Revealed: The Seven Great "medical Myths"

[LaoPo]

Revealed: The seven great "medical myths"

Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:18am EST By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) -

Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.

These well-worn theories are among seven "medical myths" exposed in a paper published Friday in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition. Two U.S. researchers took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.

Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.

The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.

The other six "myths" are:

* Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

The majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it may make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.

* Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser

It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.

* Eating turkey makes you drowsy

It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control. But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.

* We use only 10 percent of our brains

This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.

* Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.

* Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment.

The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idU...l=0&sp=true

I feel a lot better now

LaoPo

[PhilHarries]

As for the water thing it was reported a few years back that you should drink two litres of water a day. Tea, coffee, beer etc did not count as it just had to be pure water. Of course the bottled water companies loved this and promoted it ad nauseum to boost sales and now you see all manner of gullibles walking around clutching their lifesaving bottles. Subsequently it was admitted that this was a load of <deleted> as, although the body might need such a quantity, most of it could be obtained from the fruit and veg you eat, assuming you eat a relatively balanced diet. But this little gem was kept quiet as the bottle clutching hordes were too profitable to be educated.

OK so reading in bad light doesn't damage your eyes but what about w*****g?

[PeaceBlondie]

On the 89 liters of water per day (or whatever the recommendation wasn't), I read a report several years ago that a retiring urological specialist searched the medical journals and found no studies on how much water we need. Drinking 3 liters of cola per day for many years, if cola is dehydrating, I should have dried up and blown away in 1978.

W--king makes you healthy!

[Gary A]

A little off topic but before I retired here I made many trips. I was always sick for three days after arriving. My way of flying was to eat my meal, then drink four of those littles of Jack Daniels. It made me pretty mellow and I was even able to nap a little. I finally asked my doctor and she said I was dehydrated. I was advised that if I wanted to drink any alcohol to drink it with LOTS of water. She was right. Two liters of water during the long flight cured my problem.

[PhilHarries]

Alcohol is a diuretic and flying dehydrates you due to the lower than atmosperic cabin pressure and the dry air. So drinking water on a long flight, particularly if also drinking a few sherberts is a good idea. I have also heard that drinking a significant slug of water before going to bed after a heavy session can ward off hangovers. Never tried it though, usually too p1ssed to coordinate water-glass and glass-mouth.

[LaoPo]

Alcohol is a diuretic and flying dehydrates you due to the lower than atmosperic cabin pressure and the dry air. So drinking water on a long flight, particularly if also drinking a few sherberts is a good idea. I have also heard that drinking a significant slug of water before going to bed after a heavy session can ward off hangovers. Never tried it though, usually too p1ssed to coordinate water-glass and glass-mouth.

use the bottle...

LaoPo