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.

A cigarette after stress. Chewing tobacco during the day. Smoking to “calm the nerves”

But modern science is forcing us to confront the difficult truth; Tobacco does not treat mental health symptoms, in fact it quietly deepens it.

As Oncologists and physicians, we often see patients who say, “smoking makes them feel normal.” However, in reality, what they are experiencing is nothing more than the temporary relief from nicotine withdrawal not genuine emotional regulation.

Nicotine Creates A Cycle of Temporary Relief And Dependence

When we smoke or chew tobacco, nicotine stimulates dopamine release in the brain, creating a short-lived sense of relaxation or control. But overtime it leads to brain depending on nicotine to achieve the same baseline feeling again and again. The result is a vicious cycle of dependence, irritability, anxiety, and worsening emotional resilience.

Several large studies now show that long-term tobacco use is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, sleep issues and substance dependence. A 2023 review published in BMJ found that smoking cessation will result in improvements in both anxiety and depression and an improved mood with benefits comparable to antidepressant treatment in some individuals.

Also read: Lung Health After 40: Natural Changes, Warning Signs And Ways To Protect Your Lungs

Tobacco May Worsen Anxiety, Depression And Sleep Problems

This has serious implications for the urban Indian population in regard to the increasing prevalence of mental exhaustion, lack of social support, digital overload, work-related stress and lack of sleep. Tobacco often enters quietly during vulnerable moments of college pressure, workplace stress, loneliness, grief and gradually shifts from “social habit” to psychological crutch.

Although they think they believe in tobacco, many of them use it, thinking that they are using it to cope with their emotional symptoms, when in fact they are making the symptoms worse.

Also, recognize the biology of tobacco use. For example, the use of nicotine will result in long-term changes in how well your body handles emotional stress because of the role of long-term nicotine exposure in altering the system of cortisol regulation and the stress response pathways in neurons. So, with time, it will become harder and harder for a person to control his/her emotional response to stress because his/her body will not be able to do it. Thus, tobacco has a negative influence on the recovery process from emotional responses to stress, rather than a beneficial one.

Also read: Air Pollution May Increase The Risk Of Painful Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares, Study Finds

How Nicotine Alters The Body’s Stress Response?

Tobacco is a significant preventable risk factor for oral, head and neck, lung, oesophageal, pancreatic and bladder cancers. When many patients arrive at cancer centres, the addiction to tobacco is already set, and it is even more difficult to quit while receiving cancer treatment.

This is why it is important to help move the conversation on tobacco beyond cancer. Now, it's more than just a public health issue; it also includes issues of mental health. Individuals experiencing emotional difficulties should not think that they are being judged. They have to learn to find alternative coping strategies, get psychological support early on in their lives, sleep well, exercise, be part of the community, and access timely medical support. The goal of this care is not just to support someone in quitting tobacco, but to provide support for them to stop needing tobacco in order to feel good.

By Dr Amit Chakraborty, Consultant Oncologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai

India is facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with hypertension and diabetes among the major health concerns.

Experts warned that the risk of both conditions rises after 40, often without noticeable symptoms. Increasing age, weight gain, reduced physical activity, stress, dietary habits, and metabolic changes can all contribute to the risk.

Having hypertension and diabetes together is particularly concerning, as their coexistence can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, retinopathy, and other complications.

Why Risk Rises After 40?

Dr. Santosh Gupta, Associate Director - CTVS, Paras Health Udaipur, told HealthandMe that several factors contribute to the rising risk after 40.

“After the age of 40, the risk of hypertension and diabetes increases due to factors such as changes in metabolism, reduced physical activity, weight gain, stress and dietary habits. What makes both conditions particularly concerning is that they can develop silently, without noticeable symptoms, while gradually affecting vital organs,” he said.

He added that uncontrolled hypertension can damage the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels, while diabetes can affect the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and cardiovascular system.

"When both conditions occur together, the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney complications becomes even higher,” Dr. Gupta added.

Because both conditions can remain silent for years, people may have high blood pressure or blood sugar without knowing it.

Also read: Breastfeeding Can Help Reduce Mothers' Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Breast Cancer and More

Hypertension And Diabetes Often Coexist

A recent hospital-based analysis found that hypertension and diabetes frequently occur together, with their coexistence rising sharply from around age 40 among Indians.

The study, conducted by the Department of Clinical Research and Preventive Health Program at Max Healthcare, analyzed health records of more than 56,000 adults who underwent preventive health check-ups between January 2021 and December 2024.

