There is so much misinformation in the world, it’s time to set things straight. Nurses need to know which common medical and health beliefs are based in science and which are not.
Our patients depend on us to be knowledgeable about all of the health misinformation floating around out there. Patients trust us to have the reliable information they need. Here are the top winners of health misinformation that you need to know.
1. Cold weather makes you sick.
Not true!! Only germs can make you sick not the weather. There are plenty of grandmas out there who think if you go outside in the freezing cold with a wet head, you’ll catch a cold. Truth is you’ll only catch a cold when there’s a virus present.
Correlation: Viruses–which do cause colds–thrive in low temps!
2. Apply butter or ice to burns.
NO! Nurses don’t let anyone butter or ice a burn! Skin damage from a burn comes from the body’s inflammatory response. Butter does absolutely nothing for the inflammatory response or the pain of a burn. And ice can damage the inflamed tissue and make the burn worse.
Instead: Submerge the area in cool water for about 5 minutes. Wash with mild soap and apply antibiotic ointment. Never pop burn blisters.
3. All heart attacks present with chest pain.
So false!! A study in 2012 found that of he 1.1 million heart attack patients, 31% of men and 42% of women did not present with chest pain prior to seeking medical help.
Need to know: This is why the American Heart Association recommends calling 911 for symptoms such as pain elsewhere in the upper body (such as shoulder pain), shortness of breath, and light-headedness.
4. Stress will give you an ulcer.
Not true. There are two main causes of stomach ulcers: 1. overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, and 2. the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
Correlation: High stress levels can make an existing ulcer worse, but there is no direct cause-effect supported in the scientific literature.
5. Tilting your head back will stop a nosebleed.
Nope…not recommended. If you tilt your head back when you get a nosebleed, all you get is blood to swallow. Blood in the stomach is likely to irritate it and make you vomit.
Instead: tip your head slightly forward and pinch the nose shut for about 10 minutes. Seek medical attention for nose bleeds that do not resolve.
6. Knuckle cracking leads to arthritis.
No science behind this one at all. However, there is some evidence that cracking your knuckles can cause soft-tissue damage (and perhaps swelling).
Need to know: Knuckle cracking is not harmful and joint cracking can be caused by negative pressure pulling nitrogen gas temporarily into the joint.
7. We need eight glasses of water daily.
Sorry but there’s no science behind this one either that proves 8 is the magic number. We all need water daily. But the amount of water any one person needs is dependent on their body size, activity level, and climate.
Need to know: Encourage patients to drink–just drink–water throughout the day to ensure that they get enough.
Cheers!
