If you aren't a doctor, don't give medical advice

United States
September 27, 2015 6:50am CST
There is so much bad information on the Internet it isn't funny. Some of it can even be found right here on myLot. Someone wrote that you can catch a cold by eating ice cream....there were a few more erroneous statements but that one made me laugh the loudest. A cold is caused by a virus - not by walking in the rain, going outside without a coat or eating ice cream. If you want to be an 'arm chair doctor' at least get some of the facts right.
8 people like this
12 responses
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 15
That's one of my pet peeves. I see it often on Facebook, when someone brings up a problem and people just rush to give their "expert" opinion when it's obvious that they don't even know if the information they give is accurate. *Atchoo!*
2 people like this
• United States
29 Sep 15
Very true. You can't just accept what some off the wall person says. And looking things up on line is just as bad.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Sep 15
@cahaya1983 It's not just some websites to worry about, it's what some people say, trying to be helpful could be dangerous.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
30 Sep 15
@AbbyGreenhill I agree. I think many people rely too much on the info they find online especially when it comes to medical advice. Not all websites can be trusted.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Sep 15
I suppose if I had a cold, and I sneezed on your ice cream, and then you ate it maybe? lol!
2 people like this
• United States
27 Sep 15
I think the virus germs might not survive the cold ice cream! but I'm not sure.
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Sep 15
@AbbyGreenhill me either, not sure i want to test that to find out either
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
27 Sep 15
I have missed the one of the ice cream! Of course the common cold is a viral infection. My brother is a doctor, how many times I heard him say "those who do not know always speak".
2 people like this
• United States
27 Sep 15
Your brother is correct!!
2 people like this
@Salamnda (476)
• United Kingdom
27 Sep 15
might be some peoples viruses only triggered by cold . or by eating something cold . or even walk in a cold weather . i guess we cant deny that if it helps the virus from being active in that times :)
1 person likes this
• India
27 Sep 15
@AbbyGreenhill Or if you already have it, albeit in hibernation?
• United States
27 Sep 15
You can only get a cold if you get the virus from someone who already has it.
1 person likes this
@Salamnda (476)
• United Kingdom
27 Sep 15
@AbbyGreenhill yes but i am saying things might be more details i am not with the one who said that ice cream is a reason :) but i say ice cream might present the environment for the vires that might be in hibernation inside your body to wake up :) i am just thinking from many different angels , i am not saying thats true :)
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
27 Sep 15
Yes and no. Some of us know more about our conditions than our GPs do. I'm part of a thyroid cancer forum and we can give better advice than most non-specialists in the field. If you have or had a rare disease, many doctors will go a lifetime without every meeting someone who has had your condition.
2 people like this
• United States
27 Sep 15
There are exceptions, but in general most of us aren't that knowledgeable about medical issues.
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
2 Oct 15
I absolutely agree. I find it frightening that millenials look on the Internet for medical advice before talking to their doctor. I think this is because it's so expensive to see a doctor. Increasing deductibles and co-pays make it impossible for some people to afford healthcare even when they have insurance. People don't go unless they think it's very serious.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Oct 15
I also think many of them think they are above the intelligence of doctors (which could be in some cases!) I have no problem seeing a doc when I need on - I did that yesterday instead of trying to figure out my problem on my own.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Oct 15
@AbbyGreenhill I hadn't thought it that way. You might be right. Doctors aren't stupid people, sometimes it's just hard to sort out a variety of symptoms right away. I hope you're feeling okay and the doctor was helpful yesterday.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
27 Sep 15
I am not a real doctor, but I play one on the internet. I think that's all rather funny and I haven't seen any of that. But I will be careful about ice cream from now on,
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Sep 15
LOL - watch out for the 1/2 gal. of rocky road in your freezer!
1 person likes this
@rene12 (794)
• Philippines
28 Sep 15
This might be be possible if your body is weak against cold. Too much coldness will make your immune system low. Since you're immune system is low, you can catch wild colds/flu virus easily. Still eating an ice cream doesn't guarantee you any colds lol
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
23 Oct 15
If it was true that you can catch a cold by eating ice cream, there would be an awful lot of people being sick all the time. What a silly advice someone gave.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 15
Exactly! I would have a constant cold!
• United States
28 Sep 15
jest had to giggle o'er this, ms. abby! yepperz, there's loads 'f garbage all o'er the net. seems folks read some 'n feel the needs to spread that newly found 'knowledge' on places such's this. 'n then there's those who jest know they're correct 'n 'll fight'cha 'til they're dyin' breathe - regardless 'f the proof others 've disputin' their distorted facts. 'n with all 'medical advice', we're all individuals 'n what works fer one could be deadly to 'nother. its all 'bout bein' well informed 'n takin' what'cha find on the net purty much 's a grain 'f salt. achoo!
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
27 Sep 15
Something that could be funny if it weren't so serious is how many cancer cures there are doing the round on the net.
• United States
27 Sep 15
You got that right - you really have to pay attention and think.
• Budennovsk, Russian Federation
27 Sep 15
There are several types of medicine and official medicine is only one of them. Quite often folk medicine is useful too, eastern medicine has its advantages as well. But i think all the types have one statement in common - Motos est Vita
• United States
27 Sep 15
What does 'Motos est Vita' mean?