Medical myths

[tallaght01]

What are the common medical (or biological) myths that people come across on a regular basis? I know there's a lot. But I've had one or 2 recurring themes:

I've seen a few people having seizures who've ended up with someone slapping a spoon in their mouth to help them.

People always tell me they need an antibiotic for their viral infection because it's "gone to my chest".

"feed a virus, starve a bacterium" is another one that I can't imagine where it came from.

I'm sure I could think of more. But was wondering if there were any recurring examples?

[tallaght01]

Oh, and do other medics get all their friends and family thinking that surgeons are the doctors in charge? I've had a few people asking me will I stop at being a consultant, or will I carry on to be a surgeon. I've also been told that if I work very hard I might be able to become "Mr" Tallaght01 someday.

It's not worth explaining any more, as no one ever believes me

[King Mob]

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4078

Here's an article on a few myths and explains them.

I'm also sure that they use defibrillators wrong all the time in movies.

[John]

"Scientists have discovered the gene for [insert complex behaviour here]"

"You only use 10% of your brain"

[Salvelinus]

What about getting a stiff neck/sore back from keeping a window open at night?

[ZorbaTehZ]

There are an incredible amount of myths to do with eyesight, for which there is no evidence to back them up with:

• Reading in dim light/using PCs a lot/straining to read etc. make your eyesight worse
• Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your eyes
• Use of eyeglasses cause your overall eyesight to deteriorate over time

And that's not getting into the glaucoma or cataracts ones...

But by far and away the most infuriating and just down right stupid is the claim that humans only use 10% of their brain... goddamn mumbo-jumbo practitioners et al chanting this whenever they can. Needless to say there is no evidence whatsoever to support this.

[Miss Lockhart]

"It's not broken, it only fractured"

"Eat your fat to grease your lung" - wtf??? My late granny used to throw this one at me!

"Don't swallow the mucus you cough up because it will go back down on to your lungs"

[Carsinian Thau]

If you eat less fat, your blood sugar will be lowered.

I have no idea how people expect this to work.
The only way that I've found to do so is to take insulin/be careful what I eat.


Oh and the fact that people continually think anyone with type 1 diabetes mellitus is exactly the same as someone with type 2 DM. God help these people when they encounter someone with diabetes inspididus. Their brains might explode.



The chocolate causes diabetes one (not entirely ridiculous if you consider the dietary factors of type 2 DM but BS for type 1).


And the strangest of all: excercising causes ketoacidosis. I know you're not supposed to excercise if you are ketoacidotic/ketonic because it will make things a hell of a lot worse but to call it as the only cause completely defies medical science.



And the only 10% of your brain thing. That really annoys me.

[Carsinian Thau]

Originally Posted by King Mob

I'm also sure that they use defibrillators wrong all the time in movies.

Yes, I think they do that too.

You can't use a defibrillator on someone if their heart has completely stopped pumping as they do in some movies. It won't do anything. At least, I think it won't. I can vaguely recall something about asystole being a non-shockable rhythm and that only CPR can help a patient under such conditions.

[ZorbaTehZ]

Originally Posted by Carsinian Thau

You can't use a defibrillator on someone if their heart has completely stopped pumping as they do in some movies. It won't do anything. At least, I think it won't. I can vaguely recall something about asystole being a non-shockable rhythm and that only CPR can help a patient under such conditions.

Reminds of the way chest compressions are done in some tv shows and movies: hilariously wrong most of the time.

[Eerie]

Originally Posted by Carsinian Thau

Yes, I think they do that too.

You can't use a defibrillator on someone if their heart has completely stopped pumping as they do in some movies. It won't do anything. At least, I think it won't. I can vaguely recall something about asystole being a non-shockable rhythm and that only CPR can help a patient under such conditions.

As my old anatomy lecturer put it "if you do that all you end up with is a burnt dead person"!

[AmcD]

"I need worm tablets for my child"
Me: "Why?"
"He's always hungry"
Me: "Have you seen any worms or is he always scratching his bum?"
"No"
Not worms. Normal child.

[3greenrizla's]

Originally Posted by ZorbaTehZ

Reminds of the way chest compressions are done in some tv shows and movies: hilariously wrong most of the time.

forgive me, i have drifted into the biology & medicine forum & am way out of my depth, but would it not be highly irresponsible to preform CPR on someone who does not need it?

[AmcD]

Originally Posted by 3greenrizla's

forgive me, i have drifted into the biology & medicine forum & am way out of my depth, but would it not be highly irresponsible to preform CPR on someone who does not need it?

If they didn't need it they would probably tell you. If they are already dead, it won't make them any deader.
Unfortunately CPR isn't the wonder revival technique it is made out to be on TV.

[Vorsprung]

You can't give paracetamol before taking blood cultures.