Strong-hearted women

The difference in the hearts may explain why women live up to five years longer than men, says a new study.

Women's strong hearts make them living longer than men, a new study has revealed.

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A team from Liverpool John Moores University has found that men's hearts lose up to a quarter of their pumping power from 18 years old to 70. However, there was little change was found in women's hearts between 20 to 70 years of age.

The researchers said that the difference may explain why women live on average up to five years longer than men. Lead researcher Professor David Goldspink found the difference in heart strength as the most interesting.

"This dramatic gender difference might just explain why women live longer than men," he was quoted by the BBC, as saying.

But he said related-research showed that men had the potential to improve their health.

"If men work at it, they can preserve the power and performance of their ageing hearts," he added.

Professor Goldspink added people needed more information about what benefits they can gain in response to different levels of physical activity.