We all must have come across the phase: this is why women live longer than men. These are all over the social media, where men are performing more often than not, some experiments, without gears, just for fun, "in the name of science". The caption reads: this is why women live longer. However, is there really a science to it, other than the fact that women choose to do things more safely?

In the United States, women have a life expectancy of about 80, whereas men have 75. Women outlive men and this holds true regardless of the country women live, the money they make, and other factors. In fact, it is true for most other mammals too.

Dr Dena Dubal, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco told the New York Times, "It is a very robust phenomenon all over the world, totally conserved in sickness, during famines, during epidemics, even during the times of starvation."

But what are the reasons? These reasons are often more complicated and less established. It is important to note that only because women are outliving men does not mean they are living a better life. In fact, women tend to have shorter health spans, which means the number of healthy years in a person's life is less in women than men, confirmed Bérénice Benayoun, an associate professor at the U.S.C. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

As per a 2021 study titled, Sex differences in frailty: Comparisons between humans and preclinical models, found that women are more physically grail than men in old age. They are also more vulnerable, especially after menopause and are at more risk of developing cardiovascular issues and Alzheimer's disease because of age.

The key is in figuring out what makes one sex more resilient or vulnerable.

Genetics

For things which do not find easy explanations, scientists look for their answers in genes. Many research, including a 2020 study titled, The sex with the reduced sex chromosome dies earlier: a comparison across the tree of life, suggests that the XX set of female sex chromosomes may impact longevity. However, there has not been any clarity on how it affects longevity.

Another 2018 study titled, Female XX sex chromosomes increase survival and extend lifespan in aging mice, which was conducted by Dr Dubal's lab, looked at genetically manipulated mice with different combinations of sex chromosomes and reproductive organs. It was found that those with two X chromosomes and ovaries lived longest, followed by mice with two X chromosomes and testes. Mice with XY chromosomes had shorter life spans.

"There was something about the second X chromosome that was protecting the mice from dying earlier in life, even if they had testes. What if there was something on that second X chromosome that was in some ways a sprinkle of the fountain of youth," says Dr Dubal. While scientists have not yet looked at this factor in humans, Dr Dubal suggests that humans have the same hormones and sex chromosomes, and similar reproductive system that could corroborate the similar findings in people.

Hormones

Plenty research has shown that estrogen is responsible for longevity also effect on the immune system. The data also shows that before menopause, the female immune system tends to do better. In fact Dr Benayoun said that males tend to do much worse in response to infection.

Another 2017 study titled, Ages at Menarche and Menopause and Reproductive Lifespan As Predictors of Exceptional Longevity in Women: The Women's Health Initiative, found that women who experienced menopause later in life over the age 50 lived longer than those who experienced it earlier.

Lifestyle and Behavior

There are also disparity in behavioral patterns between men and women. This includes smoking, drinking heavily, which can contribute significantly to mortality. Women also have more "health promoting behavior", believe experts. Women are also more likely to socialize than men and thus it protects them from detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. In fact, a 2023 analysis published in Jama Network, titled, Widening Gender Gap in Life Expectancy in the US, 2010-2021, found that women are less likely to die by drug overdose or suicide.

People with hemophilia face an increased risk of poor bone health due to recurrent joint and muscle bleeds, joint damage and reduced physical activity. Experts told HealthandMe that preventing bleeds from childhood, alongside adequate nutrition, appropriate exercise and regular assessment, can help protect bone health throughout life.

Globally, an estimated 836,000 people have hemophilia, including approximately 284,000 with severe hemophilia. In India, the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) reported nearly 28,000 diagnosed and registered patients as of 2026, including more than 24,000 with Hemophilia A. However, the estimated prevalence could be as high as 1,36,000, suggesting many cases remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Childhood and adolescence are critical for building peak bone mass, making early intervention important for long-term musculoskeletal health, said health experts.

How Hemophilia Can Affect Bone Health

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII (Hemophilia A) or factor IX (Hemophilia B). It primarily affects males, while women are often carriers.

Repeated bleeding into joints can cause chronic pain, joint damage, deformity and reduced mobility. Muscle bleeds can further restrict movement, limiting participation in physical activities that help maintain bone strength.

“Bone health begins in childhood, but protecting it is a lifelong commitment. In people living with hemophilia, recurrent joint and muscle bleeds, reduced physical activity and other risk factors can contribute to poor bone health and an increased risk of osteoporosis,” Dr. Varun Bafna, associate professor in the Department of Hematology at Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College, Kolhapur, told HealthandMe.

Why Prophylaxis Matters

Prophylaxis involves preventive treatment to reduce bleeding episodes rather than treating bleeds only after they occur. Regular factor prophylaxis can help prevent recurrent joint bleeds, preserve joint function and support mobility.

“Regular factor prophylaxis helps prevent repeated joint bleeds and preserve joint function. That protection can support mobility, an important contributor to bone health,” Dr. Hitha B, associate professor and haematologist in the Department of Medicine at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, told HealthandMe.

She advised patients to discuss breakthrough bleeding or difficulties accessing treatment with their healthcare team so their treatment plan can be reviewed.

Dr. Bafna said consistent prophylaxis can also support muscle strength and safer participation in physical activity.

“Prophylaxis is not just about preventing bleeding today; it is an important part of protecting long-term musculoskeletal health and quality of life at every age,” he noted.

