MEDICAL MYTHS DEBUNKED
INTRODUCTION
I was speaking to a
woman who complained that her daughter was uncontrollably passing stool
containing blood and mucus. She was quite worried, and we were exploring her
options of what could be wrong with her little baby. All of a sudden, she said,
“Or did my baby consume sperm? But I haven’t done anything with my husband for
a while now. Besides, I am in my period and, my baby has not suckled my breast
for like two days now”.
Hmmm, I was
dumbfounded. I was literally confused and amused (even though it was not
funny). There was a feeling of pity and utter confusion within me. Yes, I felt
pity for the woman who was so confused and vulnerable to believe anything.
Maybe it was not her fault because of her state of mind at that moment. Whatever
the case was, I was just lost in her words.
Anyway, let’s talk
about the main point of this particular post.
Is it just possible
for us to ‘not spread’ information we are not certain of, especially when it
comes to medical information? I have heard a lot of things in medicine that has
got me wondering where these ideas and theories are generated from. Imagine
someone strongly arguing the idea that too much palm oil causes malaria. And
she had no facts to back her claim, but she believed it anyway.
In the case of the
baby that was thought to have taken sperm, how did the baby even come in
contact with sperm? This was one of the
questions that bugged me. Was it through breast milk? To me, that was a very
wrong ideology. According to this woman, her friend told her that it could be
that the baby had taken sperm, and this could be the cause of the mucus and
bloody stool. Like how is that even in the list of options of possible diagnosis?
Please, can someone enlighten my ignorance.
MYTHS IN MEDICINE
There are many myths in medicine that are often repeated as fact, even
though a diligent search will reveal the truth behind these fallacies. Here
are some of the most common medical myths:
1.
Vaccines can cause the flu (and autism): Although the body can develop a low-grade fever in response to any
vaccine, rumors that a flu shot can cause the flu are an outright lie1. As for vaccines causing autism, this myth was started in 1998 with an
article in the journal The Lancet. Since then, rumors have run rampant despite the results of many studies.
2.
Supplements always make you healthier: Vitamin supplements may be not only ineffectual but even dangerous,
studies have shown. For example, a study published in 2016 showed that some older women who
take calcium supplements may face an increased risk of dementia.
3.
If you’re really hurting, you can
ignore the label and take more pills: When you’re in
severe pain, you may look at the dose on the pain reliever label and think, “An
extra dose can’t possibly hurt me.” The truth is, if you take more than the
dosage on the label it can hurt you.
4.
Once you feel better, you don’t have to keep
taking medication: If your symptoms are
gone but your medication isn’t gone yet, you may be tempted to stop taking your
pills. Your doctor prescribed that medicine because you need
it.
5.
Natural supplements are always a safe
choice: Natural supplements may seem safer and healthier
than medications, perhaps because of the word “natural.”
6.
Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight: While this is a myth that parents around the world have loved for
generations, it has very little scientific backing.
7.
You need eight glasses of water per day: How much you should hydrate depends on the humidity and
average temperature of your state’s climate, as well as your activity level and
genetics. Your body does need a certain amount of fluid per
day, but it may not be eight glasses — there is no set number.
8.
It’s dangerous to hold in a sneeze: When you purposely prevent a sneeze, you place too much
pressure on your sinuses and lungs. This can lead to burst blood vessels, ruptured
eardrums, an irritated throat and more.
9.
The five-second rule: This is one situation where you may just have to use
your best judgment. If you’re at home and drop a cracker onto your clean wood
floor, it’s probably safe to eat. If you’re at the park and drop your sticky lollipop
onto the ground, that’s a different story.
10.
We only use 10% of our brain capacity: We don’t know exactly how much of our brain capacity we
do use, but it’s certainly more than 10%. Although CT and MRI scans have proven that we
underutilize certain parts of our brain, even the simplest activities activate
most of it.
11.
If you pull out a single grey hair,
more than one hair will grow in its place: If you pull out a single hair follicle, it’s impossible for two hairs
to grow in its place.
12.
Eggs Are Bad for Your Heart: Eating an egg or two a day doesn’t raise the risk of
heart disease in healthy people. Yes, the yolks have cholesterol, but for most of us,
the amount found in any one food isn’t as bad for you as the mix of fats from
everything you eat.
13.
Antiperspirant Causes Breast Cancer: There’s no evidence connecting either product with breast cancer.
14.
Being Cold Gives You a Cold: Spending too much time in the cold air doesn’t make you
sick. In fact, you’re more likely to get sick indoors,
where germs are easily passed.
15.
You Need a Daily Multivitamin: Researchers don’t all agree on that point. But if your
doctor tells you to take vitamin, do it. And if you’re pregnant, you need to take folic acid
to lower the risk of birth defects.
16.
Eat Breakfast to Lose Weight: Eating breakfast does help some people lose weight. It can stave off hunger, and it might prevent random
eating later in the day.
17.
Green Mucus Means Infection: The contents of your tissue can’t take the place of a
lab test. Studies show that green or yellow mucus is slightly more common in certain
bacterial infections. But it’s not a sure sign that you have one or that
you need antibiotics.
18.
Sugar Makes Kids Hyper: Research shows the sweet stuff won’t cause them to act out, hurt their
schoolwork, or make them unable to focus.
DOES SPERM TRAVEL THROUGH THE BODY TO THE BREAST MILK?
Scientifically, it is proven that
if a human being intentionally or unintentionally ingests sperm, it is broken
down by the body just the same way proteins from other food sources are broken
down and utilized by the body. This means that sperm cannot travel intact to
the breast milk if ingested. Therefore, cannot get to the baby in whatever form.
When we were kids, we were told
that if we swallowed any seed it would grow from our stomach, and we believed
it. That was a myth that kept us safe from consuming seeds of fruits especially
those seeds that were indigestible. I also grew up believing that drinking garri leads to poor eyesight. Drinking malt with milk will
increase the quantity of blood in the body. A lot of these things are fallacious
and lack scientific proof.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE TRUTH OF MYTHS IN
MEDICINE
Determining the truth of a health claim can sometimes be
challenging due to the abundance of information available. Here are some steps
you can take to verify a health claim:
1.
Check the Source: Consider the reliability of the source. Is it a
reputable health or medical organization? Does the author have credentials in
the field they’re writing about?
2.
Look for Evidence: Good health information is based on research. Look for
references to scientific studies that support the claim.
3.
Beware of Anecdotal Evidence: Personal stories, or anecdotes, are not the same as
scientific evidence. Just because something worked for one person doesn’t mean
it will work for everyone.
4.
Be Skeptical of Quick Fixes: Be wary of any health claim promising quick and easy
results. Most genuine health improvements require ongoing effort.
5.
Consult a Healthcare Professional: If you’re considering making changes based on a health
claim, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional first. They
can provide guidance based on your individual health circumstances.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always take the time to verify health claims before making health decisions. Remember, it’s always important to consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information.
In as much as some
of these ‘mythological diagnoses might seem harmless; some can cause a lot of
harm because wrong diagnosis leads to wrong treatment which could be fatal. In
a nutshell, let’s be careful the news we digest and the ones we feed others.
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