Interesting Medical Myths

Interesting Medical Myths Over time, there have been some very strange myths that have evolved surrounding the medical community. Old wives tales often get handed down generation to generation, and while most are not realistic, occasionally you may find one that holds true.

True or False Medical Wives Tales  

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Don’t go out with wet hair. You will catch a terrible cold.

False. There is no truth to this medical myth, as colds are more likely to be spread when touching surfaces that are contaminated with the cold virus.

Don’t use mayonnaise in picnic foods or sandwiches, as you may contract food poison.

False! This one may surprise you, but mayonnaise is high in acid, and when combined with chicken or tuna, can actually stave off bacteria.

Feed a cold, starve a fever.

False, no one can ever remember which one to feed and which one to starve anyway. Regardless, you should eat as normally as possible with a cold to keep up your strength.

Drink to cure a hangover.

False, this will only contribute to the problem. Instead, opt for some water slowly and add food when possible.

Chicken soup for the common cold.

True, sort of. While it won’t cure the cold, the warmth of the soup can break up sinus congestion, the chicken and vegetables provide nutrition, and the broth prevents dehydration.

Chocolate will help menstrual cramps.

True. Chocolate contains magnesium, which is good for cramps, and chocolate also contains mood-boosting chemicals that cause endorphins to be released naturally.

Avoid spicy food if you have an ulcer.

False. The cause of ulcers is not what scientists originally thought.

It turns out ulcers are from bacterial infections and spicy food, which may cause indigestion, will not affect an ulcer.

Squeaky clean hair will keep lice away.

False. Lice don’t discriminate. Clean or dirty hair, they love it all.

Rub brandy on a teething baby’s gums.

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False, and don’t even try this. It's not safe, and there is no evidence that it works at all.

Butter will help a burn.

False, and wrong on every level. It is great way to get a burn infected, and it's not safe at all. Opt for cool water, and if the burn isn’t bad, apply ointment such as Neosporin, but never butter.

Use raw bacon to draw out splinters.

False, and yuck! No, it won’t work, and if your skin has a puncture, you may be pushing in potentially harmful bacteria.

It’s anyone's guess where some of these myths started from, but if you have ever tried to tell a grandmother that her old wives tale won’t work, they will swear it has always worked for them.

How many times have you heard someone say they contracted the flu from a flu shot? The flu vaccine is a dead virus, and you can’t catch the flu from it. If you get sick after visiting the doctor for the flu shot, you probably caught something from someone in the waiting room, and not the shot itself.

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Medical Myths or Facts  

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Eating turkey will make you sleepy.

While turkey does contain tryptophan, it has no more than beef or chicken, so there goes that idea. Turkey is often served for special occasions, and with a big meal. After a big satisfying meal, generally served during times of cold weather outdoors, it makes sense that you will get sleepy sitting inside by the fire. It’s not the turkey, but rather the meal itself.

Shaving will make hair grow back darker and thicker.

Despite all of those warnings, it is simply not true.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.

Seriously? Not true. The skin dries out after death, which can make fingernails more prominent; however, they are no longer growing.

Most people only use 10% of their brain.

Well, it may appear that way with some people, but it is a myth.

During CT scans it's very evident that a huge portion of the brain is actually being used for some purpose at all times.

Reading in low light will permanently damage your eyes.

It will not cause permanent damage, but it can cause eye strain and a headache.

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Cell phones are dangerous in hospitals.

This one is still open for debate. There are very few things that cell phones interfere with, and while there is no evidence of hospital equipment being interrupted by cell phones, it is still being studied.

When you hear a warning through your childhood, it sticks with you into adulthood most of the time. Those old wives tales and medical myths generally stick with you for life. Try to tell your grandma, or mom that they are wrong, and they will think you’ve lost your mind. While many of the old wives tales and medical myths won’t harm you, they just don’t don’t do any good either. On the other hand, the butter on a burn, or bacon on an open sore can be dangerous, and should be avoided, just don’t tell grandma.

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Bizarre Medical Wives Tales Maybe you have heard that if your baby has a case of thrush in their mouth, it is a form of a yeast infection. This is true, and often follows a round of antibiotics. The antibiotics tend to cause an imbalance of bacteria, which can create a breeding ground for a yeast infection that appears on the tongue, and causes tenderness. Or, you can listen to some that insist you find a person with red hair and have them blow in your baby’s mouth. Don’t you wonder where anyone ever came up with some of these ideas?

Use common sense, which usually prevails over someone's advice, or an old family remedy. If the condition is serious, a doctor's visit may be in order, however, if you decide to treat at home, go with medical suggestions, and not treatments that have been passed down from generation to generation.

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