Nearly 5% of adults had both conditions. Their coexistence increased rapidly from around 40, continued rising until approximately 58 and gradually reached nearly 17% by around age 70.

People with diabetes were nearly four times more likely to have hypertension, while those with hypertension were about 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes.

Dr. Abhaya Indrayan, Biostatistics Consultant, Max Healthcare, said the findings support screening for both conditions rather than assessing them separately.

Why Screening After 40 Matters

Read More: Confused By Your Cholesterol Report? Here's What LDL And ApoB Really Mean

Experts said that preventive healthcare should go beyond checking for individual diseases. Adults over 40 should routinely assess key cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure and blood sugar.

Screening can help detect hypertension, diabetes or prediabetes early, when lifestyle changes and treatment can help prevent or delay complications.

“This is why regular screening after 40 is important, even for individuals who feel completely healthy. A routine blood pressure check, fasting blood glucose or HbA1c test can help identify hypertension, diabetes or prediabetes at an early stage, when timely lifestyle changes and medical intervention can prevent or delay complications,” Dr. Gupta said.

“Screening should not be viewed only as a diagnostic exercise; it is an opportunity to understand one’s health risks and take corrective measures before the disease begins to cause irreversible organ damage,” he added.

How To Lower The Risk

Preventive care also involves addressing modifiable risk factors. Regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting salt, sugar and highly processed foods, getting adequate sleep and avoiding tobacco can help lower the long-term risk.

For those already diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes, regular monitoring and adherence to prescribed treatment are important to reduce the risk of complications.

With the risk of both conditions rising after 40, experts recommend making routine health checks part of regular healthcare—even when there are no obvious symptoms.

Amid the ongoing monsoon season, Delhi-NCR is seeing a rise in H1N1 influenza cases, with Delhi reporting 1,344 cases so far this season.

The figure is nearly six times higher than the 229 H1N1 cases recorded during the same period last year, The Times of India reported.

According to health officials, Delhi recorded around 4,000 influenza cases last year, most of them caused by H3N2. This year, H1N1 is the dominant strain. Both H1N1 and H3N2 are subtypes of Influenza A and spread mainly through respiratory droplets.

What Is H1N1 and Why Is Testing Important?

H1N1 is a subtype of Influenza A and can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. These symptoms can overlap with those of other seasonal influenza strains, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), making it difficult to identify the infection based on symptoms alone.

Dr Aijaz Ilmi, Senior Consultant – Metabolic Diseases, Pacific OneHealth Hospital, told HealthandMe that testing is particularly important when fever or respiratory symptoms persist or worsen, especially among older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease, or compromised immunity.

“With the current rise in H1N1 cases in Delhi, we are also seeing other seasonal respiratory infections, including Influenza A and B, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viruses. At the same time, the monsoon season brings an increased risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue.

“The key message is, don’t panic, but don’t dismiss a persistent fever as ‘just a viral’. Early recognition is particularly important in vulnerable individuals.”

H1N1 vs Other Respiratory Infections: How Are They Different?

H1N1 can be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections because many of them cause similar symptoms.

• H1N1 and other seasonal influenza strains: Both can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. Symptoms alone generally cannot determine whether the infection is H1N1 or another influenza strain.

• COVID-19: COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, sore throat, congestion and fatigue. Some people may also experience changes in or loss of taste or smell, while gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
• RSV: RSV commonly causes a runny nose, cough and wheezing. It can be more severe in infants, older adults and people with certain underlying conditions. In young children, it can cause bronchiolitis and breathing difficulties.
• Dengue: During the monsoon, dengue can also cause fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, which may initially resemble a viral respiratory infection. However, dengue is spread by mosquitoes rather than respiratory droplets and does not typically cause cough or sore throat.

How Can H1N1 and Other Infections Be Prevented?

Dr Sharwari Sudhir Dabhade, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Diabetology & Endocrinology, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, told HealthandMe that prevention should focus on reducing exposure and maintaining good hygiene. Other measures to reduce transmission include:

• Washing hands frequently.
• Covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
• Maintaining good indoor ventilation.
• Avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated places when respiratory infections are circulating.
• If you have respiratory symptoms, limit close contact with others and wear a mask.
• Getting vaccinated against influenza, particularly if you are an older adult, young child or have an underlying health condition.
• Prevent mosquito breeding and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce risk of dengue.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Most viral respiratory infections recover with supportive care. However, should seek prompt immediate medical assessment in cases of

• breathlessness
• persistent high fever,
• chest pain,
• confusion,
• dehydration,
• falling oxygen saturation
• significant worsening of weakness.