Common health conditions debunked through eight widespread myths about real medical conditions, including diabetes, depression, cancer, asthma, hypertension, arthritis, flu and osteoporosis.
Common Health Myths Debunked!
Think of all the medical facts that you blindly accepted as truths over the years.
Medicine is a progressive science which makes it necessary to keep learning in order to stay updated with the latest news relevant to your field, hence the importance of knowing the correct information and staying away from incorrect data, faulty diagnosis, treatment plans and attitudes towards patients.
So, toss aside that tired old notion about drinking lots of water because we are debunking 8 health myths and facts right now!
Osteoporosis: “You only need to worry about bone disease after you suffer a fracture”
Osteoporosis is an ailment that typically does not show any symptoms until the point of fracture, but there are several factors that may raise ones likelihood of developing the disease, such as age, sex, race, family history, eating habits, level of physical activity and hormone levels, among others.
Fact: Osteoporosis is unpredictable; therefore, the only way to know for certain whether you are at risk of developing it is to conduct a family history search and have regular screenings.
Influenza: “The flu is a bacterial infection, so antibiotics will cure it”
The flu or the influenza virus, is a viral infection which means that it cannot be cured with antibacterial medications such as antibiotics.
However, there are several antiviral medications which can be used to treat the flu, the most important of which is the appropriate timing since, “These medications can make the flu less severe and can shorten the duration of illness. They are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptom onset.” In other words, the earlier you seek medical attention, the lesser symptomatic and therefore safer your experience with the illness will be.
Fact: The antibiotic treatments for the flu and other viral infections, do not exist.
Arthritis: “Arthritis is just an old person’s disease”
When most people hear the word arthritis, they imagine a hunched-over elderly woman writhing in pain clutching a bag of inflamed and swollen joints
While it is completely possible for seniors to develop the condition, arthritis is definitely not limited to the elderly. There are many different kinds of arthritis and while some may be more common with age, none are completely predictive, and most, with the exception of a few genetic conditions, can be prevented. Another common myth about arthritis is that cracking one’s joints will eventually lead to arthritis development, which has been debunked numerous times over the years. Regardless of one’s age, inflamed, swollen and painful joints should not be a normal part of life
Fact: Arthritis takes many different forms, none of which are predictable or preventable with certainty.
Hypertension: “I would know if I had high blood pressure”
High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension, is a condition characterized by abnormally high pressure levels within the arteries. Hypertension is particularly dangerous since it rarely presents any symptoms and the American Heart Association strongly advises against attempting to assess the situation on one’s own. The AHA even has a page dedicated to this particular myth, noting that, “Don’t rely on symptoms to tell you whether or not you have high blood pressure.”
Hypertension can lead to several dangerous complications if left untreated, most of which are fatal, including heart disease and stroke. It is vital to recognize the warning signs and seek medical attention if necessary.
Fact: High blood pressure can affect people of all ages and should be taken seriously if left untreated.
Asthma: “The pet caused my child’s asthma, so we need to get rid of it”
This one might just leave your cat very confused at the nearest shelter.
Asthma is a chronic condition which affects the air passages in the lungs, restricting the flow of air in and out of them due to the swelling. There are several causes and triggers associated with asthma, so it is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.
The reason why these common medical myths exist is that pets can, in some cases, be considered trigger factors for asthma attacks. Trigger factors are irritants which cause ones airways to swell, constrict and narrow, making it harder to breathe, they vary from person to person and some of the most common triggers for asthma attacks include:
- Air pollution
- Smoke
- Mold
- Wheezing
- Insect bites
- Stress
- Strong emotions, such as laughter
- Strenuous activity
If pets are on this list for you or someone you love, it would be wise to keep them away from your home. On the other hand, for many people, they are not on the list at all
Fact: Pets cannot be considered asthma triggers for some people.
Cancer: “A biopsy will spread the cancer”
A biopsy is a procedure during which a doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination. The reason why this myth exists is that the act of removing tissue from the body may allow cancerous cells to spread through the bloodstream. According to the NCI, “health care workers try to use biopsy methods that minimize this risk” and that, “the risk that a biopsy will cause cancer to spread is very low.”
A biopsy is an essential procedure for cancer patients as it allows doctors to determine the most appropriate treatment option for the patient’s specific case. Speaking of which, one common cancer myth is that a cancer diagnosis is a death sentence. In reality, there are numerous factors which affect a patient’s prognosis, including the type and stage of cancer, as well as the general condition of the patient.
