THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO MAN FLU

Man Flu: it’s a sensitive topic. Especially when you or someone you know is struggling with a bout of coughing, sneezing, and the aches and pains that come with respiratory illnesses.

So that’s why we’ve sought the advice of Dr Sarah Jarvie, an expert in coughs and colds with over 30 years of experience as a GP, to settle an age-old debate: Is man flu real? And, if so, what is man flu?

Man Flu or not, it’s time to lead the charge against colds and flu…

Note: The doctor does not endorse any medical brands or products. 

WHAT IS MAN FLU?

The term ‘Man Flu’ is regarded to mean “a cold or similar minor respiratory ailment as experienced by a man, who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of their symptoms.”

WHERE DID THE TERM MAN FLU ORIGINATE?

It’s believed the term ‘Man Flu’ was first coined as recently as the 1990s. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary recognises its first recorded use in 1999 on a Usenet group called “misc.health.diabetes”.

The term is often used to suggest that men overemphasise their symptoms, to describe that they’re suffering dreadfully, when they actually have the same cold or flu as a woman.

You may hear the term used by men also to describe their illnesses as being far more severe than a typical cold or flu.

All of this raises one key question…

IS MAN FLU REAL?

Well, from a diagnosis point of view, no - Man Flu isn’t a real thing (not yet at least). However, the answer might not be as clear-cut as you think.

DO MEN REALLY SUFFER WITH MAN FLU?

A study from Stanford University Medical School in 2013 suggests that the male hormone testosterone may actually weaken a man’s immune ability to fight off infection.

Elsewhere, Harvard University reports that in test tube studies of nasal cells infected with Influenza, cells exposed to estradiol (a female hormone) experienced a lower immune response when the cells came from women, but not from men. As the immune system response is a primary cause of symptoms (e.g. chesty coughs to expel mucus), it's possible to conclude that women may experience less severe side effects from Influenza.

Despite this, there is no definitive answer as to whether men truly experience more severe symptoms of colds and flu than women.

HOW TO GET RID OF MAN FLU AND ILLNESSES:

If you’re looking to get rid of “man flu” or any respiratory illnesses like colds and flu, self-pity and moping around won’t banish your symptoms. Instead, grab life by the horns and show your illness whose boss…

Covonia has been helping to buck coughs, colds, and flu symptoms for more than 50 years. Find the advice and relief you need to stop your illness in its tracks:

• For Chesty Coughs: Have a wet or productive cough where you’re coughing up mucus or phlegm. Check out our advice for chesty cough relief as well as our chesty cough mixtures to relieve symptoms of hoarse, painful coughs.  

• For Dry Coughs: Have a persistent dry cough that won’t go away? Read our dry cough advice to help banish your symptoms for good, and explore our dry cough mixtures to relieve irritation and symptoms.

• For Tickly Coughs: Have a tickle in your throat that won’t go away? Read our tickly cough advice or explore our tickly cough medicines.

• For Sore Throats: Check out our advice to banish the pain and irritation of dry and sore throats, and check out our medicated sore throat lozenges for instant, targeted relief.

• For Colds & Flu: Check out our cold and flu advice.

Browse our full range of products online and get ready to take life by the horns with Covonia. Or, check out our Articles and Advice Hub for more expert information on coughs, colds and flu.