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Why do women live longer?

We have long known that women outlive men here in the United States, but the gap is widening.

ATLANTA – We have long known that women outlive men here in the United States, but the gap is widening.

Why?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the life expectancy for men is now 76.3 years, while for women it’s 81.1 years. For men, the life expectancy dropped slightly from the year before, while for women the life expectancy stayed the same.

According to physicians, the primary reason women live longer is estrogen.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death here in the US. While doctors are still studying the issue, it appears that estrogen helps fight heart disease by increasing good cholesterol and decreasing the bad. Estrogen also helps with blood flow.

There are also studies that suggest the structure of a woman’s DNA helps resist the premature aging of cells.

There are several other factors, but perhaps a man’s shaky relationship with his doctor is key.

Several physicians told 11Alive’s Why Guy that, in general, women do a better job of visiting the doctor to monitor their health and maintain their bodies. Men seem a lot more hesitant to go to the doctor, especially when it comes to yearly checkups.

It means while men are already at a higher risk for heart disease, it appears they aren’t doing all they can to prevent that and other health problems.

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