What was previously known as ‘man flu' (a condition where men are often accused by women of exaggerating a sniffle or a cold into a life-threatening disease courtesy of a hyperactive imagination) has been proved to be a genuine condition by scientists at McGill University in Canada. It is now accepted that men may actually suffer more from flu (a common reference to influenza) or a common cold than previously thought. The foundation to such a discovery lies in the fact that we are just so damned ‘masculine'.
The male hormone testosterone may enable us to chase women and build strong muscles but it has a flip side. It has been discovered that it may make our immune systems more susceptible to infection.
"When the cells of our immune system are exposed to high levels of testosterone, it may suppress their functioning," saysDr Sinsen Joseph, MD (Hom) at the City Point International Specialist Medical Center, Dubai. Just another cross we men bear.
Sorting the men from the boys
So how do you know if you've got the flu and not just the sniffles? A bout of flu should stay for around a week after that first tingle in your throat. "Symptoms generally last five to seven days and are mostly above the neck, involving the upper respiratory tract," says Dr Subash K, MD (Respiratory Medicine) at the Prime Medical Center, Dubai. If symptoms are above the neck, you're probably going to be better sooner than when they're below the neck, provided you are only suffering from a headache, runny nose and sore throat.
Now that you've established you have the real deal - the flu - is your other half, or indeed any of the women around you, at risk of catching it from you? "Oh definitely" says Dr Ramona Scotland at the Queen Mary University of London, lead researcher of a study that showed that there is a difference in the immunologic responses of female mammals when compared with their male counterparts. "All we are trying to say is that if a woman were to be a man suffering a flu, she'd be more sick."
If men and women have differences in immune function, why then do we use the same vaccines for most illnesses including flu? "Well, that only time can answer but what we do know right now is that there definitely is an intersexual difference between the immune responses," Dr Scotland says.
But before you start complaining about why you were made this way, let us tell you that you don't have to spend the rest of your life protecting yourself from microbes. Instead, follow our four-point plan to build a strong immune system and fight flu!
Exercise to boost immunity
But not just any exercise. It has been shown in the Journal of Infectious Diseases (2009) that regular, moderate exercise may help develop your immunity while exhausting, high-intensity workouts may in fact dampen it, making it a priority to exercise moderately. So what counts as moderate exercise?
- Walking: Brisk walking for 30 minutes, five days a week (92-102 steps per minute for men). Use a pedometer to keep track.
- Yoga: 15-20 minutes of basic yoga postures every day.
- Gym: 20-30 minutes of treadmill or cycling followed by your regular workout plan, which may involve free weights, sit-ups and push-ups (three days a week).
- Household chores: Such as vigorous vacuuming, mopping or washing your car.
Limit your exposure
If you know your friends and colleagues are already struck down with the flu, try to reduce your risk of catching it from them by knowing what to do in these two hot spots - the office and the gym.
At the office
Stress at work produces a hormone called cortisol, which can weaken your first line of defence against viral invaders, so try to de-stress and build immunity.
Suraj Patel, client liaison manager at the Stress Management Society in the UK, told us about some simple stress-busting techniques that can be easily followed at work, some of them even at your desk.
- Tighten your shoulders by raising them up to your ears and hold for 10 seconds, followed by dropping them slowly. Repeat a few times.
- Flex your neck towards your chest and hold for few seconds.
- Stand up and take a break from your desk in between tasks.
- Open the windows once in a while. Of course it's not always possible in our air-conditioned offices, but if you can get some fresh air in, do so.
At the gym
The surge in testosterone levels when pounding the treadmill or when competing with another man (even if not deliberate) while in the gym, may dampen your immune system, research claims. "It may be a fact that men with higher testosterone concentrations may not be able to fight off a common cold as quickly," says Dr Joseph.
It's best to do short bursts of cardio instead of prolonged activity and prevent testosterone levels from surging while at a hot spot like the gym. Make no mistake, we don't want your testosterone levels down all the time. Avoiding busy periods in the gym, by going late at night or mid afternoon, may reduce your exposure to flu carriers.
Play for the sympathy vote
If you are down with flu and the outlook is bleak, recruit your wife or girlfriend as a home medic and tell her about your sickness. If you live with your mother, you don't have to try too hard. Getting her to nurse you will reduce your misery. Doctors at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in the US found that the duration of colds is actually reduced by a day in response to empathy.
Beware of seasonal flu
"Flu could be seasonal. In the UAE, it is generally more common in the winter months from November to February," says Dr Subash. Follow these guidelines to reduce your infection risk and build a stronger immune system:
- Reduce alcohol intake.
- Stop/avoid smoking.
- Get eight hours of sleep every night.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in Vitamins C, A, D and E, which will boost immune function.
- Wash your hands regularly for at least 15 seconds and towel dry. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if you do not have a bathroom nearby.
- Reduce/get out of the habit of touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands as it's a potential route for the entry of the virus into your body, the other routes being air (respiratory droplets) and direct person-to-person contact.
And remember: whatever time of year you catch the flu, there is no substitute for a proper medical consultation.
Foods that boost immunity and help fight flu
Brazil nuts: Have a small handful per day and reduce your risk of viral infection, according to research from the University of Liverpool. Nuts are rich in selenium, an essential micronutrient that works to strengthen the immune system.
Green Tea: Just in case the weight loss, heart health and cancer preventing benefits haven't convinced you to start sipping, green tea has substances called ‘Catechins' that act by inhibiting the replication of influenza viruses A and B (Flu Causes), claims a study published in the Journal Antiviral Research in 2005.
Oranges: Have two glasses of orange juice (200g of Vitamin C) a day. Research in the US found it reduces the duration of flu symptoms by 8 per cent.
Mushroom Soup: Add fresh button mushrooms to soup and stack up your defences; 100g a day will make you impenetrable. Research at Tufts University in the US found they increase antiviral protein production.
