When a man gets it cold, everything shuts down. They sit on the couch feeling miserable and have no intention of doing anything (even going to the doctor). but, cold Just get up and move on with your day.
Or so is the myth of the so-called „men's cold.“
“If a woman has virus infection „She will continue with her day's activities and probably tell her friends about it,“ psychology expert Dr. William Pollack explains of this stereotype. „Men make a fuss about it, feel like it's a nuisance, and get angry and frustrated that they have to deal with it.“
Simply put, „man cold“ refers to the mindset that men treat cold and influenza Worse than women.
But is there any truth to it?
Some experts say that men and women may actually respond differently to things like: cold.
„I've seen it, but not on the grand scale that some people say,“ Pollack said.
This difference is not based on gender, but rather on personality, explains Robert L. Wirgin, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
„There is certainly a group of patients who are very in tune with their bodies and have a lot of concerns about their health,“ he says. “So when you catch a cold, your symptoms get worse to some extent.”
These patients tend to think their symptoms mean something worse is going on, Dr. Wagin says.They may have a mild cold, but I'm worried that they will. pneumonia.
“We have a mix of men and women,” he says.
However, is there any biological or scientific basis for the common belief that humans catch colds? Some studies report that men are more likely than women to experience symptoms when they catch a cold.
Dr. Kim Templeton, a surgeon at the University of Kansas Hospital, says, „When it comes to colds, sexual activity may also play a role.'' Templeton has conducted extensive research on gender differences in health.
female hormones estrogen It slows down the rate at which the virus reproduces, Templeton said. This may reduce symptoms.of influenza virus It may not spread as quickly in women because of estrogen and how a woman's body responds to it. Studies have not shown whether the same is true for cold viruses.
Furthermore, the part of brain Thanks to testosterone, men have a greater ability to control body temperature.This can lead to higher fever In men versus women, says Templeton. But she cautions that the results of her study are not clear-cut.
However, these things may not have much impact.
„There is no significant difference in how men and women respond to infections,“ says Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, medical director at South Nassau Community Hospital.
„There are slight differences between the study results and the numbers,“ Glatt says. “But in reality, there is not much difference. immune system between a man and a woman. ”
According to Pollack, author of „Humans Are Cold,'' cultural factors play a large role in the idea that „humans are cold.'' Real Boys: Rescuing Sons from the Myths of Boyhood.
Historically, men have been trained to think of their need to be „infinitely capable and never fail,“ Pollack explains. „So when we get sick, we make a big deal about it because it seems like a big deal. We're supposed to be infallible, so that causes more suffering. ”
In other words, a man must think that his cold is this close to death, or else he should not worry about it. „But of course he's concerned about it,“ Pollack says.
Fortunately, Pollack says many men are starting to let go of this mindset.
„Everyone gets a cold from time to time,“ he says.