William Atkins
Saturday, 20 December 2008 01:56
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 5
"Festive medical myths" is the title of the British Medical Journal article stating sixth commonly held medical beliefs that these researchers say should "hit the dust." So, Ho! Ho! Ho?
Pediatric professors Rachel C. Vreeman and Aaron E. Carroll (
website of both), from the Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, U.S.A.) state in the abstract to their
paper,
“In the pursuit of scientific truth, even widely held medical beliefs require examination or re-examination.”
They add,
“Both physicians and non-physicians sometimes believe things about our bodies that just are not true. As a reminder of the need to apply scientific investigation to conventional wisdom, we previously discussed the evidence disputing seven commonly held medical myths."
"The holiday season presents a further opportunity to probe medical beliefs recounted during this time of the year.”
The BMJ article states,
"More medical myths hit the dust, thanks to Rachel C.
Vreeman and Arron E. Carrol."
Vreeman and Carrol researched medical literature databases and other medical literature, and when needed, conducted Google Internet searches, to find evidence that supported or denied these beliefs.
Their six common medical beliefs include toxic poinsettias, high holiday suicide rates, curable hangovers, sugar-induced hyperactive children, head-heat-loss in humans, and nocturnal eating makes one fat.
Dr. Vreeman states,
"We really don't know why some myths become so embedded.” [Washington Post: “
Toxic Poinsettias? Hangover Cures? It May Be All Fiction”]
Page two continues with some of the myths.
