Is the 'man flu' real? Scientists claim men experience worse flu

Don’t accuse men of overreacting when they’re sick — the “man flu” is real, scientists claim.

A scientist is arguing that men might experience worse cold and flu symptoms than women. Dr. Kyle Sue, a clinical assistant professor in family medicine form the Memorial University of Newfoundland, published an article in the British Medical Journal that argues there are many factors that lead to men experiencing harsher illnesses.

The study also notes that research from the U.S. showed men had higher rates of deaths linked to flu compared to women of the same age.

"I do think that the research does point towards men having a weaker immune response when it comes to common viral respiratory infections and the flu," Sue told The Guardian. "This is shown in the fact that they [have] worse symptoms, they last longer, they are more likely to be hospitalized and more likely to die from it."

Locally, the flu appears to be impacting people earlier this year. The Ohio Department of Health said the state is above the five-year average for the number of cases reported this time of year and "significantly higher" than the same time last year. There have been 92 flu-associated hospitalizations reported in Ohio for the week ending Dec. 2 and 257 hospitalizations since the start of the season.

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