Science Confirms It: Man Flu Really Does Exist
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IT’S OFFICIAL: MAN FLU DOES EXIST…ACCORDING TO THE NATION’S MEN (AND BACKED BY SCIENCE)
British men have spoken – and as many as 68 percent of them insist man flu is no myth.
In fact, 67 percent of the men surveyed, maintain they are struck down far worse than their partner, when sickness hits.
According to the poll of 2,000 men and women by Asda, men take slightly more sickies on average than women, five sick days a year, compared to just four days.
The Oxford Dictionary defines Man Flu as, “a cold or similar minor ailment, as experienced by a man who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of the symptoms”
But it’s not just the nation’s men who think Man flu might be real, numerous scientific studies have delved into the subject also.
According to boffins at Harvard Health Publishing, studies carried out so far seem to indicate that ‘man flu’ isn’t just men being dramatic.
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing, says, “In one study reviewing six years of data, men were hospitalized with the flu more often than women. (A separate) survey found that men reported taking longer to recover from flu-like illnesses than women (three days vs. 1.5 days).”
Shmerling adds, “Testosterone may also play a role, as men with the highest levels tended to have a lower antibody response. A better antibody response may lessen the severity of flu”.
Yet when it comes to what the nation’s women think, 70 percent say their partner exaggerates how ill they are, and 65 percent admitting they get irritated when their other half is under the weather.
Constant moaning (46 percent), endless sniffing and coughing (42 percent), acting a bit pathetic (39 percent), moodiness (38 percent) and expecting to be waited on (35 percent) were the biggest complaints.
Yet despite apparently feeling WORSE symptoms from a cold or flu, more than half (54 percent) of the men polled refuse to get an annual flu jab, with a resounding 94 percent agreeing that most men don’t think about looking after their health until it’s too late.
Worrying the flu vaccine will make them feel ill (25 percent), not liking injections (23 percent), not getting around to making an appointment (22 percent) and simply being too busy (19 percent) are the main reasons for shunning the jab, while one in ten (11 percent) refuse to get it because it is too expensive.
To help tackle the problem and stop flu taking men out of the game, Asda is celebrating its 60th anniversary with their flu jab service for just 60p – available to the first 6,000 customers who pre-book their appointment between 22nd and 28th of September.
Asda has teamed up with former England and Liverpool hardman Neil “Razor” Ruddock, a defender once feared for his crunching tackles but now urging men to tackle flu head-on, to motivate fans of all ages to get their jabs.
Neil Ruddock said: “I’ve had flu myself and it really does knock you sideways. The research shows I’m far from the only one. People might joke about it, but when you’re in the thick of it, it genuinely feels like you’ve been tackled hard. I’ll hold my hands up and say I’m not great company when I’m ill – just ask my family. It proves that even the toughest of us can be brought down by flu, so that’s why I’ve partnered with Asda, to try and keep us all in the game this winter.”
While Neil is urging men to roll up their sleeves, the research shows many still aren’t taking the simple step of getting protected. Seven in ten (70 percent) say they always soldier on when ill, with 71 percent confessing they take their health for granted.
Men from Glasgow (54 percent), Edinburgh (53 percent) and London (52 percent) top the league tables when it comes to moaning about man flu, according to their partners.
A spokesperson for Asda added: “This research shows just how much flu impacts everyday life. Our 60p flu jab service is about removing barriers and making it easier than ever for people to protect themselves and those around them.
Alongside Neil, Asda has also partnered with grassroots football club Barking FC in London – the city with the most reported cases of man flu – to encourage communities to “get back in the game.” By supporting local teams, the retailer is reminding players and supporters alike that flu can take you off the pitch longer than any tackle.
Two thirds (65 percent) of women admit they roll their eyes when their partner declares they’ve got ‘man flu,’ with half (50 percent) describing them as hypochondriacs.
And these disagreements can escalate – four in ten couples (41 percent) say they often fall out when one of them is sick, while more than half (53 percent) feel their partner shows little sympathy when they have a cold.”
What a shot! Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock is fronting Asda’s 60th anniversary campaign flu jab campaign with prices at just 60p – showing that even the toughest players aren’t immune to ‘man flu’
