Debunking the Most Common Medical Practice Myths

Somebody may have told you that you’ll live ten years longer if you drink eight glasses of water every day. That is not true, and this is one of the many myths crippling the medical industry.

Myths are widespread beliefs that don’t have any scientific evidence or backing. They may contain some true elements in some cases, but their overall intention is to misinform and mislead. Unfortunately, the medical industry has been a victim of myths for many years.

Believing in myths can eventually lead to harmful health decisions. This article will debunk the most common medical practice myths.

1. Vaccines Cause Autism and the Flu

The majority of people will develop some fever when they first take a vaccine. This is the body reacting to the vaccination. Unfortunately, some people have associated the fever with flu brought about by the vaccine.

The vaccine contains dead flu viruses which won’t have any effect on your body. Dead viruses can’t resurrect and cause harm to your body.

There has also been an ongoing myth that connects vaccines with autism. The rumors appeared in the late 1990s when some medical practitioners claimed that children got autism because of a vaccine. Despite efforts by medical authorities to debunk this rumor, many people still believe it today.

Research after research has shown that there’s no link between vaccinations and autism. Millions of children get vaccinated each year, and only a very tiny percentage of people have autism.

2. Stop Taking Medication Once You’re Better

Some people believe that you shouldn’t continue taking your medication after you have felt better. If there are no symptoms, why should you be ingesting more bills?

You must complete your dosage. Your symptoms may have disappeared, but the disease-causing microorganisms are still in your body. If you stop taking medication, these microorganisms will begin to attack your cells.

3. Antibiotics Can Treat Any Illness

Some people think that they’ll overcome any illness if they use antibiotics. Fortunately, most ailments don’t require antibiotics. You should visit a new medical practice to know what you should take to treat the disease.

You can only use antibiotics to treat diseases brought about by bacteria. Such types of conditions are few and far between because viruses cause the vast majority of diseases. You can’t use antibiotics to treat viral infections.

The licensed medical practice will decide what type of prescription is right for your condition. There may even be bacterial diseases that won’t respond to antibiotics. In addition, overusing antibiotics can lead to immune resistance.

4. Finger Cracking Can Lead to Arthritis

You’ll become a very unpopular figure in the library if you keep cracking your fingers. However, this doesn’t mean that you will contract arthritis. The popular belief that snapping fingers leads to arthritis has been around since the 1990s.

Arthritis sets in when there’s a problem with your joints and bones. Insufficient joint lubrication prevents proper bone movement. As a result, the bones will start to collide.

The process of cracking fingers involves stretching joints. The stretching is the one that produces the familiar sound.

Nevertheless, it’s not a good idea to crack your knuckles. Snapping your fingers may lead to weak hands and can cause swelling in your limbs.

5. Don’t Go Outdoors With Wet Hair

Some people believe that they’ll become sick if they go out just after taking a shower. The myth states that your hair can trap viruses and germs. Fortunately, this isn’t true because being outdoors with wet hair won’t make you sick.

Scientists have exposed wet hair to common viruses in a lab. They concluded that there’s no relation between wetness and being sick.

Consequently, if you’re afraid that you’ll become sick if you go out with wet hair, you’re the victim of a dangerous myth. You’ll only become ill if you’re already sick. You should consult a new private practice to find out how you got sick.

6. You Can Get STDs From Toilet Seats

Everybody dreads using dirty toilets in gas stations, but this doesn’t mean they can cause STD infections. Unfortunately, there are claims that people have gotten STDs by using dirty toilet seats.

Parasites, bacteria, and viruses are the microorganisms that cause STDs. Only parasites can survive outside a living organism. However, the chance of getting parasitic STDs by sitting on a toilet seat is relatively minimal.

This is because a specific area of your genitals must be close enough to the parasites for the infection to take place. Moreover, many of these parasites can’t survive on toilet seats.

Therefore, you can’t get STDs by using a dirty toilet seat. Nevertheless, using toilet seat covers is a good idea.

7. Drink Eight Glasses of Water

This myth has been around for many centuries and has led to overhydration. People think they’ll become dehydrated and get sick if they don’t drink at least eight glasses of water each day. This is a belief that doesn’t have any scientific backing.

The human body knows how to maintain water balance in the body. If there’s too little water, the body will inform you. Consequently, drinking water without feeling thirsty is not ideal.

You also get a lot of water from some of the meals that you consume. Fruits, in particular, have a lot of water for the body. Consequently, the best option is to get a glass of water if you feel thirsty or are having a meal.

 Avoid Common Medical Practice Myths

Believing in something that isn’t scientifically true can lead to fatal health decisions. For example, you may end up avoiding standard treatment programs and choose a dangerous treatment regimen. Therefore, it’s essential to be aware of the most pervasive medical practice myths.

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