Medical Myths
Some beliefs just won't go away. Medicine, being something that effects everyone but is mostly understood by experts, is particularly prone to things we know that aren't so -- especially with confusing studies being released every day. Here are some false facts people commonly believe:
- Supplements are good, or at least not bad. In fact, excessive vitamin A can cause liver damage, and C and E are associated with increased risk of cancer. Eating healthy is better, since your body can self-regulate vitamins from food.
- Sugar makes kids hyper. In fact, childhood makes kids hyper, though sugar can give them the energy to act on it. Mostly, though, it seems to be a question of perception: people who believe a kid has had sugar before acting out will attribute it to that. In that sense, this myth is self-perpetuating.
- Reading in the dark damages your eyes. Reading in dim light can be painful, but seems to cause no long-term effects. While many people who do hold books close need glasses, it's likely that the holding books close is an attempt to deal with nearsightedness, not a cause of it.