A comforting ‘cuddle’ is what women crave the most when they’re feeling unwell, according to a new survey.
Almost half - 49% - of ladies polled said they ‘expected’ their partner to provide soothing in the form of a snuggle when poorly.
Going to the supermarket to stock up on remedies, doing household chores and ‘surrendering the remote control’ also featured high on their wishlists.
The OnePoll research, commissioned by healthcare firm MANFLU, quizzed 1,000 females aged 18 to 65 about their requirements when ‘ill’.
While the majority wanted a ‘cuddle’, 29% required a ‘remedy’ to be bought, 34% preferred ‘household chores’ to be done and 16% craved a hot water bottle.
One in ten (11%) of those aged between 25-34 wanted their partner to hand over the TV remote.
Meanwhile, sex drive appears to plummet when a woman isn’t feeling in fine fettle - just 4% of 25-34 year olds wanted X-rated intimacy while unwell.
And ‘massage and pampering’ is also way down the list of requirements, with just 7% saying they expected a back rub when under the weather.
Health and wellbeing expert Jonathan Evans, founder of MANFLU, urged Britain’s menfolk to take good care of their other halves.
He said: “You face a psychological battle as well as a physical challenge to get back to full form. But that’s just half the story.
“When you’re down, you also want to feel loved - and that’s where partners come in to offer both emotional support and help around the house.
“After all, who doesn’t like a cuddle if they’re exhausted, run-down and succumbing to a bug?
“It sounds obvious but I’d imagine many partners aren’t fulfilling their end of the bargain.”
Evans suggests human contact in the form of a hug is also scientifically proven to aid recovery.
He added: “A hormone called Oxytocin is released in the body whenever you experience physical contact.
“That’s why it’s known as the ‘hug hormone’ or ‘cuddle chemical’.
“Once released into the bloodstream it can promote positive emotions like relaxation, trust and psychological stability while reducing stress and anxiety.
“If you’re feeling down in the dumps, a surge of the hug hormone is definitely going to be beneficial.”