There is a wide variety of information to protect our health and prevent various diseases. We are trying to apply this knowledge that has settled in our lives every day. However, we never question the accuracy of this information. Dr Sara Kayat shared 7 facts that most of us believe but are not true.
CLEANING THE EARS
Many people are aware that cleaning their ears, especially with cotton swabs, can be harmful and lead to infections or injuries. Dr Kayat explained that earwax protects the ear, for this we should not try to remove all the wax. He said: “Our ears are self-cleaning. They have this kind of little hair, this kind of pulsing and pushing the wax out. And so you don’t have to stick anything in there to clean it.”
CHILD FEVER
Dr Sara said parents should avoid trying to treat their child’s fever. “Fever exists as a response for our body to fight an infection, so if you bring that fever down, you can limit your body’s ability to fight it quickly.” He added that your main concern should be to make your child comfortable if he or she is not feeling well.
warts
The healthcare professional said that although warts are bothersome, they don’t actually need to be treated. “As we know, our bodies can get rid of viruses on their own. For some people it may only take a few months. For other people it may take years. If they really piss you off, you can have treatments, but you don’t have to. Most people’s warts will heal on their own.
DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER
Dr Sara debunked the popular health myth that we need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy. He noted the importance of staying hydrated throughout the day, but described the number eight as “a purely arbitrary number” and said the amount of water we should be getting depends on other factors such as the environment. She said: “I can’t find any evidence to say why everyone should drink eight glasses a day”.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION WHILE DRINKING ANTIBIOTICS
Dr Kayat explained that it is better not to drink while taking antibiotics as it can affect your immune system. But despite popular belief, most antibiotics do not interact with alcohol. He said: “People worry that the drug will be less effective if they drink alcohol. This is not the case.”
CRACKING JOINTS
Many people see this as a harmful and annoying habit, but cracking your joints is not bad for you and does not cause arthritis. Dr Sara said: “People think it’s joints and bones rubbing against each other causing this sound, but it’s actually just a little bit of gas, a gas bubble between the joints.
“When you break your knuckles, it kind of pops out and doesn’t hurt your joints. If you’re getting any pain or swelling or anything while you crunch the knuckles, then it could be something serious.”
THE FIVE SECOND RULE
According to the popular “five-second rule”, it’s okay if you eat the dropped food as long as you pick it up within five seconds. Dr Sara said: “Yes, the longer the food is on the floor, the more likely it is to come into contact with bacteria. But if it’s there for a second, it’s still likely to pick up some germs.”