Most medical myths live for decades. We absorb some of them with our mother’s milk, while others are convinced of their truth by “knowledgeable friends” and pseudo-experts. Even scientists can make mistakes, but the truth will always prevail (if you read this material)
Myth #1: Mantoux test can’t get wet
Before the Mantoux test, tuberculosis was detected in a slightly different way – using the Pirquet test. The doctor made small scratches on the patient’s skin with a special instrument, onto which tuberculin was applied – the drug is obtained from the waste products of killed tuberculosis mycobacteria. Washing could simply wash off the drug. The Mantoux test involves injecting tuberculin under the skin – it is impossible to wash it off. At the same time, the Mantoux test cannot be scratched, rubbed with a towel or washcloth, so doctors are in no hurry to educate patients – without washing it will definitely not get worse, but there will be less temptation to rub the test site after a shower.
Myth #2: Salt is the white death
Salt is vital for the body: it plays an important role in complex metabolic processes. An acute lack of sodium can even lead to a painful death. Abuse of salt is really unsafe: it increases blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Modern people, as a rule, get salt in excess from various processed products, so the deficiency may be encountered mainly by supporters of salt-free diets – they need to control the level of sodium in the body.
Myth #3: Stress causes stomach ulcers
Modern medicine believes that the cause of most stomach ulcers is infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Accordingly, stress plays no role in this. As for the further development of the disease, research data differs. Scientists make contradictory conclusions about the role of stress in peptic ulcer disease. Perhaps because the presence of an ulcer is already stress? Of course, constant mental stress has a negative effect on the body, and not only a stomach ulcer can worsen.
Myth #4: Opioid painkillers are stronger than regular painkillers.
A 2017 clinical trial found that standard painkillers like aspirin relieved ICU patients from extreme pain about as effectively as opioid-containing drugs. If aspirin helped ICU patients, it’s hardly worth taking a strong headache pill. But yes, self-hypnosis is still a thing.
Myth #5: Hypothermia is impossible at positive temperatures
Of course, the risk of hypothermia is much higher in winter, and there is also a chance of getting frostbite on your extremities. However, it is also possible in summer: for example, if you swim in cool water for a long time and get caught in the wind.
Myth #6: Wearing a bra causes breast cancer
This myth was born thanks to the scientists themselves. It was mainly Chinese researchers who linked breast cancer with wearing underwear for a long time. But, as a rule, there were few participants in their experiments, and the type of underwear was not recorded. Larger studies have refuted the relationship between bras and cancer, but experts remind you that you need to choose underwear according to size, and avoid compression. A tight bra worsens microcirculation in tissues, which can accelerate the development of previously undiagnosed oncology.
Myth #7: Honey is a healthy substitute for sugar
Honey is often used as a substitute for sugar by those who advocate a healthy lifestyle. The argument is usually the same: it is a natural, organic product. Firstly, honey has more calories than sugar, so it is not suitable for a diet. Secondly, it can cause allergies. Honey, like sugar, can lead to liver disease, heart disease, and diabetes. At the same time, it strengthens the immune system and contains polyphenols that are beneficial for the body, but honey should be consumed in strictly limited quantities.
Myth #8: Eating dinner after 6pm makes you fat
It’s not late dinners and late-night snacks that cause excess weight, but excess calories in the diet. Skipping food before bed is reasonable, but when was the last time you fell asleep by 10 p.m.? There should be about four hours between a full meal and bedtime, but for most people, the dinner deadline will be much later than 6 p.m. And even then, it’s normal to be hungry at night. There are plenty of healthy snack options. You need to monitor your diet and exercise throughout the day, and starving yourself on the couch in the evening won’t help.