Apples for Health- 2 doctors go after medical myths

2 doctors go after medical myths

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Two medical researchers in Indiana say adults do not need to drink eight glasses of water daily and that reading in bad light does not ruin eyesight.

Rachel Vreeman of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Aaron Carroll at the Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis examined those and five other commonly held beliefs, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported. In a report in the British Medical Journal, they said that an examination of the literature turns out all are false.

Two of the myths come from optical illusions, they said. The flesh shrinks back after death so hair and fingernails may look like they have grown longer, while stubble immediately after shaving has a blunt end and may seem coarser.

The eight glasses of water myth comes from a misreading of a 1945 article that went on to say that most of the water people need is found in the food they eat.

The researchers also say there is no evidence that turkey makes people sleepy, or that cell phones are dangerous in hospitals. And recent research suggests that people use far more than 10 percent of their brains.

While the article was lighthearted, Vreeman and Carroll said they do have a serious message that doctors should examine their own beliefs.

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