Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

New research reveals ManFlu is no longer just a 'man thing'?

Is ManFlu really a ‘man’ thing?

Men have long been accused by women of exaggerating the symptoms of the common cold, claiming they are suffering from flu, but new research published today shows that the handkerchief could now be firmly in the other hand.

While ‘ManFlu’ has become part of everyday language it seems that an addition might be needed as a survey* commissioned by the makers of natural cold remedy Olbas suggests that women are really just as bad as men.

While 42% of women claim that their man self diagnoses ManFlu at the 1st sign of a sniffle, as many as 55% of men claim their female partners regularly cry ‘flu’ at the drop of a hanky – could this hail the arrival of GirlFlu?

Big Brother psychologist Professor Geoff Beattie says: “Psychologists have found that exaggeration is endemic in everyday life and particularly in the case of men, who use it to make themselves look better.

“But ‘ManFlu’ is not so much about the intention to deceive others but more a case of self deception. Men appear to be conditioned to think that anything that stops them dead in their tracks must be a flu rather than the common cold. A cold simply doesn’t sound serious enough. The extraordinary thing is that with the pressures of today’s society, women are now being lured into the same process of self deception and exaggeration. They too are now starting to feel that if they cannot perform at their best then it must be flu.”

They may have the coldest noses but, according to the survey, women do still have the warmer hearts with 87% of them believing men need more sympathy than they themselves need.

According to Doctor Mike Smith, resident GP on Channel 5 News and former Radio 2 medical expert, the average person would be really unlucky to get proper seasonal flu once in their entire lifetime however he estimates that on average, one can expect to suffer the symptoms of a cold - blocked sinuses, sneezing, headaches and sore throats - as often as five times a year.

So are we becoming an all or nothing society? The Olbas survey looked at how often people think that they suffer from colds and flu each year and rather modestly, more than 66% of men (67%) and women (66%) nationally claimed to have just one or two colds in a year.

Doctor Mike Smith concludes: “We live in a era where the demands on our time and energy are being stretched to the max, so in order to justify times of weakness we feel the need to be suffering from ever more ‘serious’ conditions.

“People have started to call heavy colds ‘flu’ out of a need to differentiate it from simply having a bit of a sniffle. If you ask anyone who has had real flu, they'll tell you just how much worse they felt than they ever did with any cold,” added Doctor Smith.

Olbas spokesperson Hilary Lynn said: “Every year the big ManFlu debate kicks off and we thought it was time to find out if it really does exist, but as a woman the last thing I expected to find out was that girls are just as bad as the boys.”

The good news is whether you’re a mummy’s boy with ManFlu, a martyr with GirlFlu or a sick free tough-nut with a few cold symptoms you’ll find relief with the soothing effects of the Olbas range of products.

Olbas products are available from pharmacies, chemists and supermarkets nationwide. Prices start from £2.09. For further info about the Olbas range visit www.olbas.co.uk


For further info, photography, samples or a copy of the survey results please contact Sam Purnell Phone: 0117 906 4546 / 07725 423 194 E: spurnell@brayleino.co.uk / edrury@brayleino.co.uk

The experts:
Doctor Mike Smith and Professor Geoff Beattie are available for further comment or interviews. To set up interviews or to find out more about Doctor Smith and Professor Beattie please contact the Olbas PR team to make arrangements www.drmikesmith.com and www.psych-sci.manchester.ac.uk/staff/GeoffBeattie


* The survey was undertaken by YouGov (www.yougov.com) on behalf of Olbas in October 2006 with a sample of 2,000 UK residents.