We rarely stop and think why Nature has created living beings of two different sexes, such as men and women. Nevertheless, if we understand this, we can explain why women live longer than men. A higher mortality rate is peculiar not only to people, but also to animals and plants.
Any living system does not exist in isolation, but in a certain environment which constantly changes. In order to survive, therefore, it should grasp these changes and quickly adapt to them. There is a contradiction between the environment and a living organism in the mutual relations. To achieve a better state of preservation, a living system must be as «remote» from the environment as possible. On the other hand, to be aware of the changes, it should be «closer» to the environment. How can we eliminate this conflict?
Solution one. The living system must stay at the most favourable distance from the environment.
Solution two. The system must be devided into two subsystems connected with each other. One of the subsystems must be moved closer to the environment in order to obtain the necessary information, and the other must stay at a distance so as to be able to preserve the information.
It is the male's job to be aware of these changes or of the information obtained from the environment, and the female has to preserve and pass on the genetic information.
Men are are more sensitive than women and less tolerant to distress, heat, cold, hunger and unpleasant situation at work. As a rule, men are the first to die in extreme situations.
The female organism is more flexible, and can adapt to the changing environment better. It is known for certain, that a woman's body can adjust itself to a cold climate better than a man's. More women than men survive extreme or stress-type situations. Because of their greater vulnerability, men develop more often such diseases as heart attacks, cancer, and mental diseases.
The pioneering spirit and the need for risk have been built into the male subsystem by Nature. It has been proved by the experiment with rats.They were placed in a separate room and had enough food and water. In one of the walls a narrow slit was left leading to another room where there was a cat. The she-rats didn't venture into the slit which led to an unfamiliar place. Some males, however, were curious and went through, only to be caught by the cat. Having lost their lives, they warned the rest about the cat and saved their lives.
Being in the «vanguard» of the population, men are exposed more to the environment. If its fatal influence is removed and the best possiple conditions are provided, men will live longer. Yet, there are more centenarians men than women.
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Pre-text activity 3:
1. Would you like to live longer?
2. Do you know what to do to live longer?
Read the article and follow its recommendations.
Do something now
Did you realize that once you've passsed the age of twenty, you start to die? Of course, it takes fifty years or so in most cases, but it's not something you want to hurry, is it? Once past twenty, your body begins to wear out, very slowly. Or not slowly, depending on the way you treat it.
But you can slow the march of time to stay young longer and enjoy an active and healthy life for as many of those years as possible. And you cannot begin too soon. Teenagers find it difficult – if not impossible – to imagine becoming middle-aged, let alone old. Young people are naturally fit, but unless you get into the habit of taking regular exercise and conditioning yourself to do so, you will find it more and nore difficult as you get older.
So what are you going to do about it? First, I must emphasize that anything I write from now on applies only to people in normal health and with no medical problems.
For a start, check your weight. Jump up and down in front of a mirrow. If everythinf wobbles, you are overweight; if some of it wobbles, you're still overweight. So watch your diet and burn off the excess with a fitness programme which will prolong youth and life.
The easiest way to reach and maintain fitness is through sport. It's fun and it has social and psychological advantages. But if sport holds no appeal, you'll have to do it hard way – and it will require will-power. Not at the start, but in order to keep going when the novelty wears off.
It is vital to progress slowly. First, jog as far as you can. Then do some simple form of exercise – sit ups or press ups will do – for so long as you can. Set no targets. Simply discover your starting point. If you repeat your exrcise daily, you will automatically make progress. What is unbearable the first few sessions will gradually become within your scope.
How can you tell you are fit? When you can run three miles without getting exhausted.