Posted on 02/19/2025 8:05:48 AM PST by Red Badger
Should you put ice on a burn? Will too much sugar give you diabetes? There is a lot of fiction masquerading as medical “facts.” Some of these “facts” just refuse to go away, despite plenty of solid research to refute them.
Here’s the truth about 10 popular health beliefs that patients often ask me about. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to talk to your doctor before making a medical decision, especially when you’re simply going off passed-down folk wisdom.
1. Never apply ice to a burn.
Fact. Ice causes constriction of blood vessels and will make a burn deeper, because healing blood flow to the area burned will be restricted. You can also damage your skin by direct application of ice. Instead, immediately immerse the burn in cool water, or apply a cool, wet compress for at least 10 minutes. Then wash the area with soap and water, apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a dressing. Don’t break blisters – that’s an invitation to infection. If you see red streaking or redness spreading around the burn, you may have an infection and should see your healthcare provider. Read about caring for a minor burn.
2. Eating too much sugar will give you diabetes.
Fiction. Sugar becomes glucose in your bloodstream. In response, your body makes insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a problem with insulin regulation, not sugar intake. Excessive sugar can lead to overweight and obesity, which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. That makes eating a well-balanced diet, without a lot of added sugar, important for your health.
It isn’t possible to determine with certainty what specific foods or nutrients are increasing your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Read more about sugar’s role in the disease.
3. Eating carrots improves your vision.
Fiction. Carrots won’t improve your vision, but they’re good for your eyes as they’ll help improve overall good health. Carrots are orange because they contain beta-carotene, which your body converts into Vitamin A. The vitamin is important for vision. Give yourself half credit if you responded “Fact.” Read about foods with vitamin A.
4. A person having a seizure can swallow their tongue.
Fiction. A person having a seizure cannot swallow their tongue. Don’t put something like a spoon or tongue depressor in their mouth; it can lead to injury. Turn a person seizing on their side to assist breathing, help keep them from biting their tongue, and prevent them from breathing in vomit or excessive saliva. Use something like a pillow or folded clothing to cushion their head. Read more about first aid for seizures.
5. After a heart attack, you should usually return to your workouts.
Fact. Many people use a heart attack as their excuse to become less physically active. A lifestyle low in activity, however, may have contributed to the cardiac disease that led to a heart attack.
According to the American College of Cardiology’s Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council, 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise can contribute to strengthening your heart. With your doctor, create a safe, effective exercise routine.
6. You don’t need eight glasses of water daily.
Fact. There is no scientific evidence that you need eight glasses of water daily. Your requirement depends on a number of factors including body size, climate, and activity level.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine adequate fluid intake daily is about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women or 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for men. That includes food, water, and other beverages. We get about 20% of our water from food. Eight glasses of water usually refer to 12-ounce glasses, or 12 cups (2.84 liters.)
7. Sitting up straight can be bad for your back.
Fact. Sitting up straight for too long without a break can strain your back. When you’re sitting, keep your lower back supported and your legs uncrossed, knees at a 90-degree angle. It can also relieve back strain to sit with your knees higher than your hips. You can use a stool under your desk or in from of your chair on which to rest one or both feet.
8. Bar soap is covered with germs.
Fiction. You might leave germs on the soap when you’re handling the bar to wash up, but research has demonstrated that bacteria on a bar of soap die within minutes and are not transmitted to someone using the soap after you.
Another study in Epidemiology and Infection confirmed that bacteria transferred on soap are not transmitted by washing hands.
9. You cannot get the flu more than once a season.
Fiction. More than one flu strain is circulating every year. Being sick with one of them doesn’t protect you from the others. Also, not all the current circulating flu strains are covered by the flu vaccine – just the most prevalent strains. So, get your flu shot. Stay home when you’re sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze.
