Can birth month determine life expectancy?

People come into the world in different months, and it seems that their "fate" is also different. Many studies have found that birth month may affect a person's lifespan. A survey of 70,000 centenarians showed that in addition to a healthy lifestyle, correct health-preserving methods and personal character traits, birth month is also a major factor affecting life expectancy. The study suggests that people born in autumn may live longer, largely due to the different environments people are exposed to in their early years. Does birth month really affect life expectancy? The Popular Health Network invites experts to help you unravel the mystery between birthday and health.

People born in spring have poor stomachs

Studies have found that people born in spring are more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal diseases and learning disabilities. According to the 2011 census data, people born in April have a lower average IQ, and a higher proportion of people born in this month are in poor health. The reason for this is, on the one hand, related to whether the mother receives enough sunlight during pregnancy; on the other hand, as the temperature continues to rise, the bacteria in the food begin to multiply in large numbers. Babies born in spring have to start eating some normal food in summer. At this time, the fragile stomach and intestines are susceptible to bacterial attacks, laying hidden dangers for digestive system diseases in the future.

People born in summer are happier

The season of birth may also affect a person's personality. Researchers have found that, relatively speaking, people born in summer tend to be happier, while people born in winter are more pessimistic and complain more. Researchers believe that this is because the fetus is affected by seasonal factors such as temperature, rainfall, ultraviolet rays, maternal nutritional intake, and maternal estrogen secretion. A vision survey of 270,000 children in Israel found that children born in summer had the highest rate of moderate and severe myopia. Researchers said this may be related to the fact that the eyes of newborns born in summer are more susceptible to excessive light stimulation.

People born in autumn live longer

Studies have found that people born in autumn live longer than those born in spring. This is because the environment people are exposed to in the early stages of life can affect their lifespan. For example, babies born in spring have mothers who did not get complete nutrition during pregnancy in the winter and were exposed to less sunlight, so the amount of vitamin D synthesized by the body is relatively reduced. These factors will affect the health of the baby. A survey result released by the research center also shows that people born in autumn live longer and are less likely to get sick when they are old. In addition, a British study found that children born in September generally have better academic performance than their peers born in other months.

People born in winter are prone to insomnia

A study on the distribution of birth months of patients with chronic insomnia conducted by the Sleep Center showed that among the chronic insomnia patients who visited the hospital, more than 40% were born in winter, while the fewest were born in summer, accounting for only 16%. Researchers believe that this is mainly related to factors such as the cold winter climate and the large difference in day and night length that affect the fetal brain development. Danish researchers also found that people born in winter are more likely to suffer from mental illness. According to statistical analysis, people born in winter are 8% more likely to suffer from schizophrenia and depression than those born in other months.

Expert interpretation:

The impact of birth month on life expectancy cannot be "absolute". In the professor's opinion, although the statement that "birth month can affect life expectancy" sounds a bit ridiculous, domestic and foreign research actually makes sense. Because seasons do change the external environment during the pregnancy period, such as the length of daylight hours and temperature, and also affect the nutritional intake and hormone secretion of pregnant women, all of which will affect the development of the fetus in the womb through the mother.

But it should be clear that the health of the fetus after birth is affected by a variety of factors. Gao Fangkun believes that there are two main factors that determine the length of life. One is genetic factors; the other is environmental factors, including the intrauterine environment of the fetus when it is in the mother's body, the natural environment such as water, sunlight, air, etc., and the social environment such as culture, education, family, region, and health. Therefore, the factors that affect human longevity are very complex, and we cannot simply emphasize the role of birth season.

It is emphasized that conceiving a life is a natural choice that cannot be manipulated artificially, and the time of delivery should not be deliberately arranged based on research results. The statement that "birth season affects life expectancy" should be avoided from being absolute, because these studies are cases, not rules. In fact, there are great differences between individuals. For example, some pregnant women have a strong ability to absorb nutrients, while some pregnant women still exercise and sunbathe in winter. In this case, seasonality has little impact on them. We cannot unilaterally say that babies born in a certain season are definitely good and babies born in another season are definitely bad.