Is Man Flu Real? Doctor Explains Why Men Feel Worse And Act Dramatic When Theyre Sick
Is Man Flu Real? Doctor Explains Why Men Feel Worse And Act Dramatic When Theyre Sick
For years, ‘man flu’ has been used to describe the way men seem to suffer than women when they’re sick, often prompting endless eye-rolls, jokes and claims of exaggeration.
The term has become so widely recognised it even has its own entry in the Oxford English Dictionary, which defines it as a cold or minor ailment experienced by a man who is believed to exaggerate the severity of his symptoms.
But a popular US emergency room doctor has shocked fans this week after revealing there may be a valid medical explanation behind the behaviour, saying it comes down to men and women’s immune systems responding to illness differently.
Dr Joe Whittington, known to his two million TikTok followers as Dr Joe, shared a
@drjoe_md Ever heard of the “man flu”? Turns out, it might not be entirely in their heads. Some research suggests that men might feel harsher symptoms during viral infections because of differences in hormones and immune responses.
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Estrogen may enhance immune defenses, while testosterone can sometimes dampen them, potentially making certain illnesses hit harder. While this certainly isn’t the case for every viral infection, nor for every man or woman, there is some biological basis for it. 🤷🏻♂️#sciencefacts#immunesystem#MedicalEducation#menvswomen
♬ original sound – Dr. Joe, M.D. 🩺
in which he breaks down the science behind why men can genuinely feel worse during viral infections, and why their symptoms may hit harder.
‘People love to roast the so-called “man flu”, but actually there’s some science behind it,’ he said in the clip.
He explained that women have a biological advantage when it comes to fighting infection thanks to the hormone oestrogen, which helps boost the immune system and allows the body to clear viruses efficiently.
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Men have a very different hormonal profile.
Higher levels of testosterone can actually lower the immune system slightly, making it harder to fight off viral illnesses.
For years, ‘man flu ‘ has been used to describe the way some men seem to suffer far than women when they’re sick, often prompting endless eye-rolls, jokes and claims of exaggeration
US doctor Joe Whittington (pictured) has surprised fans by revealing men and women’s immune systems react differently to illness, offering a medical explanation for the term
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According to Dr Joe, the most crucial difference isn’t just how effectively the body clears an infection, and how the illness is experienced once the immune system kicks in.
‘During viral infections, men produce inflammatory cytokines,’ he said.
‘So even though their immune response isn’t better, it actually feels worse – fatigue, body aches, misery.’
Dr Joe also pointed out that women, through lived experience, are often accustomed to carrying on while uncomfortable.
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‘Women are used to pushing through (with) periods, childbirth, caretaking etc, the grind never stops.’
The video quickly sparked debate in the comments with many women admitting the explanation at least partially supports what they’ve observed at home, while others said the theatrics still speak for themselves.
‘Where’s my violin,’ one viewer wrote.
‘My husband once sent me a picture of clothes laid out on our bed so that if he died before I got home, I’d know what he wanted to be buried in. He had a cold!’ another joked.
the و at و what – تفاصيل مهمة
Ever heard of the “man flu”? Turns out, it might not be entirely in their heads. Some research suggests that men might feel harsher symptoms during viral infections because of differences in hormones and immune responses.
Estrogen may enhance immune defenses, while testosterone can sometimes dampen them, potentially making certain illnesses hit harder. While this certainly isn’t the case for every viral infection, nor for every man or woman, there is some biological basis for it. 🤷🏻♂️#sciencefacts#immunesystem#MedicalEducation#menvswomen
♬ original sound – Dr. Joe, M.D. 🩺
He explained that oestrogen gives women a biological edge, boosting immunity and helping the body clear viruses efficiently. In contrast, men’s higher testosterone levels can slightly lower their immune response, making viral illnesses tougher to fight off
‘Kind of feel bad that I make fun of my husband for this now,’ a third admitted.
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‘Great, now you’ve given my husband a scientific excuse to be a sissy,’ another follower wrote.
Aussies can lower the risk of infection by staying home if they develop cold and flu symptoms, and if they need to go out, keep a mask handy.
There are of course the options of annual influenza vaccinations and Covid boosters ahead of the peak seasons, however those rates are down in 2025, with some Aussies getting vaccine fatigue.
Nationally, fewer adults have received a Covid vaccine in the last 12 months compared to the previous year, according to the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report.
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But maybe after seeing Dr Joe’s clip, rates might see a significant rise – especially from men.
Whether it changes household dynamics remains to be seen, but Dr Joe’s breakdown suggests the long-running joke may have truth behind it than previously thought.
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification. We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-11-10 22:18:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com