Fact: A biopsy, performed correctly, has a very low risk of spreading cancer and it is vital for determining an appropriate cancer treatment plan.
Depression: “Depression is just being sad”
If you thought that anyone who ever had a sad day would forever and always be depressed, then we would all be depressed! We are most certainly not.
Everyone has had one of those days (or weeks, or months) when the world seemed like a miserable place and nothing could ever bring a smile to one’s face. That, my friend, is being sad.
Sadness is a temporary condition brought upon by a sad event, whereas depression is an actual physiological illness, characterized by low levels of certain mood regulating chemicals in the brain and it can be caused by various factors.
Another prevalent health misinformation regarding depression is the belief that those who suffer from it can simply “snap out of it” at any given moment. This is similar to telling an asthmatic patient to stop wheezing.
Depression is a disease, the effects of which can be neutralized with various treatments, including therapy, medication or a combination of the two.
Fact: Depression is a legitimate medical condition which requires treatment.
Diabetes: “Eating sugar causes diabetes”
This one may just go down as the most prominent diabetes myth of them all.
Those who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes often like to blame others for their condition, usually pointing fingers out at sweets and soda, but the truth is, these are only risk factors and there are many other things which can predispose a person to the disease.
Diabetes is a blanket term which covers several different conditions characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood and there are several potential causes for each of the diseases. There are two separate types of diabetes and the causes of each can vary.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with no known prevention or cure aside for managing the symptoms with an appropriate treatment regimen.
Type 2, on the other hand, can be genetic or it can be related to a person’s weight. It can be triggered by obesity as well as other factors. It has nothing to do with eating too much sugar or being too sedentary, it has everything to do with individual health traits. Unfortunately, diabetes, a disease which can severely impact one’s quality of life, cannot be prevented with certainty, it can only be managed.
Fact: Diabetes is a blanket term for several diseases with different causes which are related to increased blood sugar levels.
Why Medical Misconceptions Are Hard To Combat?
While this is simple to debunk, why is it here? Many of these kinds of health related misconceptions are born on the basis of something that makes sense!
Hence, this set of issues surrounding health information and medical advice that sounds somewhat logical is hard to combat.
"Sugar is bad and diabetes has to do with blood sugar, therefore sugar causes diabetes."
"A needle goes into a tumor; therefore it will cause cancer to spread."
"A cat makes someone wheeze, therefore it is the cause of their asthma."
All of these statements have at least one element of truth, but all of them have more to them that is demonstrably false.
Medical science is rarely as simple as a cause and effect as described in these health related misconceptions. Hence, those issues of health related misconceptions are not so simple to combat in a social-media rant. It requires some context to properly address them.
A Better Way Of Evaluating The Common Health Misconceptions & Myths
When faced with one of these shocking medical claims with an actionable directive, the question people should be asking themselves first is "Is that even true?"
Business Fortune asks you readers to better yet, ask these clarifying questions:
- What condition are they talking about?
- Are they talking about a risk factor, a symptom, a trigger or a cause?
- Is the claim coming from a medical organization that has been vetted by medical professionals?
- Is the claim suggesting that something universally applies to everyone, when it really only applies to some people?
- Is there a product being promoted immediately after that shocking statement?
- Does the advice tell the reader to ignore the healthcare professionals?
When it comes to medical myths, a simple statement that sounds too simple can be the beginning of the road to misleading and dangerous information.
FAQs
What are some common health myths about medical conditions?
Some medical myths include sugar causing diabetes, depression being sadness, biopsy causing cancer to spread, pets causing asthma, hypertension never having symptoms, antibiotics curing the flu and osteoporosis only happening when you break a bone.
Does eating sugar cause diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and type 2 diabetes has many causes besides sugar, so a high-sugar diet does not necessarily cause diabetes.
Can a biopsy make cancer spread?
Cancer spreading as a result of a biopsy is rare and biopsies are generally done with caution, but they are often done anyway due to the importance of determining a cancer's type and stage.
Can a cat or dog cause asthma?
Pets can be a trigger for people with asthma, but they cannot cause spontaneous asthma attacks, as asthma has many possible triggers besides pets.
Can you have high blood pressure without symptoms?
Yes, which is why people with high blood pressure should regularly check their blood pressure, as feeling well does not mean that blood pressure is not too high.
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