10. You should rinse the toothpaste from your mouth after brushing your teeth.
Fiction. If you’re using non-fluoridated mouthwash or water to rinse, you’re also spitting out the fluoride that’s protecting you from tooth decay before it can work. If you still feel that you need to rinse, use as little water as possible, swish, and spit out the foam, to keep as much fluoride on your teeth as possible. Studies show that leaving traces of toothpaste in your mouth can reduce tooth decay by up to 25%.
Did you learn or unlearn any facts or ideas? If you found one (or more) of the beliefs on this list surprising, then it’s likely others close to you might be just as surprised. Be sure to share this post with them so they too can make wiser decisions about everyday health.
Thanks. This was good information. Some of it I knew, but some, like the toothpaste, surprised me. My wife has type 2 diabetes and is a medical professional. She manages her blood sugar levels very well. She drinks “Mexican” Coke because it uses real sugar, not artificial sweeteners. The body can efficiently process real sugar, not artificial sweeteners. According to her, if her blood sugar is low, she can drink room-temperature Mexican Coke, which will quickly boost her blood sugar. Conversely, she immediately rinses with mouthwash after brushing her teeth. I will not tell her what you posted; some arguments ain’t worth it.😀
More health fact or fiction tips…
10. Injecting ground up butterfly in your leg will kill you.
True
11. Standing in ice water and adding salt will cause your toes to turn black.
True
12. Doing #11 will result in your mom pushing you around the house in a lawn chair.
True
Did Dr. Fauci ghost-write this?
Anyone seeking factual information should read Dr. Casey Mean’s book “Good Energy” and then discuss it with a biochemist or doctor with a good understanding of metabolism.
Overnutrition is a fact of the modern diet and yes, pumping your body full of sugar can lead to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes in addition to increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Fortunately RFKJ knows these things, and won’t be listening to this quack.
Some doctor:
“2. Eating too much sugar will give you diabetes.
Fiction. Sugar becomes glucose in your bloodstream. In response, your body makes insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a problem with insulin regulation, not sugar intake. Excessive sugar can lead to overweight and obesity, which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes. That makes eating a well-balanced diet, without a lot of added sugar, important for your health.
It isn’t possible to determine with certainty what specific foods or nutrients are increasing your risk for Type 2 diabetes. Read more about sugar’s role in the disease.”
Bump for later
#5 is misleading. If you’re playing a couple of hours of squash a week and have an MI you’ll probably want to cut that out. You’ll also find a few of the guys you used to play with will try to avoid games with you. They don’t want to be pounding on your chest on the floor of the squash court.
Ice water for burns does the best.
Converting ice at 32F to water at 32F takes far more heat than simply raising the water or ice by themselves.
It will draw out more heat quicker.
Squash is for eating, not playing.....................
Fiction #3 comes from British WW2 wartime propaganda. They created the myth that eating carrots helped nighttime eyesight to explain the success of their night fighters were having against German nighttime bombing raids and to hide the fact that their night fighters were actually using radar to locate the German bombers.
I know this sounds crazy, but when I have a minor burn I immediately run hot water over it—as hot as I can stand. This was told to me by a restaurant employee. I found that the burn rarely blistered when I did this and we owned a restaurant for 40 years.
swallow toothpaste or mouthwash? Screw that
Fiction? Not in my world.
My husband is in his 70s. Goes regularly for eye exams. Also gets the every three month eye injections for macular degeneration.
In the last several years he's become hooked on this wonderful Bolthouse brand carrot juice and drank a couple bottles a week.
On his last eye exam he could see better on the vision charts than he has for decades.
How could an old guy's vision improve like this if not for the carrot juice?
Soda pop consumption is one of the biggest health problems today, glad I never became hooked on it.
That doesn’t make sense except that it would absolutely increase the blood flow to the area and probably draw the heat out faster.
Interesting.
Sorry it was removed. Another politician collapsing at the podium during legislative session.
Linky no worky...............
How could an old guy’s vision improve like this if not for the carrot juice?
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