While Israeli men rank fifth in life expectancy among 24 Western countries, Israeli women come in a distant 20th. These are not the statistics you'd expect in a country with one doctor for every 211 persons, among the highest ratios in the world. Like elsewhere, women here live longer than men, with a life expectancy of 79.9 years versus 76.3 for men. But their longevity can be a double-edged sword, for women suffer in higher numbers from the protracted debility of chronic diseases often faced when they have become partnerless or financially limited. Low socioeconomic or minority status lessens life span and health.
Heart disease is the greatest killer of women in Israel.
Although popularly perceived as predominantly a man's affliction, it accounts for one out of three female deaths in Israel. More than six women die of heart disease for every one who succumbs to breast cancer. Thus they may miss out on the life-saving potential of thrombolytic therapy administered in CCUs, effective only if given within 24 hours of an attack. This may contribute to the poorer prognosis of women heart patients. Israeli women rank 10th highest in incidence of cancer among 40 developed countries, whereas Israeli men rank 33rd.