Life Expectancy

So in my paper last week, there was an article about the new average life expectancy being 78.1 years. 80.7 for women and 75.4 for men. The article mostly talked about the difference between minorities and how they are shocked that hispanics have such a high life expectancy. Anyways, what I'm actually wanting to discuss is the difference between men and women. There is currently a 5 year disparity and it has been as high as 8 years in the past. Why do you think this is?

Women go through so many hormonal changes, they bear children, and often nurse them, they are more prone to stress, anxiety, obesity and depression. To me, it seems like these things would weigh heavily on a woman's life expectancy. I would expect it to be shorter than a man's. Men do typically work harder jobs, but I don't think there is as great a seperation as there used to be. What else might contribute to a man's shorter life expectancy? (maybe just his crazy wife! )

Anyone have any comments on the life expectancy for minorities? hispanics have the highest which researches can't understand because their education and income are, over all, lower than whites. Something that is a very heavy predictor. Blacks have the lowest life expectancy of 70 and 76 years.

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ So in my paper last week, there was an article about the new average life expectancy being 78.1 years. ... [snip!] ... all, lower than whites. Something that is a very heavy predictor. Blacks have the lowest life expectancy of 70 and 76 years.”

In africa, I think its 45 in some countries and 55 in other countries (of Africa) and that is for both sexes.

The only thing I can think of is that Men are more prone to chromosomal abnormalities and more likely to engage in activities that could get them killed.

I think its bc women are stronger then men! lol

Also men do a lot of stupid things in their lives...compared to women who USUALLY actual think before they do something.

I read somewhere that men are less likely to go to the doctor when something is wrong with them and that is why they do not live as long

Several reasons come to mind:

1- Men are more accident prone than women
2- Women are more likely to visit a doctor when sick, and are therefore treated sooner for serious illness.

3- Women are just better.  

Your paper was only talking about life expectancy in the United States, right?

My theory about how come Hispanic life expectancy here is higher because many Hispanics in America are recent immigrants or children of immigrants. And the majority of the immigrants are not coming from the wealthy in the cities who live just like we do here in the United States. They're coming from people trying to escape poverty. The culture in nonindustrialized areas is very different and involves in general consuming little if any processed foods or sugary sodas, and more physical work keeping the body more healthy.

Add the traditional diet and physical activity to the American benefits of fewer diseases due to access to medical care, clean water, etc. and being away from political instability, civil war and terrorism, and you get a population that is, on the whole, healthier than people born and raised here in the United States for generations.

Sadly I think alot has to do with something as simple as going to the doctor.
The several men I had known/heard of who have passed away early, all died from something that could of been treated if found sooner.
And in some cases, men do work harder (i.e. construction jobs) or are exposed to chemicals and other materials that could cause damage over time.

Quoting &sara;:“ I read somewhere that men are less likely to go to the doctor when something is wrong with them and that is why they do not live as long”

Yeah, that makes sense! Why in the world didn't I think of that....

And yes it was for Americans. I have more to add but I have to get kids to bed! be back later!!

Quoting meridian:“ Your paper was only talking about life expectancy in the United States, right? My theory about how ... [snip!] ... you get a population that is, on the whole, healthier than people born and raised here in the United States for generations.”

ditto..my husband is mexian and so if his family obviously lol..his parents were born in mexico but moved here in their early 20's I believe...anyways, they are somewhat americanized into our culture...but pretty heavily still into the mexican culture...his dad came from a poor poor place in mexico...no running water and things we take for granted every day..well now he has his own business, a couple of houses, a few cars and he deserves it. even thoughhe owns his own business he works 7 days a week seriously, picks up all his his employees for work (it's like 5 or 6 i think..he does construction..)doesn't drink doest smoke, only takes off 2 days a year I believe...his birthday and christmas..

he truly is an amazing guy ansd I don't find it hard to believe mexians have a higher life expectancy...they know what it is like to have without, so MOST of them appreciate life all together a hell of alot more...yet these are the same people many claim to be destroying our country and are scum...

Well, I already put my paper out for recycling and I can't findthe articleon line.

But about the hispanics, they said the highest rate was found in immigrants, not people who were born here. When I look at my own family though, I'm not sure I agree about the healthier life styles. Not my parents, but the older generations use a ton of fats and oils in their cooking, they over salt everything and are always drinking that nasty tampico 'juice'. Obviously my family doesn't speak for all immigrants, but I see it in many other hispanic families as well. The article implied (or said) that researchers are truly puzzled for the high expectancy. I looked into it more though, and it makes sense to me. Places like Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay and Mexico are all in the top fifty for life expectancy. (The US is #29) So I'm not sure why it was so unexpected for the people who did the study. Hispanics, especially immigrants and first generations do usually take labor jobs though. Which I'm sure makes a big difference.

And yeah, women are just better =)

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ Well, I already put my paper out for recycling and I can't findthe articleon line. But about the ... [snip!] ... generations do usually take labor jobs though. Which I'm sure makes a big difference. And yeah, women are just better =)”

Oh I'm not saying that it's a totally healthy lowfat diet! I'm just saying it is overall more natural (which does not always mean healthy). Even if you make all your tortillas with lard and bathe the fattiest cuts of beef in salt,you have to compare it to the American diet of consuming daily high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, factory raised meat that doesn't taste like meat, and other synthetic crap the agribusiness industry is trying to pass off as food. I don't think our bodies have evolved to handle so much of this stuff and are protesting as our waistlines expand.

But even that is becoming more global now, I've read that the rate of obesity in Mexico has skyrocketed in the last 20 years and it's rapidly gaining on the US because of the increase in prepackaged food and sodas, and from our family members I can definitely see that happening in the little pueblos just as much in the capital as well as here in the US.

(Sorry about the long replies but I have some big opinions/quasi-conspiracy-theories on food and how we're inserted into a culture where it's almost impossible to avoid eating things that are eventually going to kill you)

Quoting meridian:“ Oh I'm not saying that it's a totally healthy lowfat diet! I'm just saying it is overall more natural ... [snip!] ... how we're inserted into a culture where it's almost impossible to avoid eating things that are eventually going to kill you)”

lol, it's true about the food though. Ever tried to go on a diet?! I mean really.

what does money and education have to do with how long some one lives? and whites are trying to figure that out.i guess they are saying if your not white you dont have a chance in living for a long time. didn't make sense at all to me.

Quoting Weezy Baby:“ what does money and education have to do with how long some one lives? and whites are trying to figure ... [snip!] ... out.i guess they are saying if your not white you dont have a chance in living for a long time. didn't make sense at all to me.”

Money and education have a lot to do with it. Money allows you to take better care of yourself. Education means you have a better chance of knowing how to take care of yourself. Nobody is saying you have to be white to live a long time. The facts and statistics are saying whites live longer.