Chewed gum, broken fingers and fear of coffee: experts debunk the most dangerous health myths
Almost everyone has an old wives’ tale about a health issue, from a grandmother, best friend, or “internet wisdom.”
In a recent survey of 1,000 doctors, more than 85 percent said they had encountered misinformation from patients in the past five years.
Dr. Leonor Fernandez, a primary care physician at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, told Harvard Medical School, “We’re often looking for a one-shot solution, something we can do to take care of a problem or simplify our lives so we feel better.”
“But for most things in health, the solution lies in the balance between what you do and what you eat, not one particular thing.”
Experts stress that being able to tell the difference between reality and fantasy is critical when it comes to your long-term health and well-being.
Nerve crackers
Cracking your toes is a bad habit, and an old wives’ tale claims that doing so can lead to arthritis.
The origins of this belief, which has existed for decades, are unclear. But doctors say this is not true.
Osteoarthritis—which affects about 33 million American adults and is by far the most common type of joint disease—is caused by overuse and wear and tear.
“The reality is that there is no connection between arthritis and arthritis — or any other long-term health problem,” said Dr. Eric Raderman, a rheumatologist at Northwestern Medicine.
The problem of time
More than 100 million Americans live with obesity, which increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions.
A common misconception is that eating at night causes weight gain. Celebrities like Marvel star Chris Hemsworth reportedly take part in intermittent fasting, where they don’t eat for hours before going to bed.
However, even though your metabolism slows down at night, when you eat doesn’t really count as much as how much you eat at that meal.
“There may be some truth that our metabolism and insulin secretion changes at night because we sleep,” Fernandez said. “But I suspect that what you eat, and whether your diet is substantial or not, is more important.”
Stand around
An old playground adage suggests that gum can stay in your stomach for up to seven years after you swallow it.
While our bodies don’t have the enzymes to break down the gum base, which is made of polymers and wax, it does leave the body, gastroenterologist Nancy McGrail told Duke Health.
“In all of the upper endoscopies I’ve performed on both children and adults, I’ve never seen a lump around the stomach,” he noted.
Questions about caffeine
The myth that coffee inhibits growth is believed to have originated from a business plan in the 1930s. In 1933, tycoon and grape nut maker CW Post was warned about a cup of coffee substitute for Postum’s caffeinated coffee.
The ad claimed that “coffee is a factor in eliminating milk from children’s diets. Malnutrition. Children’s bright eyes steal their rosy cheeks. According to a report published by the institute, it shortens their lifespan, reduces resistance to diseases and prevents proper growth and development. Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, there is no scientific evidence that drinking coffee can stunt a child’s growth, Harvard Medical School said.
“Caffeine has no significant effect on a child’s height,” pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Roy Kim told the Cleveland Clinic.
A failed discovery
The myth that eating eggs raises cholesterol is another disturbing fact that is not so hard to break.
While there’s no denying that eggs are high in cholesterol — just 186 milligrams in the yolk, or 62 percent of the recommended daily amount — it doesn’t significantly raise blood cholesterol levels, according to the Australian Health Association.
“Instead, it’s the overconsumption of foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar that do it,” explains the alliance.
Eggs are also high in protein and other nutrients, and according to a Harvard study, eating them improves heart health.
take rest
The idea that ice can help treat burns makes sense to non-medical professionals. Ice helps reduce inflammation and other injuries.
However, doctors say, putting ice on a burn can actually do more harm than good. The Tulsa ER and hospital warned that ice can cause frostbite, which further damages the skin.
Instead, people should run the affected area under cool water.
“On the burn site, it is best to use cool water, such as keeping the burned area under running water for a few minutes,” advises doctors at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Take some pain medication and use antibiotic ointment and soft gauze to protect the area from germs.
let it go
The origins of the “5-second rule,” or the idea that food is still bacteria-free after five seconds on the floor or other surface, may be surprising. It goes back to the Mongol warrior Genghis Khan who created his “Khan Dynasty”.
Any food that fell on the floor at her parties was considered too good to eat because it was so special.
But according to Mt Elizabeth doctors, the bacteria is transferred to food secondarily when it enters the ground.
“To avoid getting sick, it’s best to err on the side of caution and throw away spilled food, or at least wash it thoroughly first,” they wrote.
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