five years earlier than all women, but there are enough of these mutations present that the general population is significantly affected.
There are many things that you can do to increase your own chances of having a long lifespan. Stopping smoking and drinking can help, as can eating right and exercising. These things are all very important and while there is certainly no guarantee that you will live to 100 years old, these activities have been proven to be beneficial to increasing an individual's health. If you want to make sure you have a healthy and long life, taking steps in this direction can be a huge help. If you have further concerns about what you can do, it is important that you see a doctor for advice.
Matthew G. Young is a freelance writer who specializes in financial, sports, and health-related topics. To learn more about in home health care visit Paradise In Home Care
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