How to Protect Bone Health From Childhood

Experts recommend an individualized approach based on age, joint health, mobility and other risk factors. Key measures include:

• Calcium and vitamin D: Ensure adequate intake through diet and discuss supplementation with a healthcare professional when needed.
• Appropriate physical activity: Weight-bearing exercises suited to individual joint health can help maintain bone strength, with guidance from the care team.
• Physiotherapy: Tailored rehabilitation can help maintain muscle strength, mobility and joint function.
• Regular assessment: Periodic evaluation can identify bone-health concerns and determine whether further investigations are needed.
• Consistent prophylaxis: Adhering to prescribed preventive treatment can reduce bleeding episodes and help protect joints.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Lifelong Care

Hematologists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals can help patients and families integrate preventive treatment, rehabilitation, nutrition and appropriate physical activity into an individualized care plan.

Early intervention and consistent care can help preserve joint function, mobility and quality of life as people with hemophilia grow older.

A stroke rarely announces itself loudly. A sudden wobble, a blurry eye or a slightly lopsided smile is easy to ignore. But in a stroke, minutes decide how much of the brain survives.

On World Stroke Day, doctors want everyone to know one simple tool: BE FAST.

What Doctors Say

Dr. Abhinav Gupta, Director of Neurology at Sarvodaya Hospital, Greater Noida West, and Dr. Atampreet Singh, Senior Director and Head of the Institute of Neurosciences at ShardaCare, Healthcity, told HealthandMe, “Knowing the early warning signs of a stroke can shorten the road to full recovery,” they said.

The problem, they added, is that “a stroke’s symptoms can be easy to dismiss as minor inconveniences, like being tired or having weak muscles.”

What Is BE FAST?

BE FAST was developed by Intermountain Healthcare as an adaptation of the American Stroke Association’s FAST model, according to a Frederick Health handout. The doctors break it down like this:

• B – Balance: “Unsteady feeling or sudden lack of muscle control and dizziness can be a warning sign of a stroke.”
• E – Eyes: “Don’t overlook loss of sight in one or both of a person’s eyes, sudden blurring, or double vision.”
• F – Face: “Ask the person to smile. Unevenness or droopiness on one side of the face can be a sign.”
• A – Arms: “Have the person raise both of their arms. If the person has difficulty holding one arm up or has unusual arm weakness, get emergency help.”
• S – Speech: “Sudden lack of ability to talk, inability to understand what others are saying, or slurred words, can be signs of a stroke.”
• T – Time: “If one of these symptoms occur out of the blue, then call emergency services. When the emergency operators are on the line, let them know what symptoms have presented.”

Also Read: Times Network India Health Summit 2026 Key Takeaways: AI, Fertility, AYUSH, Cancer Care & More

Why “Time” Matters The Most

Time is not a symptom. It is a reminder to hurry. Duke Health, citing the American Stroke Association, says to call for help even if the symptoms go away. Weill Cornell Medicine, citing the same group, says never to drive yourself to hospital.

The Frederick Health handout adds that you should note when the symptoms began. UChicago Medicine estimates that about 1.9 million brain cells die every minute in a stroke caused by a large blocked artery.

India’s biggest problem is delay in seeking medical treatment.

An ICMR study of 34,792 stroke cases at 30 hospitals between 2020 and 2022 found that only 5.3% of patients reached hospital within the first hour, according to South First. Nearly four in ten waited more than 24 hours. Down To Earth, reporting on a Lancet Neurology study, says India had over 1.25 million new stroke cases in 2021, up 51% since 1990.

If you see even one sign, don’t wait for the others. Call 112, India’s single emergency number, which also covers the 108 ambulance service, according to Factly. Say what you see and when it began.

Share BE FAST with your family tonight. You may be the one who spots it.

Many people track their steps, sleep and heart rate with a precision that once seemed unusual. The feet behind those steps rarely get the same attention, hidden as they are inside shoes all day.

A crack, an ache or a patch of numbness is easily put down to the weather, age or an ill-fitting pair of sandals. Yet some complaints reach a clinic only after they begin to interfere with everyday life.

Symptoms That Are Easy to Explain

Cracked heels are a good example, because they are so common that most people treat them as a cosmetic matter and reach for a moisturiser. That is usually reasonable, although a deep fissure that bleeds or keeps reopening gives bacteria a way into the skin and is worth having examined.

Heel pain often has a musculoskeletal cause and tends to respond to rest and supportive footwear, but pain that lingers for weeks points to something more specific. Numbness gives the least warning of all, since it can arise from nerve compression, poor circulation, nutritional deficiencies or diabetes, and because it does not hurt, an injury can go unnoticed for days.

Also read: Toddler’s Swollen Knee Turned Out To Be Juvenile Arthritis Diagnosis: Signs Parents Should Not Ignore

Why Weekly Measurement Matters

When a wound does develop, understanding whether it is actually healing becomes just as important as recognising the early warning signs. Researchers who monitor wounds over time know that appearance alone does not always tell the full story.

What a Recent Case Report Showed

A 2025 case report in the Journal of the Foot & Ankle followed two adults with long-standing diabetes and neuropathic plantar ulcers for twelve weeks, with wound area quantified by digital planimetry. One wound, treated with a graft of decellularised human dermis, shrank by 80 percent by week four and had fully epithelialised by week eight.

The other, managed with gauze-based moist wound care, reduced by 7.8 percent at week two, grew by 21.6 percent between weeks three and five, and reached a 68.6 percent reduction by week twelve without closing. No adverse events were recorded in either patient during the twelve weeks.

Reading the Evidence Carefully

The report is descriptive, and two patients cannot settle questions about any treatment. The lesson that carries beyond the clinic is more modest, since progress is easier to judge when it is tracked against a timeline.

Asking How Long, Not How Bad

For readers, the message is to pay attention not just to how serious a symptom looks, but also to how long it has lasted and whether it is changing. Cracks that repeatedly reopen, persistent heel pain and spreading numbness deserve medical attention.

For people with diabetes, any new foot wound should be assessed promptly rather than waiting to see whether it improves on its own.