Busting Healthcare Myths

The Truths Our Doctors Want You to Know

THERE’S a lot of health misinformation out there. We’ve gathered some of the most common myths our doctors have heard to help you set the record straight for a healthy new year. Read on to get the facts.

MYTH: SIGNIFICANTLY CUTTING CALORIES IS EFFECTIVE FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

Fact: Radically reducing the calories you eat in a day may lead to binge eating and other negative changes in your overall health. We’ve all seen various celebrities and influencers talk about weight loss through a heavily restricted diet or cleanses, but starvation techniques aren’t healthy and won’t lead to long-term weight loss success. Eating a well-balanced diet, getting regular exercise and making other lifestyle changes can lead to long-term weight loss.

MYTH: YOU NEED TO WORK OUT AT LEAST AN HOUR A DAY.

Fact: You need regular physical activity to help maintain good health, but not everyone can manage an hour-long workout every day. Fixating on that hour a day and debating whether it’s too much to fit in could derail any workout efforts. Remember, any activity is a good activity, even if it’s a 15-minute walk. For a healthy lifestyle, at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week is the recommendation, and you can break it up any way you can. Every little bit counts.

MYTH: THE FLU SHOT GIVES YOU THE FLU.

Fact: This is one of the most pervasive myths about vaccines. Flu vaccines are made with either an inactive flu virus or no virus at all, which means you do not get the flu from the vaccine. After a shot, there may be minor side effects such as low-grade fever, headache or muscle aches that mimic the flu, but they are not the flu and go away quickly. This is true also of COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines available do not give you COVID-19.

MYTH: MENTAL ILLNESS IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.

Fact: Any illness is not a weakness, whether it’s physical or mental. We don’t expect those with a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease to just “shake it off” or deal with it. A mental health condition is an illness and should be treated as such. Part of this myth includes the idea that those with a mental health condition can’t be successful. That is not true. Just as those with physical illnesses can be successful, so can those with mental illnesses, especially when they receive treatment.

MYTH: YOU SHOULD NOT SPEAK FREELY ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS YOU DO ABOUT YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

Fact: Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It can even impact your physical health. It’s very important to talk with your doctor about how you are doing both physically and mentally so they can help support you and find the best treatment options for any concerns.

MYTH: I HAVE NO CHEST PAIN, SO I DON’T HAVE HEART DISEASE.

Fact: There are subtle symptoms that you may not realize are related to heart disease, such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, and discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, neck or back. High blood pressure is another “silent” symptom. Regular checkups with your doctor can help identify issues early and prevent more serious complications, such as a heart attack or stroke.

MYTH: MEN AND WOMEN EXPERIENCE THE SAME HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS.

Fact: The most common heart attack symptom for both men and women is chest pain, but women can experience other symptoms that may not seem like a heart attack. Some signs to look for are pain or pressure in the lower chest, pain in the upper back, jaw or neck, indigestion, and fatigue. The fact is women are more likely to die of a heart attack, are more often misdiagnosed and are not treated as aggressively as men. Women also have unique risk factors such as pregnancy, high stress levels and menopause that increase their chance of heart disease. That’s why it’s important for women to schedule regular check-ups and to talk with their doctors if they notice any changes in their health.

MYTH: I’M YOUNG AND HEALTHY. I DON’T NEED A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR REGULAR CHECK-UPS.

Fact: One of the most important relationships you can have for better health is with a primary care doctor. Having a physician who gets to know you and can track any changes is important as you manage your health over time. A primary care provider can alert you when you need screenings for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. Those with more serious health problems under the care of specialists still need a primary care doctor to help manage their overall health.

MYTH: I DON’T NEED CANCER SCREENINGS IF I’M HEALTHY OR MY FAMILY HISTORY IS CANCER-FREE.

Fact: Screenings can find cancer early, before there are symptoms and when cancer is the most treatable. Talk with your doctor about the best times to start cancer screenings. Here’s a guide to get started:

• Breast Cancer Screenings can start at age 40 in women.

• Colorectal Cancer Screenings in both men and women start at age 45.

• Cervical Cancer Screenings in women begin at age 25.

• Lung Cancer Screenings can start at age 50 in those with a history of smoking.

• Prostate Cancer Screenings begin with a talk with your doctor at age 50.

If you have factors that increase your risk for developing cancer like family history, genetics or lifestyle factors, earlier screenings are recommended.

Find a trusted expert with Adventist HealthCare at AHCYou.com/ W23Doctors