Men are medically weaker sex

Men rule on the playing field: they can generally run faster, lift more, and throw things farther than women can. In medical terms, though, men are the weaker sex, reports the January 2010 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Why? It depends on a complex mix of biological, social, and behavioral factors.
Biological factors include the fact that, compared with men, women have substantially higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, which protects against heart disease. In addition, excess weight – although common in both sexes – is more of a problem for males. Women tend to carry excess weight on their hips and thighs, while men add it to their waistlines. This abdominal obesity is more damaging to health than lower-body obesity, sharply increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Among the important social factors are a set of traits that tend to be more common in men than in women. Type A behavior, stress, hostility, and anger have all been implicated as heart disease risk factors. Conversely, women generally have larger and more reliable social networks than men. Strong interpersonal

relationships and support networks reduce the risk of many maladies.
As for behavioral factors, smoking, drinking, and drug abuse are traditionally male problems. Although the gap has narrowed to some degree, males still dominate in these self-destructive habits. Women also reap the health benefits of better diets. Meat-and-potatoes guys don’t eat veggies – but they should.
Harvard Men’s Health Watch offers 10 ways for men to achieve long and healthy lives. Among them are these:
 Avoid tobacco.
Eat more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and less red meat, whole-milk dairy products, high-sodium processed foods, sweets, and trans fats.
Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise nearly every day, including strength and balance work.
Reduce stress, get enough sleep, and build social ties and community support.
Seek joy and share it with others.
How old are your arteries? From the Harvard Heart LetterArteries age slowly and gracefully when nurtured with daily exercise, a healthful diet, and good relationships with family and friends. They age faster when they’re constantly assaulted by cigarette smoke, foods laden with saturated and trans fats, chronic stress, and other traumas. Knowing the true age of your arteries can give a clearer picture of overall heart health.
Two available tools estimate artery “age” based on physical characteristics. Measurement of these physical variables in many people has allowed researchers to identify ranges for each that correspond to different chronological ages. A third tool relies on age, cholesterol, and blood pressure information.
Pulse wave velocity. Each heartbeat sends a wave of blood through the arteries. The stiffer the arteries, the faster this wave travels. Measuring the speed of the pulse wave provides information about how stiff or how flexible the arteries are. This is usually done in a doctor’s office.
Carotid intima-media thickness. The innermost layer of an artery’s wall is called the intima. The media is the middle layer. The thicker the intima and the media, the more likely the artery is choked with cholesterol-filled plaque. Using ultrasound, a doctor can measure the thickness of the intima and media in the carotid arteries, located in the neck.
Framingham score. Data from the Framingham Heart Study have helped researchers create a cardiovascular risk profile. With answers to a few questions, this tool estimates a person’s chances of having a heart attack or stroke, needing bypass surgery or angioplasty, or developing peripheral vascular disease or heart failure. It also estimates the age of the blood vessels.