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There’s no shortage of erroneous beliefs in the fields of wellness, medicine, and health. Here are 12 supposed medical “facts.” Some, however, are nothing more than fiction, leftovers from a time before there was plenty of rigorous research to sort out the truth. You are the one accountable to yourself (and perhaps those close to you) for your health, so it’s important to have accurate information.
1. CPR does not include mouth-to-mouth breathing
Fact. CPR no longer includes mouth-to-mouth breathing. A study of more than 27,000 people found that survival rates were greater when bystanders applied chest compressions uninterrupted by rescue breathing. When accompanied by telephone instruction, more people made sufficient recovery for discharge from the hospital after CPR with chest compression but without mouth-to-mouth breathing.
2. Someone with a concussion should be kept awake
Fiction. It’s been common belief that if someone has had a concussion, they should be kept awake or you should wake them up every few hours to make sure they’re ok, rather than in a coma. According to physicians at the University of Arkansas Medical School, if the injured person is awake and able to carry on a conversation, they should be encouraged to rest.
Children are an exception. Doctors advise waking a child up twice during the night to make sure they can be roused and have no neurological deficits.
3. Coffee will cause dehydration
Fiction. Coffee and tea drinkers are just as hydrated as people who abstain. Either beverage constitutes part of your daily fluid intake and can help you hydrate.
4. Warm frostbitten skin by a heater or a fire
Fiction. Because frostbite numbs your skin, you can burn yourself if you use a heating pad, blow dryer, fire, or register. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, restrictive clothing should be removed and the area affected immersed in warm, not hot water. The area may become very painful, swell, and change color. Cover any blisters and get medical attention. Read about first aid for frostbite.
5. Cracking your knuckles will not cause arthritis
Fact. Research has not found an association between cracking your knuckles and arthritis. The crackling sound you hear is bubbles popping in the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints. Making knuckle cracking a chronic habit can decrease your grip strength and there have been reports of injuries. Read about habitual knuckle cracking.
6. Holding in a sneeze can be harmful
Fact. Pressure builds up in your lungs when you’re getting ready to sneeze. When your body pushes air out it needs an exit. Keeping your mouth and nose closed when sneezing may force air into the ears.
Sneezing can propel droplet-filled air at 100 miles per hour. Holding in a sneeze can build pressure in your respiratory system up to 24 times that of a normal sneeze. It can damage the ears and throat.
7. Drinking alcohol will keep you warm when you’re outdoors in wintry weather
Fiction. Drinking alcohol in the cold outdoors may make you feel warmer, and your face may flush because alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate, causing warm blood to flow to the skin.
According to a study in the journal Alcohol, your body will release more heat than it would without alcohol’s effects. Your liver also releases heat as it processes alcohol, lowering your body temperature. You may feel warm, not realizing that your body temperature is dropping.
8. Watching TV too close to the screen will injure your eyes
Fiction. Sitting too close to the TV may cause eye strain but it won’t damage your eyes, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Staring at anything for prolonged periods of time may make your eyes feel tired but won’t cause permanent damage. Children can focus at close distances more easily than adults, which is why they can sit closer to the screen without experiencing eye strain.
9. You can have a heart attack without any chest pain
Fact. According to a study of 1.1 million heart attack patients, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 42% of women and 31% of men had no chest pain before they reached the hospital. The American Heart Association recommends calling 911 when other symptoms occur that are known to be associated with heart attacks. These include shortness of breath, pain in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Read more about silent heart attacks.
10. Most ulcers are caused by stress
Fiction. There are three main causes of stomach ulcers. They are infection with the bacteria H. pylori, smoking, and excessive use of over-the-counter NSAIDs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen). People who report living with high stress are twice as likely to develop stomach ulcers as those who report low stress. Read about the role of stress in stomach ulcers.
11. Eggs are bad for your heart
Fiction, but questions remain. For decades it was thought that cholesterol in food would increase cholesterol in the bloodstream, leading to heart disease. A study published in the journal Heart showed that eating an egg a day was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular death, compared to people who never ate eggs. The role of eggs in heart disease is still unclear. As always, check with your doctor before making any dietary changes.
12. Running does not lead to arthritis in your knees
Fact. A study published in Arthritis Care and Research found that recreational runners are not at greater risk of symptoms of knee arthritis or other orthopedic problems. Running for aerobic exercise may even protect you from getting arthritis in your knees. It strengthens the muscles that stabilize the knees, which may help prevent injury and arthritis.
Which beliefs did we debunk for you? What are some medical myths you’d like us to debunk in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
While ophthalmology is a good source for eye “diseases”, they are not the experts in functional eyecare, including eyestrain. While close distance TV viewing won’t cause a “disease”, it can lead to myopia, or nearsightedness. There are many factors that can affect a child’s response to extensive near viewing, including outdoor time, viewing distance, viewing habits, as well as nutritional factors. The bottom line is that parents need to monitor ALL “digital display” viewing, which includes TV and computer-based screens.
good article, I enjoyed it.