Who is harder to tolerate the flu?
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The female organism is more difficult to cope with the infection in terms of its own hormones, causing overexcitation of the immune system and, as a result, the development of a powerful inadequate immune response.
Why weak sex is more prone to infections? This question was first pondered by researchers in the US, observing heterozygous mice infected with the influenza virus. It was noted that female individuals are more likely to tolerate the disease than men. The difference was lost when the ovaries were removed to the females, and the testes to the males.
It was possible to achieve an increase in the protective forces of the mouse organism against the virus, giving to females with removed sex glands estrogen and progesterone. Immune cells have special receptors in front of female sex hormones, which has been known for a long time. For this reason, it is believed that women are more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases, since the female immune system is constantly being irritated by sex hormones.
The constant "combat readiness" can aggravate the course of infectious processes. For example, with influenza in the female body, less pathogenic viruses can be observed than in the male virus, and the symptomatology will be heavier. Such a paradox is explained only by the excessive response of immunity to viruses.
It turns out that the immune system of a woman under the influence of sex hormones forms an excessive response, eliminating the infection and causing harm to the body. Overexcited immunity gives out excessive protection, where it would be possible to do with lesser forces.
As foreign experts report, a regular vaccination can become a way out of this situation, which will help the body to get used to the pathogen and dispense without violent reaction when it appears later. Another way is to take hormonal contraceptives that maintain the level of hormones in the norm and prevent malfunctions of the menstrual cycle. In the period of seasonal exacerbations, the joint action of anti-infective drugs and hormone lowering drugs will not interfere.
However, the scientists themselves admit that very few studies were conducted on the effect of the female hormonal background, the monthly cycle and the reaction of the woman's organism to various infections. Therefore, it is too early to make premature conclusions and give any medical advice.
Quite the contrary opinion has British doctors who believe that men at a certain age are more difficult to tolerate viral infections. This is due to changes in the brain area, namely the presence of an increased number of thermal receptors in the hypothalamus. A zone of the brain with preoptic nuclei, responsible for various indicators, as well as temperature, receives signals about the presence of a pathogen in the body. Under the influence of testosterone, the nuclei, in turn, cause a significant increase in temperature. In men, as is known, the preoptic region of the hypothalamus is greater than in women, so they tolerate an infectious disease more difficult.
Is the severity of the disease an influenza virus with the "sexual preferences" of the virus itself, or is it another myth? - The scientists have to find out. But the fact that the infection is more difficult for children and elderly people is a proven fact.