Doctor Marcus shatters medical myths

Can you get a urinary tract infection from getting a cold on your butt and can licorice raise your blood pressure?
Marcus Olausson, registered doctor and specialist in general medicine, once again finds out in Nyhetsmorgon which medical myths are true – and which are not.

Can you become addicted to Treo?

– Trio does not cause addiction in the same way as cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. However, it can be compared a little to a coffee addiction, because it does not affect the part of the brain that drugs do. Trio contains caffeine and something called acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA. Caffeine makes you more alert, and if you take it regularly and then stop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and low mood. ASA can, with daily use, increase the risk of drug-induced headache. Then you may experience a slight headache that is relieved by Trio, but it is actually Trio that maintains the headache.

Can you get a urinary tract infection from getting a cold on your butt?

– No. In the event of a urinary tract infection, bacteria enter the urinary tract. It is very common in women – more than one in two women will get a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. That is why there are many myths surrounding this. However, there are things we know actually increase the risk of getting a urinary tract infection. One is intercourse, and the other is genetics – if your mother or sister often gets urinary tract infections, the risk is greater for you too. But sitting cold or wearing pants that are too tight does not cause a urinary tract infection.

Can lacrits raise one’s blood pressure?

– There is a substance in licorice, glycyrrhizic acid, which affects the hormonal balance in the body. When the hormonal balance of renin and aldosterone is affected, it causes the body to bind more fluid, which in turn raises blood pressure. This happens regardless of whether you are healthy or sick. A Swedish study looked at young, healthy individuals without high blood pressure, and when they were allowed to eat licorice every day, it was seen that their blood pressure rose by three millimeters of mercury after about two weeks. It’s not a dramatic increase, but still a noticeable effect.

– For some varieties, such as Djungelvrål’s licorice, just under a bag a day can be enough. And while we shouldn’t be eating candy every day, the impact is roughly at that level.

Usual housewife trick: Does garlic in the ear help with ear infections?

– Garlic and cloves of garlic in the ear is not a treatment method for ear infections and should be avoided. It is a false myth. The reason this myth probably arose is that garlic has some antibacterial effect, which is true – but it cannot treat ear infections. It’s much like we use hand sanitizer to kill bacteria and viruses. But we wouldn’t pour hand sanitizer in the ear, because it’s a bad idea and can even be harmful. Putting garlic in the ear can encapsulate the infection and irritate both the skin and the ear canal. It is not a good method.

Can you become nearsighted from reading too much?

– There are studies that indicate that you can get myopia if you sit and read a lot on a toad, but this is extremely rare. It is not likely that you read so much that you become nearsighted: No. But many of us sit for eight to nine hours a day with a screen and it can affect one’s vision. There are few people who sit and read a book for so many hours a day.