9 Health Myths You Need to Stop Believing

By Barbara Pierce

 

We’ve all heard old-fashioned health cures or superstitions, passed down to us from our grandmothers or our mothers. Statements like, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” “You’ll get sick if you go outside with wet hair.” “Don’t sit so close to the TV; it’ll ruin your eyes.”

There’s no rhyme or reason why these universally accepted principles made their way into our lives. But the question remains: are they actually true? Is there any merit to these things we’ve learned?

To shed some light on these old health myths:

 

1. You’ll get sick if you go outside in cold weather with wet hair

No, going outside with wet hair doesn’t make you sick. Colds and other illnesses are caused by viruses, which are spread through bodily fluids like coughs, sneezes and blowouts. You can’t catch a cold from wet hair.

To be fair, we tend to get sick in the colder months, but it has nothing to do with the actual temperature or wet hair. Viruses thrive in cold weather. And since we spend more time indoors with people during the winter, we’re more likely to spread infection.

 

2. Chicken soup is a cure-all for colds and the flu

For centuries, chicken soup has been a popular home remedy for a cold or the flu. Eating chicken soup while you’re sick won’t do you any harm, but it won’t cure what’s wrong with you.

However, chicken soup, while definitely not a cure, definitely brings warmth and comfort — as well as protein and nutrients — when you’re feeling under the weather. Drinking warm liquids, such as soup, may give you relief from your symptoms. It’s hydrating and liquids help when we’re sick.

 

3. Take vitamin C to get rid of a cold

Popular belief is that vitamin C can cure the common cold. While vitamin C can support the immune system and may help reduce the severity and duration of colds, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it can cure a cold. Colds are caused by viruses and the body typically takes several days to recover, regardless of vitamin C intake.

 

4. Feed a cold, starve a fever

This is an old saying that is considered a myth. According to medical experts, you shouldn’t starve a fever and should eat a healthy diet when you have a cold or a fever, as your body needs proper nutrition to fight off illness. The most important thing is to stay hydrated with fluids regardless of whether you have a cold or a fever.

 

5. An apple a day keeps the doctor away

A study found that there’s no significant difference in doctor’s visits between people who ate an apple a day and those who didn’t. But it’s not all bad news — daily apple eaters did appear to use fewer prescription medications.

 

6. Put butter on a burn to help stop pain

False. This is actually the most dangerous of all the health myths. Butter and other ointments trap the heat to the skin and can make the burn worse. If you have a mild burn, run the injury under cool water and seek medical attention.

 

7. Avoid exercise if you’re sick

Studies have found that mild exercise may help you feel better faster. Lying in bed can weaken your muscles. Light exercise prompts you to breathe deeply and cough, which “gets things up.”

 

8. Rest when you have back pain

Regular physical activity is the most potent and best pain reliever, say experts. You’ll recover faster if you remain active. Prolonged rest makes most types of back pain worse.

Movement can decrease your pain and stiffness, improve your range of motion, strengthen your muscles and increase your endurance, advised Benjamin Friedell, chief of primary care, Bassett Healthcare Network, Oneonta.

“It’s important to stay active!” he stressed. “Stay active with things that won’t cause you pain. Keep active, find an activity you like and keep doing it. Swimming is great. Even walking in the pool can be most helpful.”

 

9. If it’s an actual heart attack, you’ll have chest pain

“While the most typical symptom of a heart attack is chest pain, chest pain is not always severe or even the most noticeable symptom,” said Heather Evans, executive director, American Heart Association, Mohawk Valley.

Both women and men can have a heart attack without chest pain. Evans said other symptoms of a heart attack may include: “Pain down an arm or in the jaw. Shortness of breath, back pain, shoulder pain and gastrointestinal distress are symptoms that can be a heart attack.”

“A symptom to really watch out for is fatigue,” she added. “Pay attention if it’s a different kind of fatigue than you’re used to. Know your body so you can recognize when something is different.”

Other symptoms of a heart attack include nausea or vomiting, sweating or heartburn, a feeling of indigestion.