Seven Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe

[Refugee 7]

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 in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition.

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.

They 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 believed it was unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it might 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.

Cell phones are dangerous in hospitals

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

[KansasPettyFan 1]

I am no expert but I can vouch for drinking water. I feel crappy when I don't drink enough. I can see a difference in my skin too. Gotta have it!

[nurktwin 2,143]

this is funny, i'm not even sure where to start. but here it is:

1. 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 answer to this is on a dvd by lewis black, these are his words, not mine. "you people believe everything you hear is right. drink 8 bottles of water a day. '8 fuckin' bottles a day'. then you wonder why you go pee and say 'look at me, my pee has no color'. it's because you drank so much water, you pissed out your brains.

[nurktwin 2,143]

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.

i'd like to meet the guy that did this study and kick his ass. is he a tranni and can't grow hair anymore?

[nurktwin 2,143]

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.

that's funny, i just watched a movie that said humans use up to 2-3% of their brains, and god only knows how true that is. these superhumans that already died, learned how to use 50-60% of their brains. of course this was all in heaven or where ever you end up on their station! it's a decent movie.

[nurktwin 2,143]

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.

none of us will know for sure, but i'm convinced that your nails and hair will grow a bit longer after you die. not to the point our hair will get to be as long a s tom petty's....lol. but shit happens, and we'll never know.

[Echosoftom 3]

Cell phones are dangerous in hospitals

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

At the hospital where I work they've tried to discourage people from using their cell phones using this reason, but it seems lately to be an uphill battle. I know in my unit I always ask parents to turn it off their ringers more so because they're a distraction and too noisy on top of all the other noise we have in there with machines. We do try to keep the stimulus in the nursery as low as possible. I really don't want to hear cell phones ringing off all evening at work. I don't mind if they have them on vibrate and go outside the unit to answer calls.

[nurktwin 2,143]

sharon, i have an idea.......lol, you knew i would. anyone that dies in the hospital for any reason, their families should be told that they died from interference from cell phones used in the hospital!! that should stop all this shit, or get sued. after all, we have your number.

[Echosoftom 3]

^LOL!