The British Medical Journal Releases List of Medical Myths that Are Believed to be True

British Medical Journal released a list of seven medical myths that are often believed to be true, some even by physicians. I'll go over each one of them here, so we can all get our facts straight once and for all.

1. You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

False. Usually you get enough fluids from daily consumptions of juice, milk, and caffeinated drinks. Drinking too much water can actually be dangerous, as you may suffer water intoxication and eventually death.

2. We only use 10% of our brains

False. Studies where the patient has suffered brain injury shows that damage to any part of the brain can lead to mental and behavioral capabilities. There is no area of our brain that is inactive or passive.

3. Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.

False. This is an optic illusion, as when we die dehydration of the body may cause the skin around the hair or nails to retract, giving an impression that it grew. In order for hair and nails to grow there has to be a hormonal regulation that is not present after death.

4. Shaving hair causes it to grow back faster, darker, or coarser.

False. This myth is very common, but once again it's an optical illusion. Shaved hair lacks the finer taper at the ends that unshaven hair has, which makes it seem like the hair got coarser. Also, since the new hair has not yet been exposed to chemical exposures or sunlight, it might appear to be darker. When we shave, we remove only the dead part of the hair; the living part lies below the skin's surface and remains untouched.

5. Reading in dim light ruins our eyesight.

False. While it might be difficult to focus with poor lighting which can lead to temporarily eye strains, these effects are not long lasting.

6. Eating turkey makes people especially drowsy.

False. The amino acids in food are involved in sleep control, but turkey does not hold any excessive amounts of the tryptophan. Actually both chicken and minced beef contain as much as turkey, and would thus make you just as drowsy. The meal itself has a more important role, as big meals can cause blood flow and oxygenation to the brain to decrease leading to drowsiness.

7. Cell phones create considerable electromagnetic interference in hospitals.

False. There is not enough evidence to back up this claim, and British Medical Journal could not find any cases of death that were caused by the usage of cell phones in hospitals.

British Medical Journal: Medical myths