Posted on 12/21/2007 7:24:50 AM PST by Watershed
Popular culture is loaded with myths and half-truths. Most are harmless. But when doctors start believing medical myths, perhaps it's time to worry.
In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several common misconceptions, from the belief that a person should drink eight glasses of water per day to the notion that reading in low light ruins your eyesight.
"We got fired up about this because we knew that physicians accepted these beliefs and were passing this information along to their patients," said Dr. Aaron Carroll, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "And these beliefs are frequently cited in the popular media."
And so here they are, so that you can inform your doctor:
Myth: We use only 10 percent of our brains.
Fact: Physicians and comedians alike, including Jerry Seinfeld, love to cite this one. It's sometimes erroneously credited to Albert Einstein. But MRI scans, PET scans and other imaging studies show no dormant areas of the brain, and even viewing individual neurons or cells reveals no inactive areas, the new paper points out. Metabolic studies of how brain cells process chemicals show no nonfunctioning areas. The myth probably originated with self-improvement hucksters in the early 1900s who wanted to convince people that they had yet not reached their full potential, Carroll figures. It also doesn't jibe with the fact that our other organs run at full tilt.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Does that mean Rush only uses 5 % ?
Routine dilation (which allows us a more comprehensive view of the posterior segment (retina)), will cause an accompanying loss of near vision; more pronounced, the older you are.
I can almost always achieve sufficent dilation with a relatively new, milder drug that does not have quite the nearpoint compromise. Personally, I try to dilate my patients only as frequently as is clinically indicated.
Hallelujah! I’m a physician and never believed any of these. Someone asked me to turn my cell phone off once because it might interfere with hospital equipment. I conducted my own little experiment and found NO piece of equipment that appeared to malfunction during cell phone transmissions. I submitted the data to administration and never heard another peep.
Which movie is that from? Wedding Crashers? It’s killing me that I can’t remember. I can hear his voice, but can’t picture the scene.
OK folks
If you are telekinetic, raise my hand.....
“Hallelujah! Im a physician and never believed any of these. Someone asked me to turn my cell phone off once because it might interfere with hospital equipment. I conducted my own little experiment and found NO piece of equipment that appeared to malfunction during cell phone transmissions. I submitted the data to administration and never heard another peep.”
Well, Doc you know how that got started of course.
There is nothing like trying to conduct a thorough examination on a patient and having their all-important cell phone go off. Worse is when they insist on answering it. So instead of posting signs that say “Please exercise common courtesy and respect for our time just as we respect yours, and turn your damn toy off” Instead we fabricate tall tales of damage to our sensitive medical equipment from concurrent cell phone use.
Yep, Wedding Crashers. Hilarious movie, IMO...
I've had that happen, and they always tell me beforehand, "Oh, don't worry, you'll be able to drive!" Then the drive home is blurry and terrifying. Never again will I let them put drops in my eyes if I have to drive home.
This one used to be true. The old bag-sized analog phones used to clobber our EKG telemetry equipment easily. We could tell when someone made a call, because we’d lose about 12 patient’s screens right away. since the reallocation of frequencies and the change to largely digital equipment its no longer true.
That is absolutely the funniest thing I've ever read in my life! Doctors respect ANY patient's time? Not ever, not any layman in this universe, FRiend.
That said, I take this article with a grain of salt. The source taints itself in other articles with a whole whack of known falsehoods regarding anthropogenic global warming, including the published by, and then discredited by NASA "11 of the last 13 years are the hottest on record" nonsense.
I’m in my early 40’s and my near vision is starting to slip. The bizarre thing is I’ve always read better with my glasses off (I’m nearsighted w/astimatism)...now I HAVE to take them off to read. Bifocals are coming my way, and I’m hoping beyond hope that lens implants will be covered under optical insurance by the time I’m ready.
Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn't contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. This myth is fueled by the fact that turkey is often eaten with a colossal holiday meal, often accompanied by alcohol both things that will make you sleepy.
Did they check whether turkey makes you drowsy or only if it contains tryptophan? I have noticed myself becoming extremely drowsy after eating turkey. I tend not to overeat and I hardly ever drink alcohol. It seems to me that certain turkeys have this effect more than others. Maybe there is a different chemical in turkey that makes people sleepy.
Myth: “Those can be very refreshing.”
Truth: I’m always more thirsty after eating Junior Mints.
“That is absolutely the funniest thing I’ve ever read in my life! Doctors respect ANY patient’s time? Not ever, not any layman in this universe, FRiend.”
Well, sir, obviously you have never been a patient in my office then.
When visiting my in-laws, I like to spend some time reading. They will always walk over to where I am sitting and turn on the nearest lamp to its brightest and most annoying setting. Do they bother to ask me if I want the lamp turned on or up? No. Do they think I am perfectly capable of turning the lamp on or up myself? No. It drives me crazy. :-P
“Im in my early 40s and my near vision is starting to slip. The bizarre thing is Ive always read better with my glasses off (Im nearsighted w/astimatism)...now I HAVE to take them off to read. Bifocals are coming my way, and Im hoping beyond hope that lens implants will be covered under optical insurance by the time Im ready.”
You are finally getting a positive payback for being nearsighted. Yes, your nearsightedness is allowing you to continue to focus at nearpoint. In other words, if you had perfect distance vision, you would be increasingly helpless at nearpoint as you age. Bifocals are best viewed as a potential tool in your toolbox, with proper application in certain visual environments. Like most patients, as you age, you will become increasingly frustrated with the on-off cycle with your spectacle prescription. Mutifocals, either in the form of eyeglasses or contact lenses will become an increasingly appealing solution.
Implants? Maybe. Functionally, they are very much in the guinea pig stage. Additionally, like Lasik surgery they are overhyped, oversimplified and overprescribed.
Thanks, that's interesting. I have had this done before by other doctors, but the downside effect has never been this dramatic. Oh well, I only used this eye clinic because my regular one was booked.
“When visiting my in-laws, I like to spend some time reading. They will always walk over to where I am sitting and turn on the nearest lamp to its brightest and most annoying setting. Do they bother to ask me if I want the lamp turned on or up? No. Do they think I am perfectly capable of turning the lamp on or up myself? No. It drives me crazy. :-P”
Well, at least they love you. Do they also bring you a nice comforting bowl of hot chicken noodle soup?
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