Women may joke about 'man flu' but according to new research men really do suffer more when they have a cold.
The study found that females have around twice as many white blood cells as males making the female immune system more effective at fighting off infections than the male system.
So when a man rushes to his bed at the first sniff of a cold he may not be faking it, after all.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London infected mice and rats with a variety of infections to study their immune systems. They looked at white blood cells in the lungs and stomach, which defend the body against infection.
Dr Ramona Scotland, who led the research, said: “We found that the females had around twice as many white blood cells than males which was a huge surprise.”
“When we started to look at how these white blood cells behaved we found that not only were there more cells, but that the cells were more responsive to bacteria and other invaders – and that they worked more effectively.
“Crucially, they didn’t release as many of the chemicals that stimulate the immune system response. It’s the release of these mediators that makes you feel lousy when you’re fighting off an infection.”
The research, which was reported in the medical journal, Blood, found that for every infection tested, the female mice and rats were less sick than the male.
Dr Scotland concluded: “I believe that the same will be true for people because this is a very ancient part of the mammal’s immune response."
“Man flu is a bit of a joke but from what I’m seeing there is a real difference,” she added.
5 Natural Ways To Combat A Cold
1. Onions
Onions are a natural source of high levels of quercetin, a potent antioxidant that helps to keep the body in peak condition and fight the common cold. Absorption of quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and three times that from apples. As little as two to three onions per week can have a significantly positive impact on health.
2. Sun Chlorella
Sun Chlorella is a single-celled fresh water green algae contains almost the complete range of all known vitamins and minerals, amino acids, trace elements, anti oxidants and enzymes needed by the body for fending off winter infections.
3. Sleep
Those who sleep less than seven hours a night were three times more likely to become ill than those who get an average of eight hours a day or more, according to research published in The Archives of Internal Medicine.
4. Hot liquids
Hot drinks such as herbal teas not only help to combat dehydration but they ease congestion and help to soothe the inflamed lining of the nose and throat.
5. An extra pillow
Sleeping with your head slightly raised will help to clear congestion by gently draining your nasal passages.