Common Myths about Diseases

We’ve all heard all sorts of stories and myths about how certain diseases appear, or how they are treated, without any kind of scientific proof. When it comes to health, a lot of people mistakenly regard themselves as experts, because there is an abundance of information available online, and unfortunately, not all of it is correct. The sad reality is that most of the time, we cling to myths that often times have nothing to do with reality.

How many times have we seen people taking drugs to treat various conditions by themselves, being convinced that they know exactly what they are suffering from? Here are some common myths about diseases that could make us avoid a visit to the doctor, thinking we can self-medicate, and only end up aggravating the conditions even more. Next time you hear one of these “facts” from someone, make sure you inform them that they’re wrong!

5 myths about diseases

  1. If you eat a lot of sweets, you’ll get diabetes.

Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes is caused by the destruction of pancreatic cells. It has nothing to do with sugar consumption. Type 2 diabetes is a reaction of the body where it is unable to recognize insulin. It is true that excessive consumption of sweets can lead to fattening and obesity, which might lead to type 2 diabetes. However, there’s a long way to go, and often times genetic predisposition is one of the main causing factors.

  1. Only alcoholics develop cirrhosis.

Couldn’t be farther from the truth! Cirrhosis translates into liver fibrosis and low hepatic function. It is true that alcohol abuse damages liver cells. However, not all alcohol addicts develop cirrhosis. In addition, there have been many cases of children suffering from this disease. On the other hand, other conditions such as hepatitis B and C ,if not properly treated, can lead to the occurrence of cirrhosis over time.

  1. If you vaccinate your child, he will become autistic.

Autism does not develop as a result of a vaccine. In fact, the alleged doctor who spread this rumor was arrested many years ago. Meanwhile, scientists from different countries and research institutes or hospitals have conducted long and thorough studies that have shown that there is no link between vaccines, immunization and autism.

  1. The stomach digests food really slow.

First of all, anyone should know that the food is not actually digested in the stomach. Most of the digestive process actually occurs in the small intestine. The evacuation of waste occurs through the large intestine and anal canal. Did you know that most of the required daily vitamin K dose is actually produced by the bacteria in the large intestine through which it is then absorbed into the blood?

  1. The sun can heal acne.

Don’t fall for these myths! Acne is the most common skin condition, faced by about 80% of young people and 5% of adults. It occurs due to hormonal changes which happen around the age of puberty and is healed through appropriate treatment, depending on the patient and their skin type. Restrictive diets, or prolonged and unprotected exposure to the sun will not magically cause the acne to vanish. Paying a visit to a doctor should be the first step, as only a dermatologist can make a competent analysis and prescribe a personalized treatment.




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