Medical Myths You Shouldn't Believe

Canada
December 21, 2007 12:40pm CST
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. Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Fact: 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: 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. 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: 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. Source: Yahoo! News Do you guys know any other medical myths? Do you believe these ones?
1 person likes this
3 responses
• Philippines
22 Dec 07
there are also the following myths which has no scientific basis: 1.You will be blind when you sleep while your hair is wet 2.You will be psychotic when you take a bath during your period or after giving birth 3.You will have difficulty in healing of wounds when you take a bath on Good Friday
@balasri (26537)
• India
22 Dec 07
These are some of them that is interesting. Myth: Shingles are contagious. Fact: You cannot catch shingles from another person. Myth: You shouldn't go swimming right after eating. Fact: You can go in the pool or ocean after eating and do not need to wait any length of time. As a child you probably were told to wait 30 minutes or an hour before taking a plunge after lunch. It may make sense to delay very strenuous activities for a short period after a large meal to avoid some abdominal cramping- but it is not dangerous. Endurance athletes commonly ingest foods during exercise without problems.
• Philippines
21 Dec 07
hmm.. really? thankz.. i did not know that merry christmasc".)