Does your man turn into a five-year-old when he’s sick?

It’s a popular theory that men get sicker – or act sicker – when they get the sniffles, while women soldier on with work, childcare and life.

So, ladies, just in time for influenza season comes the news that “man flu” – the non-medical term used to make fun of males who may get a bit over-dramatic when they have a minor cold – may in fact, be a genuine phenomenon! Say what now? Does this mean that your big baby man-child actually does suffer more when he’s sick?

Apparently so! This is according to Canadian researcher, Dr Kyle Sue, whose findings were published in the British Medical Journal. Dr Sue, who was “tired of being accused of overreacting”, suggests that men may not be exaggerating symptoms but may actually have weaker immune responses to viral respiratory viruses, making them more susceptible to complications than women. He found that testosterone may be to blame for supressing men’s immune systems, while the female sex hormone actually boosts women’s immunity.  

But here’s the kicker guys, the scientific evidence for man flu is far from conclusive with the vast majority of robust scientific evidence suggesting that flu is not sexist. Dr Stokes-Lompard, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners in London, responded that most people will recover from flu in a few days, no matter what their gender. She does state that the best advice for anyone affected is to rest at home, drink plenty of fluids, and to take over-the-counter painkillers. However, if your symptoms do not improve after a few days, or you have trouble breathing, she suggests that you see a healthcare professional.

Here’s the worrying thing ladies, we all know that men would rather set their shorts on fire than go for a prostate check-up, right? But, as men age certain health screenings do become necessary. Have your man self-check his testicles regularly for any swelling, lumps or texture changes. Did you know that this is the most common cancer for men under 35?

A prostate screening should be done once a year if he’s over 50. Also, checks for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes are important – untreated diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. And, if the love of your life has a bit of a potbelly, encourage him to talk to your GP for advice on healthy weight loss.

He should have regular eye tests; glaucoma is a condition that causes increased pressure in the eye and left untreated could cause blindness. Also, make sure to check his back and chest regularly for any changes in moles – the number of men dying from melanoma has doubled over the last 30 years.

Here’s the good news: Fedhealth offers the Health Risk Assessment Benefit to all members of the Fedhealth family. Through this benefit we hope to identify members who are at risk of developing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, and either help them to prevent the onset of these conditions through suitable lifestyle interventions or help them manage their disease through practical advice. Learn more about this at https://www.fedhealth.co.za/zom-on-benefits/health-risk-assessments-hra/

Although the research is by no means conclusive, what if man flu is more serious than we think?

So, ladies, perhaps we should give our nearest and dearest the benefit of the doubt and set them up with enormous televisions and reclining chairs where they could recover in comfort. What do you think?

Source: www.irishtimes.com, www.google.co.za, www.livescience.co.za, time.com, www.huffingtonpost.com, www.redbookmag.com, www.webmd.com, za.pinterest.com, www.mirror.co.uk, www.health24.com, moneyish.com, www.independent.co.uk, www.dailyedge.ie, www.theguardian.com, edition.cnn.com, www.fedhealth.co.za

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.