7 Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe

[Bond]

Myth: We use only 10 percent of our brains.

Fact: Physicians and comedians alike, including Jerry Seinfeld, love to cite this one. It's sometimes erroneously credited to Albert Einstein. But MRI scans, PET scans and other imaging studies show no dormant areas of the brain, and even viewing individual neurons or cells reveals no inactive areas, the new paper points out. Metabolic studies of how brain cells process chemicals show no nonfunctioning areas. The myth probably originated with self-improvement hucksters in the early 1900s who wanted to convince people that they had yet not reached their full potential, Carroll figures. It also doesn't jibe with the fact that our other organs run at full tilt.

Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: "There is no medical evidence to suggest that you need that much water," said Dr. Rachel Vreeman, a pediatrics research fellow at the university and co-author of the journal article. Vreeman thinks this myth can be traced back to a 1945 recommendation from the Nutrition Council that a person consume the equivalent of 8 glasses (64 ounces) of fluid a day. Over the years, "fluid" turned to water. But fruits and vegetables, plus coffee and other liquids, count.

Myth: Fingernails and hair grow after death.

Fact: Most physicians queried on this one initially thought it was true. Upon further reflection, they realized it's impossible. Here's what happens: "As the body’s skin is drying out, soft tissue, especially skin, is retracting," Vreeman said. "The nails appear much more prominent as the skin dries out. The same is true, but less obvious, with hair. As the skin is shrinking back, the hair looks more prominent or sticks up a bit."

Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here's the deal: When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top, Carroll and Vreeman explain. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that's just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn't been bleached by the sun.

Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

Fact: The researchers found no evidence that reading in dim light causes permanent eye damage. It can cause eye strain and temporarily decreased acuity, which subsides after rest.

Myth: Eating turkey makes you drowsy.

Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn't contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. This myth is fueled by the fact that turkey is often eaten with a colossal holiday meal, often accompanied by alcohol — both things that will make you sleepy.

Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.

Fact: There are no known cases of death related to this one. Cases of less-serious interference with hospital devices seem to be largely anecdotal, the researchers found. In one real study, mobile phones were found to interfere with 4 percent of devices, but only when the phone was within 3 feet of the device. A more recent study, this year, found no interference in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms. To the contrary, when doctors use mobile phones, the improved communication means they make fewer mistakes.

"Whenever we talk about this work, doctors at first express disbelief that these things are not true," said Vreeman said. "But after we carefully lay out medical evidence, they are very willing to accept that these beliefs are actually false."

[KillerGremlin]

I stand by water. A gallon of water a day keeps everything away. Forget apples. I take a daily vitamin (realistically, as a college student, I can't get my fruits and vegetables) and drink lots and lots of water. I find that I feel my best and stay the healthiest when I drink 8+ glasses of water a day. It's definitely not necessary to survive, but if you want to stay your healthiest I think people need to drink lots and lots of water. Also, if you are working out daily, you should be drinking lots and lots of water. Water is good, underrated stuff. Also, water is the key to avoiding a hangover. Hangovers come from dehydration and lack of sleep. Lots of water the day of before a heavy night of drinking + vitamin C = happy the next morning.

Also, nothing beats the Turkey-dinner hangover. If I'm not at relatives I eat my turkey feast and take the best 4 hour nap of the year.

[Angrist]

Source?

KG, why would you not be able to get your fruits and vegetables? They don't sell it or something?

My ex manages to survive on only 3 glasses of fluid per day.
Yeah water helps against a hangover, because the alcohol makes you piss out all your water, so you need to replenish it.

[Perfect Stu]

Agree with KG about water...it's certainly not necessary, but I feel far better when I make an effort to drink more water. Twice in the past I decided to go a full week drinking only water, and towards the end of the week I had more energy and just felt noticeably better.

[Bond]

Originally Posted by Angrist

Source?

I made it all up.

Or it could be from the British Medical Journal.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Angrist

KG, why would you not be able to get your fruits and vegetables? They don't sell it or something?

I live in an Apartment-dorm. It has a full kitchen with a fridge so I cook all my meals. I only go home every 3 to 4 weeks and when I do I buy food. The fruit I buy only lasts for a week or two. Vegetables last a bit longer. Either way, I'm definitely not getting my 3 to 4 servings of fruit and 5 to 6 servings throughout the day. I just don't have the time to be a college student and incorporate all that food into all my meals.

[Zen]

Damn KG i remember when you were like 12!, college wtf!?

[Jonbo298]

Originally Posted by Zen

Damn KG i remember when you were like 12!, college wtf!?

I think GameTavern has been around for something like 7 years now..correct me if I'm wrong though.

I know it first came into existence when the Nintendo 'Dolphin' site imploded and split into that GBA Forum thing (can't remember name off top of head) and this.

[Dyne]

Yeah, I heard this 2 weeks ago on the radio.

Now I can safely say I want to punch that guy who went hysterical because my dad was using a cell phone in a hospital 7 years ago. I never thought they interfered anyways.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Zen

Damn KG i remember when you were like 12!, college wtf!?

it's been forever...haha