Health Myths
True or False?
We've all heard the sayings, "feed a cold, starve a fever" or "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Sometimes we take such advice, whether we truly believe it or not, in an attempt to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
But is there any truth to these myths?
These resources will help you separate fact from fiction by providing evidence both for and against some of today’s most common claims about health. This information is courtesy of Caremark, an independent company that offers health education information on behalf of your health plan.
Baby and Child Myths
- A Baby Who Wears Shoes or Uses an Infant Walker Will Learn to Walk Sooner
- Flying During Pregnancy Is Unsafe for the Fetus
- A Nursing Mother Cannot Get Pregnant
- Older Children Are More Intelligent Than Their Younger Siblings
- Pregnant Women Should Avoid Cats
- You Can Predict Your Baby’s Gender by How You Carry the Pregnancy
Behavior Myths
- Cracking Your Knuckles Can Lead to Arthritis
- Depression and Suicide Rates Rise During the Holiday Season
- Full Moons Sway Tides — and Minds
- Licking a Wound Can Promote Healing
- More Weight Is Lost By Running On An Empty Stomach
- Never Wake a Sleepwalker
- Using a Cell Phone Increases the Risk of a Brain Tumor
- Wait a Half-hour After Lunch Before Going Back in the Water — Or You Just Might Drown
- Yawning Is Contagious
Food and Drink Myths
- An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
- Bottled Water Is Better for You Than Tap Water
- Drinking a Glass of Red Wine a Day Can Increase Longevity
- Eating Carrots Improves Vision
- Eating Chocolate (or Other Fatty Foods) Causes Acne
- Eating Dark Chocolate Can Lower Your Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
- Eating at Night Will Make You Gain Weight
- Eating Poppy Seed Pastries Can Lead To a Positive Drug Test for Heroin
- Eating Turkey Makes You Drowsy
- Eating Sugar Tends to Make Children Hyperactive
- Eating Yogurt Can Help Reduce Your Risk of Vaginal Yeast Infections
- Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever
- Fresh Food Is Better Than Frozen or Canned Food
- Girls Who Favor Soft Drinks Are More Likely to Have Osteoporosis Later in Life
- If You Swallow Your Gum, It Will Take Seven Years to Digest
- It’s Safe to Drink Your Urine
- Microwaves Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
- Mixing Different Types of Alcohol Increases Your Risk of Getting Sick
- Women Get Drunker Than Men
- You Can Cure a Hangover
More Myths
- Applying Butter to a Burn Aids Healing and Relieves Pain
- Being Exposed to Wet, Cold Weather Increases the Risk of Infection
- Changes in the Weather Can Make Your Joints Stiff or Achy
- Different Parts of the Tongue Sense Different Tastes
- Hair Dye Causes Cancer
- It Is Possible for a Person to Get a Sexually Transmitted Infection from a Public Toilet Seat
- Mosquitoes Are Attracted to Some People More Than Others
- A Person With a Serious Head Injury or Concussion Should Be Kept Awake
- Some Hiccup Remedies Actually Work
- The Style of a Man’s Underwear Affects His Fertility
- Surgical Hardware in the Body Sets Off Airport Metal Detectors
- We Only Use 10 Percent of Our Brains
- Women Who Live Together Tend to Have Synchronized Menstrual Periods
- Your Heart Stops Beating When You Sneeze (and Other Common Beliefs About Sneezing)