Proof at last as scientists find the male of the species is a wimp over colds
Women have suspected it for years ? and finally, they have proof: when it comes to illness, scientists say men really are wimps.
According to research, the working man is much more likely to succumb to a cold than his female colleague when the pressure?s on.
Under stress, a woman with the sniffles carries on regardless with a ?stoical response?.
The weaker sex? Research shows that men are more susceptible to the common cold when under pressure
But across her office there?ll be a man with the same stress ? and a cold he?s ?over-rated? ? moaning to everyone about his terrible man flu.
For their study, the scientists questioned manual workers from 40 companies about their level of work stress.
Six months later, the workers were asked if they had had a cold in the preceding four months.
Men who were under stress and felt that they did not have control over their job were 74 per cent more likely to report suffering from a cold.
One explanation could be that ?males were significantly more likely to overrate common cold symptoms than females?, the research team from Ajou University School of Medicine, South Korea, said.
?Therefore any association between work-related stress and the common cold may be accentuated in males by their reaction to experiencing a cold ? and attenuated in females by their more stoical response.?
Dr John Hobson, editor of the scientific journal Occupational Medicine, which published the findings today, explained this was evidence that man flu really is a problem.
?We know that men and women report colds differently and this study is very interesting because it suggests they react differently at work.
?Catching the common cold is the biggest cause of a short bout of work-related sickness absence in the UK.
The study indicates that men with colds, or man flu if you like, may be under work-related stress, which is something that an employer or manager may be able to do something about.?
A recent survey suggested that flu and other minor ailments accounted for 84 per cent of the days off in the UK.
The recession has put many jobs are under threat which could push up short-term sickness at the very least, he said.
Stress and depression are the biggest cause for longer-term absence in the UK with one in four employees experiencing problems.
This is not just distressing for patient, but can also make them less productive at work and is responsible for high rates of sick leave, accidents and staff turnover, he added.
Dr Olivia Carlton, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine said the findings were a wake-up call for employers.
?Stress of any kind may affect your immune system and be a potential risk factor for the common cold and other illnesses.
?However the real issue here is that managers in the workplace need to understand how to identify employees who are experiencing stress and help those who are affected,? she added.
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Man flu: Proof at last as scientists find the male of the species is a wimp over colds | Mail Online
Women have suspected it for years ? and finally, they have proof: when it comes to illness, scientists say men really are wimps.
According to research, the working man is much more likely to succumb to a cold than his female colleague when the pressure?s on.
Under stress, a woman with the sniffles carries on regardless with a ?stoical response?.
The weaker sex? Research shows that men are more susceptible to the common cold when under pressureBut across her office there?ll be a man with the same stress ? and a cold he?s ?over-rated? ? moaning to everyone about his terrible man flu.
For their study, the scientists questioned manual workers from 40 companies about their level of work stress.
Six months later, the workers were asked if they had had a cold in the preceding four months.
Men who were under stress and felt that they did not have control over their job were 74 per cent more likely to report suffering from a cold.
One explanation could be that ?males were significantly more likely to overrate common cold symptoms than females?, the research team from Ajou University School of Medicine, South Korea, said.
?Therefore any association between work-related stress and the common cold may be accentuated in males by their reaction to experiencing a cold ? and attenuated in females by their more stoical response.?
Dr John Hobson, editor of the scientific journal Occupational Medicine, which published the findings today, explained this was evidence that man flu really is a problem.
?We know that men and women report colds differently and this study is very interesting because it suggests they react differently at work.
?Catching the common cold is the biggest cause of a short bout of work-related sickness absence in the UK.
The study indicates that men with colds, or man flu if you like, may be under work-related stress, which is something that an employer or manager may be able to do something about.?
A recent survey suggested that flu and other minor ailments accounted for 84 per cent of the days off in the UK.
The recession has put many jobs are under threat which could push up short-term sickness at the very least, he said.
Stress and depression are the biggest cause for longer-term absence in the UK with one in four employees experiencing problems.
This is not just distressing for patient, but can also make them less productive at work and is responsible for high rates of sick leave, accidents and staff turnover, he added.
Dr Olivia Carlton, president of the Society of Occupational Medicine said the findings were a wake-up call for employers.
?Stress of any kind may affect your immune system and be a potential risk factor for the common cold and other illnesses.
?However the real issue here is that managers in the workplace need to understand how to identify employees who are experiencing stress and help those who are affected,? she added.
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Man flu: Proof at last as scientists find the male of the species is a wimp over colds | Mail Online
screw you nag3 
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