'Man flu'

[Ekphrasis]

Omfg. Where to even start...

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/11/stop-accusing-men-of-overreacting-man-flu-really-does-exist-claims-doctor?CMP=fb_gu

Even if it is true that men experience worse cold and flu symptoms than women do, isn't it incredible that this is deemed (in this article) something worthy of sympathy, when if the reverse were true it would be deemed to be evidence of how women are always whinging and wanting special treatment. Oh the irony.

Isn't just about a better understanding of the differences between male and female physiology and the challenges that poses?
Personally I don't see what difference it makes. We are all different and have different challenges. The way I see it is you are either well enough to work or not, whatever the cause.

I never thought 'man flu' was actual influenza. To me, it's a man having a bad cold and complaining about it. Real flu caused by the influenza virus is truly terrible for anyone, not 'man flu' in any way.

In a similar situation a woman with a bad cold would be less likely to complain because, as pp said, she would be less likely to get a sympathetic response.

I think that studying how viruses etc might affect the two sexes differently is a very valid thing. Because it seems that until now, the default has been 'man' and any differing effects/symptoms in women are somehow 'other'. eg the symptoms of heart attacks.

I just hate the double standard that is applied when women are the ones suffering because they are so often accused of overreacting (see labour, gynae problems etc) or told that it is something they just have to live with.

I hope (but not convinced) that a better understanding of differing biology will help break down some of the double standards. The way I see it is you ill, your ill. I work in an environment where if your not physically or mentally fit you should be in work and encouraged not to come in (for the safety of 100s). Just need someone to invent a device to know when someone is pulling a fast on because in my industry there are some who take advantage.

This is a joke article, I thought? The BMJ do this every year for Christmas.

From observations things like asthma or other immune issues eg diabetes, thyroid, ms etc would mean you suffer more.

My husband simply doesn't suffer from as many coughs as me or my son as his air ways and lung capacity are/ is bigger and he certainly clears them more quickly.

Ive also noticed that with small children, I simply had to keep going (so developed pneumonia twice) whereas he appears to just go to bed... some how.

I suspect it's probably a joke.

The BMJ article must be a joke. This is the conclusion

Lying on the couch, not getting out of bed, or receiving assistance with activities of daily living could also be evolutionarily behaviours that protect against predators. Perhaps now is the time for male friendly spaces, equipped with enormous televisions and reclining chairs, to be set up where men can recover from the debilitating effects of man flu in safety and comfort.

Oh dear guardian. Sadly a lot of people are believing it.

It is a joke article. It's in the Christmas BMJ. They always do joke articles for their Christmas issue, usually taking scientific method on silly subjects.

Which is what someone has done here. The author isn't an expert on flu, but having some fun. They have another one on Dr Brown Bear in Peppa Pig written by a GP with a toddler.

Every year they get reported in the mass media as if they were serious research and loads of people fail to see the joke. Which has happened about the Peppa Pig one too judging by the tone of a lot of the responses to that.

I believe that people get colds and flu to different levels, It’s it due to gender ? When my husband gets a very bad cold or flu, his nose drips for days, he has to put tissues up his nose, and the sweating he does, it feels like he’s wet the bed, I luckily do not suffer half as bad as him, as he says Jokingly that’s why it’s cold man flu, women don’t get it as bad.

Ah, I'm a dimwit, I skim read the article in the Guardian and didn't notice the bit at the end that made it very clear it was a joke .

Still, I stand by my comments that if something affects women more, they are generally thought to be making too much fuss!

I think I want to read the Dr Brown bear article though...He had yucky medicine that cured everything didn't he? And immediate home visits...

Dr Brown Bear article is very funny:

www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5397

Well I'm also the dim wit!

Treacle, there's definitely a level of misogyny in some areas of health and health care.

I've argued that things like hypothyroidism and ME/ CFS and pms issues haven't been / are sometimes not taken as seriously as they're predominantly female issues and dismisses a bit (though I know men can have hypothyroidism and me/ cfs, But not as many).

The male authors of this study conclude that caregivers should “go that extra mile to care for us when we are stricken with it, so that future shelves can be erected, cars can be maintained and football stadia throughout the land can be well attended”, listing only a few of the many ways male viral respiratory illnesses can affect society.

Thank you, OP!

I’m not sure R4’s Today programme got the joke, but I was half asleep when the item was on.

I believed it myself because it doesn’t seem outlandish that sex differences may have a bearing on disease.

I think you're right hipster!

Lol lance!

I would be interested to know if transwomen get man flu.

Don't panic OP, there's a clue in the first sentence:
"A somewhat tongue-in-cheek BMJ article..."
I'd love to see their research into mansplaining though.

1Dad Are you ok?

PilarTernera wrote - "I never thought 'man flu' was actual influenza. To me, it's a man having a bad cold and complaining about it. Real flu caused by the influenza virus is truly terrible for anyone, not 'man flu' in any way. "

I agree with you.

Oxford English Dictionary and Cambridge English Dictionary agree with us.

I hope it is the media that have misunderstood what man flu is, not the academic researchers.