Health myths you may want to ditch

As I walked around the tables set up on Scholars Lane at UC Merced on Tuesday for the World AIDS Day fair, I met two health educators from our local Planned Parenthood center. They were passing out brochures and fact sheets. They also had a game board, designed to help debunk myths associated with HIV and AIDS.

One of the health educators told me I would be surprised to learn how often they hear from people who think the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, can be transmitted through sweat. For the record, that is incorrect. HIV is transmitted only through certain body fluids, such as blood, semen and breast milk, but not through sweat, saliva or tears.

This got me thinking about the numerous health myths we often hear and read about. And some of these misunderstandings are passed on through generations. Think about all the instances when we were warned by a parent to wait 30 minutes to an hour after a meal before jumping in a pool. If you have children, my guess is you echo your parents on this one. Yes, just like engaging in any other type of exercise, swimming after eating might cause some discomfort, but it isn’t exactly unsafe.

Yet, it has been taken almost as fact that swimming on a full stomach is dangerous because it could cause severe cramps that increase the risk of drowning. The American Red Cross, for one, does not make any note of this on its very in-depth Swimming and Water Safety guidelines; neither does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This probably belongs on the list of old wives’ tales.

Following are other health-related myths you may have heard, believed or laughed at.

Cold weather makes you sick. Germs make you sick, not the weather. This one is easy to believe, especially because flu season peaks during wintertime. But to get the flu, you have to come in contact with the influenza virus. A Yale study published earlier this year, however, did find that cold viruses replicate quicker and better in lower temperatures. Is there a connection? Possibly. But again, you have to be exposed to the virus to get sick. The weather itself is not the culprit for the nasty cold you’re battling.

Turkey makes you sleepy. Just in time for the holidays. I overheard this in the newsroom earlier this week for the first time. I researched this, and apparently some people really do believe this. According to Live Science, turkey is known to contain “tryptophan,” an amino acid used by the body to build proteins. The body also uses this amino acid to make serotonin, a chemical that helps regulate sleep. This helps people believe that the bird itself is responsible for the snooze fest after dinner. But don’t blame the turkey, blame gluttony. The massive intake of carbohydrates, according to science sites, is what causes people to feel sleepy after a large holiday meal.

Cracking knuckles causes arthritis. While it’s not the best habit to have, cracking your knuckles doesn’t increase the risk of arthritis, according to a series of Harvard Medical School studies. The studies did show, however, that people who crack their knuckles often were more likely to have swollen hands and reduced grip strength.

Antiperspirant can cause cancer. This theory has become more popular in recent year as people point out “harmful” substances that can be absorbed through the skin. Because deodorant is applied near the breasts, some believe that it may be related to breast cancer. Research from the National Cancer Institute, however, shows that there is no conclusive evidence that links the use of deodorant to the development of breast cancer. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food, cosmetics and medicine, also does not have any evidence that supports a connection.

Sugar makes kids hyperactive. This might be the hardest myth for parents to let go of. But sweets do not change behavior, according to several studies conducted over the years. Web MD suggests that in this case, expectations may affect perception. In other words, parents expect their child to get rowdy with sweets, so that is what they experience. In reality, the child may simply be reacting to their surroundings, scientists have said. For instance, sweets are many times available at parties or get-togethers. There is music, chatter or other children present. The environment, and not the double chocolate chip cookies, is what may be causing them to become overactive.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Health myths you may want to ditch."