7 myths about health and medicine, which it's time to say goodbye

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Peroxide is useless against germs, and mantu can be soaked.

Lifehacker has collected seven myths that it's time to say goodbye to.

1. The Mantoux test cannot be wetted

This is one of the most popular misconceptions. It is believed that water that gets on the skin can affect the body's response, which is why the spot from the injection will increase in size and give rise to suspicion of tuberculosis. However, it is not.

Tuberculin injection is injected into the deep layers of the skin. To penetrate there, and therefore, water cannot influence the reaction. That is why in the recommendations of experts there are no restrictions on bathing after mantoux. Doctors ask only, if possible, not to rub or scratch the injection site.

2. Wounds and scratches should be treated with hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide is believed to disinfect and accelerate healing. In fact, a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which is often found in home first aid kits, is practically useless in terms of wound care.

Scientists have not found evidence that peroxide is effective as a healing agent. As for the disinfecting properties, research is still underway. However, there is already evidence that peroxide (like iodine, by the way) is not the best choice from an antiseptic point of view. The fact is that many microorganisms contain enzymes that quickly turn off the action of H₂O₂, therefore, the decrease in the number of bacteria is only short-term.

However, peroxide should not be completely written off from the accounts: it is effective for mechanical cleaning of wounds. About the same as clean running water.

3. Antiviral drugs save you from colds

Unfortunately no. Antiviral agents that could prevent or alleviate the course of acute respiratory viral infections and colds do not exist today. The effectiveness of a limited number of drugs has been confirmed only for influenza type A. They relieve symptoms and reduce the duration of the disease by about a day, which, you see, is not so much. However, respiratory infections are too tough for them.

In addition, antiviral pills can be unsafe for your health, and this must also be considered.

4. Vision deteriorates from reading in dim light

The eyes do not really like reading in the twilight - this is a fact. In poor lighting conditions, you have to look more closely at the text. Because of this, the frequency of blinking becomes lower, and the mucous membrane becomes drier. As a result, the eyes get tired faster. Reading in poor light is really inconvenient. But this does not lead to any irreversible consequences for the visual system.

5. Stretching before training

If you are going to run a hundred meters faster than Usain Bolt or lift your record weight right today, then it will not be superfluous to additionally prepare your muscles for extreme loads.

But by and large, stretching is useless. It has no significant effect on pain intensity after exercise or injury prevention. And in some cases, if stretching is too intense, it also impairs muscle strength and overall performance.

All of the above applies exclusively to stretching, and not to warm-up before training in general. Pre-heating the muscles is still desirable. Only additionally pulling them is not necessary at all.

6. Fresh fruits contain more nutrients than frozen ones

Frozen fruits and vegetables have exactly the same beneficial properties as fresh ones. The reason is that they are frozen immediately after harvest, when the nutritional value of the greens is highest. And some frozen fruits, such as corn, blueberries and green beans, even outperform fresh ones in terms of vitamin content.

In any case, frozen fruits and vegetables are healthier than the "fresh" that has lain on the counter or in the closet for at least a day or two: heat and relative humidity contribute to the loss of nutritional value.

Green peas lose about half of their vitamin C within 24 to 48 hours after harvest.

7. Foods high in cholesterol are harmful

In general, cholesterol is not harmful, but, on the contrary, is vital. It ensures the stability of the cell membranes of all living organisms on Earth. In addition, it is involved in the production of vitamin D under the influence of sunlight, the production of steroid hormones, including cortisol, progesterone, estrogens and testosterone. The popular publication HuffingtonPost at one time published a long article about how undeservedly demonized cholesterol is. The curious can familiarize themselves with it.

Brief summary (not only from the article, but also from other scientific studies): cholesterol contained in food is not going to destroy your health and does not have the slightest effect on the state of the cardiovascular system.

When doctors talk about high cholesterol, they do not mean the amount of this substance obtained from food, such as chicken eggs. We are talking exclusively about cholesterol circulating in the blood, specifies the popular American medical resource WebMD.

Disorders of cholesterol metabolism in the body are the main evil. And in order to prevent it, it is recommended to control the level of cholesterol in the blood. This is done not by any food restrictions, but by preventive methods: with the help of regular blood tests and consultations with your supervising therapist.