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STUDY FINDS: The Reason Why Men Get More Sick Than Women

 

Does that mean that men aren’t exaggerating? 🤔

 

 

Many men have likely been accused of having the “man flu” at some point, with friends and loved ones not fully believing the severity of their illness. The situation can be even worse if their partner or relative has recently overcome the same illness with fewer complaints, leaving the man accused of being “dramatic” every time he mentions his symptoms. However, a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) suggests that there may be a scientific reason why women react better to certain illnesses.

 

700,100+ Sick Man Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock | Sick  man in bed, Sick man at home, Sick man on couch

 

The study found that women have two X chromosomes, which contain the gene and protein UTX. UTX is crucial for the function of natural killer (NK) cells, the body’s first line of defense against invading viruses or illnesses. While the genes in one of a woman’s X chromosomes are mostly switched off through a process called X-chromosome inactivation, they are not fully turned off, meaning women still have more UTX working for them in their NK cells. This allows women to fight viral infections more effectively than men, who often have more NK cells than women, but may lack the strength provided by UTX.

 

 

The researchers used mice in their study and observed that male mice with more natural killer cells reacted less effectively to threats than female mice. When the researchers removed UTX entirely from the mice, they found that the mice died from viral infections. These findings suggest that the UTX protein is crucial in helping the body fight off viral infections and that women may have an advantage over men in this regard.