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Needless to say, your health should be a top priority. We only get one life, and so it is important that we realise how precious it is and look after ourselves so that we can have a long and joyful existence. The trouble is that there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet and society regarding individual well being. Don’t fret, though, as this post aims to debunk these common health myths once and for all.
If you stay indoors during winter, you won’t catch a cold – A lot of people assume that they need to stay warm to reduce their chances of getting a cold. This is one of the most prevalent misbelieves around the world. Getting wet or cold does not give you the cold. You need to get infected by bacteria or a virus in order to fall sick. This is not to say that cold or wet weather cannot contribute to certain illnesses, but it is not the root cause of falling ill.
Eating too much sugar causes diabetes – Eating too much sugar is never a good thing. It can make you put on weight, and being overweight is something that contributes to type 2 diabetes. However, sugar itself does not cause diabetes. The best way to reduce your chances of becoming diabetic is to watch your weight.
Chocolate causes acne – Chocolate lovers, this will be music to your ears. Chocolate does not cause acne. There are many reasons why you may suffer from acne, with stress being a common cause. Acne happens when too much sebum is produced in the oil glands. Sebum is a waxy substance that can clog your pores, along with dead skin cells. Bacteria then grows and irritates the blocked pore, which is why it results in a swollen and red appearance. You can further inflame your skin by washing it too harshly. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle, but it’s certainly not down to your love of chocolate.
You will know if you have a Sexually Transmitted Infection – A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are easy to spot. They assume that they will have symptoms, and therefore, they don’t need to have a check-up. In fact, the opposite is often true, especially for women. A lot of people do not have any symptoms at all, and so it is vital to get a checkup regularly, or whenever you have a new sexual partner. A lot of people also assume that this is going to be a big upheaval or they are scared about the treatment process if the test does come back positive. In fact, some STIs only require a small course of tablets. You can get treatment online here. Don’t take a risk; get checked out as soon as possible, as your condition may worsen if it goes untreated.
Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through your digestive system – This is something that a lot of people have probably heard time and time before. While the chewing gum is pretty indigestible and it’s not a good idea to swallow it, it’s not going to be in your stomach for seven years.
Chest pain will let me know that I am having a heart attack – A lot of people assume they will know if they are having a heart attack because of pains in their chest. However, this is not a symptom that all patients experience, so you need to be aware of the other symptoms. This includes feelings of indigestion, back pain, pain in the jaw, neck, or arm, and shortness of breath.
You should tilt your head back to cure a nosebleed – If you are someone that suffers from nosebleeds, you may have been told to tilt your head back. It is also something we tend to do instinctively. However, the best thing to do is sit up straight and tilt your head slightly forward. This is important because it will stop the blood from running down the back of your throat. This can cause further issues, such as choking, and it can even go into your stomach and cause tummy upset.
Eating fatty food will make you fat – It seems obvious that you would become fat by eating fat. However, this is not the case. For a healthy and balanced diet, fat in moderation is a must. An energy imbalance is actually the reason why people put on more weight in the form of fat. So, if you consume more calories than you burn, you are going to gain weight. While fat is a concentrated source of calories, you don’t need to completely eradicate it from your diet in order to lose weight.
Incontinence is a condition for older people – While it is true that older women are more likely to suffer from incontinence than younger women, a lack of bladder control is not merely to do with age. When your bladder muscles are too active or too weak, this is when incontinence occurs, and so it can happen at any age. In fact, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk of incontinence, including being obese or overweight, having children, or suffering from a certain medical condition.
So there you have it: some of the biggest health myths that are believed around the world. Were you aware that all of the statements above were simply misconceptions that people follow? Take note of the advice that has been provided and start improving your health today.
