I hate to generalize about genders, but in certain physiological aspects there definitely is a difference between men and women. The magnitude of differences might fluctuate, but there is an overall trend.
Men have greater muscle mass, thus have more red blood cells because their bodies have greater oxygen requirements, right? Right!
Accepted RBC levels:
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL (4.7 to 6.1 x 10^12/L)
Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL ( 4.2 to 5.4 x 10^12/L)
Hemoglobin:
Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL (138 to 172 g/L)
Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL (121 to 151 g/L)
So if women, on average, have fewer red blood cells per liter does it follow that they have more of something else such as white blood cells? Maybe more inflammatory cytokines?
Well:
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/2/869
It would appear that women do indeed have a stronger immune system than men, at least when it comes to certain pathogens. This also makes sense, as not only do female bodies have to deal with the rigors of pregnancy and other such icky activities, but women are (speaking from an evolutionary perspective) much less expendable as a genetic unit.
But guys, it gets even worse:
The research clearly shows the more hard and manly you are the worse your manflu is going to be. As I have said to my lady, anyone can get out of bed and make their own cornflakes, but it takes a real man to admit he is beaten and cry until he has cornflakes brought to him while lying under the fluffy warm duvet with a pillow over his head.
So, fellas, next time you're ill rest up in bed free from guilt, free from the feeling that you're just exploiting your sickness to get some time watching crap movies while your girlfriend makes you coffee (though gives it to you with a disapproving frown), and free from accusations of "manflu".
Because science says, nay demands, that you really are sicker!
Men have greater muscle mass, thus have more red blood cells because their bodies have greater oxygen requirements, right? Right!
Accepted RBC levels:
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL (4.7 to 6.1 x 10^12/L)
Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL ( 4.2 to 5.4 x 10^12/L)
Hemoglobin:
Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL (138 to 172 g/L)
Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL (121 to 151 g/L)
So if women, on average, have fewer red blood cells per liter does it follow that they have more of something else such as white blood cells? Maybe more inflammatory cytokines?
Well:
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/2/869
It would appear that women do indeed have a stronger immune system than men, at least when it comes to certain pathogens. This also makes sense, as not only do female bodies have to deal with the rigors of pregnancy and other such icky activities, but women are (speaking from an evolutionary perspective) much less expendable as a genetic unit.
But guys, it gets even worse:
The research clearly shows the more hard and manly you are the worse your manflu is going to be. As I have said to my lady, anyone can get out of bed and make their own cornflakes, but it takes a real man to admit he is beaten and cry until he has cornflakes brought to him while lying under the fluffy warm duvet with a pillow over his head.
So, fellas, next time you're ill rest up in bed free from guilt, free from the feeling that you're just exploiting your sickness to get some time watching crap movies while your girlfriend makes you coffee (though gives it to you with a disapproving frown), and free from accusations of "manflu".
Because science says, nay demands, that you really are sicker!
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