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Medical Myths Part 1  

This is part one of a series of short articles intended to debunk some contemporary medical myths.

Myth: (a) Long-term bed rest is highly recommended in the management of low back pain.

This is untrue and as a matter of fact the scientific evidence shows that “rest makes rusty”. Complete bed rest is only recommended for the first 48 hours after the onset of acute (sudden onset) low back pain and is not recommended for chronic low back pain (i.e. backpain for more than three months). Prolonged bed rest leads to muscle wasting, joint stiffness, reduced joint nutrition and general deconditioning of the human body.

Myth: (b) Grinding of teeth in children mean that the child needs to be wormed.

There is no connection between the grinding of teeth and the presence of worms in a child’s gastrointestinal tract. Studies have shown that there is no statistical difference in the incidence of worms in a group of children who did grind their teeth when compared to another group of children who did not grind their teeth.

Myth: (c) If you suffer with blood pressure you should avoid foods such as spinach and other green leafy vegetables.
Actually the opposite is true and persons with high blood pressure are encouraged to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Spinach and other similar vegetables contain nitrates (a vasodilator) which reduce blood pressure via dilation of your arteries.

Myth: (d) Getting a chill can give you the cold.
Even when someone is exposed to chilly air or has wet hair, they are no more likely to catch a cold. In order to catch the cold you have to be exposed to the cold virus.

Myth: (e) Panadols / Tylenols should be taken with food.
As a matter of fact these medications are most effective when it come to pain or fever relief when taken on an empty stomach. Unfortunately the presence of food in your stomach at the time of taking medicine such as Paracetemol/ Acetominophen reduces absorption of such thereby reducing the medication’s effectiveness.

Myth: (f) The presence of “Liver Spots” on the skin could mean that there is something wrong with my liver.
Fact: “Liver Spots” or Tinea versicolor is a common skin infection. It occurs as a result of the overgrowth of a fungus (Malassezia Furfur) on the skin’s surface which results in changes in the skin’s color. There is no association with liver disease.

Myth: (g) I can’t become pregnant while breast feeding.

Fact: In some women who breast feed there is a suppression of ovulation and these women would not become pregnant. However, a significant number of breast feeding mothers ovulate and can become pregnant. If you are sexually active and don’t want to become pregnant while breast feeding you should discuss your contraceptive options with your doctor.

Myth: (h) If I take large quantities of vitamin C I will avoid getting the cold.
Fact: There are many large studies that have shown that Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, does not prevent colds.