Women Better at Fighting Disease

The extra X chromosome makes them healthier
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 28, 2011 12:54 PM CDT
Women Better at Fighting Disease
Men tend to get sick more than women for a reason.   (Shutterstock)

Ever wonder why women tend to live longer than men? Well, it turns out the fairer sex is made of stronger stuff when it comes to fighting off disease and riding out shocks to their systems, according to a study published today from Ghent University in Belgium. Researchers found that women have an advantage thanks to that second X-chromosome, which makes them more resilient when faced with microRNA attacks on their immunity genes, the Telegraph explains. Men, with only a single X-chromosome, are more susceptible. (More women's health stories.)

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