Canadian doctor claims man flu is real
Study finds that men might experience worse cold and flu symptoms than women
Scientists have finally solved one of society's biggest questions: is “man flu” real?
The study by Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, which features sections the The Guardian describes as “somewhat tongue-in-cheek”, was conducted to determine whether men really do experience flu worse than women or whether it is just a myth.
Dr Kyle Sue, a clinical assistant professor at the university, found that men may not be exaggerating symptoms but might have weaker immune responses to viral respiratory viruses.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sue analysed relevant research and “found evidence that adult men have a higher risk of hospital admission and higher rates of deaths associated with flu compared with women, regardless of underlying disease,” says Sky News.
“I do think that the research does point towards men having a weaker immune response when it comes to common viral respiratory infections and the flu,” said Sue. “This is shown in the fact that they [have] worse symptoms, they last longer, they are more likely to be hospitalised and more likely to die from it.”
He says the studies actually point to men having weaker immune systems than women.
“Testosterone is a hormone that actually acts as an immunosuppressant. Whereas estrogen works in the opposite direction. They stimulate the immune system,” he told CBC News. “So men with higher testosterone actually end up being more susceptible to viral respiratory and tend to get them worse.”
Sue suggests that dismissing men as malingerers who exaggerate their symptoms, without evidence to support the accusation, is unscientific and “could have important implications for men, including insufficient provision of care”.
He added that a less robust immune system might actually have an evolutionary benefit, as it has allowed men to invest their energy in other biological processes, “such as growth, secondary sex characteristics and reproduction”.
There are also “benefits to energy conservation when ill,” says Sue.
“Lying on the couch, not getting out of bed, or receiving assistance with activities of daily living could also be evolutionary behaviours that protect against predators.”
The Canadian doctor admits the evidence is limited, particularly since much of it involved mice. He added more higher-quality research needs to be done to determine conclusively whether man flu is an actual medical phenomenon.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 21, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - devilish decrees, biblical blunders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 carefully selected cartoons about the Trump-Daniels jury selection process
Cartoons Artists take on a stress-free life, rare peers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Loire Valley Lodges review: sleep, feast and revive in treetop luxury
The Week Recommends Forest hideaway offers chance to relax and reset in Michelin key-winning comfort
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Covid four years on: have we got over the pandemic?
Today's Big Question Brits suffering from both lockdown nostalgia and collective trauma that refuses to go away
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How happy is Finland really?
Today's Big Question Nordic nation tops global happiness survey for seventh year in a row with 'focus on contentment over joy'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The hollow classroom
Opinion Remote school let kids down. It will take much more than extra tutoring for kids to recover.
By Mark Gimein Published
-
How Tehran became the world's nose job capital
Under the radar Iranian doctors raise alarm over low costs, weak regulation and online influence of 'Western beauty standards'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Africa's renewed battle against female genital mutilation
Under the radar Campaigners call for ban in Sierra Leone after deaths of three girls as coast-to-coast convoy prepares to depart
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How helpful are mental health apps?
Under the radar Market is booming, offering accessibility and affordability, but many apps are unregulated and share sensitive user data
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How the transmission of Alzheimer's might be possible
The Explainer New research links dementia cases to injections of human growth hormone from deceased donors' brains
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published