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Men's health: possible predictors of men living longer


Pakistan’s Daily Times Monitor reports five unusual predictors of good health in men – and their potential to live longer. Knowing the predictors could result in men attending health clinics earlier, and more often, for regular check-ups.


(1) Finger length – Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research in London found that men older than 60 years of age with an index finger longer than their ring finger were 33% less likely on average to develop prostate cancer. Younger men with longer index fingers fared even better, with an 87% average reduction in risk.



(2) Birth order – Several studies, including one by the Institute for Cancer Research in London, while not definitive, indicate that first-born boys are exposed to higher levels of estrogen at birth, increasing their risk of testicular cancer later in life. Older siblings also seem to have a greater risk of developing childhood leukemia.



(3) Grip strength – According to a 25-year study, grip strength was the best predictor of how well men avoided ill health. The weakest-gripping men suffered twice the disabilities of men with hands of steel. In a separate study, both for older men and women, grip strength was correlated with a longer lifespan.



(4) Hair loss – Studies from the Harvard Medical School and Brigham Women’s Hospital have shown that significant hair loss at the crown of a man’s head is associated with an increased chance of heart disease. Men who were completely bald at the crown were up to 36% more likely to show signs of heart trouble than men with a full head of hair. (No age indicators were mentioned)



(5) Religion – Researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health found that men and women who go to church regularly or practice a religious life – no matter what faith they belong to – live longer. One reason may be that most don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or eat meat – but even those who do smoke, drink and are meat-eaters appear to live longer than people who are not religious. Another factor could be the company of like-minded friends that provide a basis for ‘something to look forward to, something to live for’ as other separate studies show that, on average, people with friends are likely to live longer than loners.




MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
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