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‘Man flu’ may actually be real as NHS doctor explains why men can feel worse
Dr Jeff Foster says research suggests men may feel respiratory virus symptoms more intensely because immune responses differ by sex.
- NHS specialist Jeff Foster says 'man flu' may not be a myth after all. Research published in the British Medical Journal suggests men experience more severe respiratory symptoms than women due to biological immune differences.
- As temperatures drop across the UK, cold-related illnesses surge and online searches for 'flu' jumped from 232,000 to 672,000, reigniting debate over whether men experience more severe symptoms than women.
- Foster explained that women tend to have faster, more aggressive immune reactions to viral infections, helping clear viruses quickly. 'Men's immune systems appear to respond differently, which can mean symptoms linger longer and feel more intense,' he said.
- Individual variation matters alongside sex, Foster emphasized; age, baseline health, sleep quality, stress levels, and gut microbiome all influence how the immune system responds to viruses.
- Foster suggests the biological basis for 'man flu' isn't entirely made up, though whether it fully explains the mythology remains debatable. 'That's not weakness – it's biology,' he said.
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Telegraph & Argus+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
‘Man flu’ may actually be real as NHS doctor explains why men can feel worse
Man flu may have a scientific basis, says NHS GP Dr Jeff Foster, as research suggests men can suffer more severe respiratory virus symptoms than women.
·Bradford, United Kingdom
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