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Experts debunk medical myths
From the idea that reading in your dark can damage your sight, to the notion that shaved hair grows back coarser, seven widely-held medical beliefs have been exposed as urban myths.
Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine who examined available scientific data found that various pieces of popular wisdom either have no evidence to back them up, or are completely untrue.
Published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), their report explains that while reading in bad light can cause a temporary strain, it is unlikely to have long-lasting effects. It also found that shaving has no effect on hair texture, other than the fact that a shaved hair grows back blunt-ended.
Doubt was cast on the idea that humans need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy; a recommendation dating back to 1945 according to the Telegraph. Studies have since revealed that people get plenty of fluid from juice, fizzy drinks or even tea and coffee.
The team were able to debunk the myth that hair and fingernails continue to grow after death, something forensic anthropologist William Maples called 'pure moonshine'. This appears to be an optical illusion due to shrinking of skin.
They found no evidence that mobile phones interfered with hospital equipment, while studies of brain-injured patients rubbished the notion that we only use 10% of our brains.
Finally, the idea that eating turkey makes you particularly sleepy was called into question when researchers found the meat contains less tryptophan, the substance known to cause drowsiness, than pork or cheese.
Category: Healthy Lifestyle
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