1. You can catch a cold from the cold?
The common cold is more often than not caught from a virus called rhinovirus. Every mother/ nanna/ teacher/ whoever has definitely warned of wrapping up warm and not getting caught in the rain otherwise, you’ll catch a cold!!! Although cold weather does, in fact, allow the virus to stick around longer in the air, it is not the weather directly which is causing the cold. It is rather, the close contact with individuals infected or items they have transmitted the virus onto.
2. Cracking joints can cause arthritis
There is still an uncertainty about what exactly is going on in the body when one cracks their joints. The main take away message is that it is not the bones rubbing together and it is not harmful unless pain is being felt. That satisfying ‘pop’ sound is most commonly believed to be the sound of gas bubbles moving within the joint space. So, whilst it might cringe the person next to you out, cracking joints is usually harmless. [Despite this, avoid cracking your neck as it might damage nearby structures]
3. Crossing your eyes can make them stay like that
How many parents have told their children not to cross their eyes because if the wind changes, they’ll get stuck like that? There is in fact, no truth to this. The eyes, like any other part of the body, are controlled by muscles. If the muscles causing them to look inwards relax or fatigue, the eyes should return back to normal… wind or no wind.
4. Meat is a must.
The NHS recommends a mere 70g of red or processed meat a day. This is the equivalent to 2 sausages or 3 slices of ham. This is a common misconception of your average ‘steak and rice’ eating gym goer! It is far more sustainable (both health, and environment wise) to get protein intake from food such as lentils, beans, and nuts.
5. Alcohol limit? What alcohol limit?
The current alcohol limit in Malta is 0.8g/L of blood. This is the equivalent, for an average man, to just under a pint or a large glass of wine. For an average woman, half a pint, and a small glass of wine. So next time you get in a car and say ‘I feel fine’ after smashing down a couple of cocktails at happy hour, try call a cab instead!
6. Eight Glasses of water a day
How many of you have heard the old chant, ‘drink eight glasses of water a day?’ Whilst hydration is massively important in health, there is no set rule as to how much a person should drink. Hydration is also achieved through foods one eats and it is dependent on gender, size, weight, the temperature, and how active the person is. Fluid input must be equal or slightly above fluid output to steer away from dehydration. The eight-cup guideline, is therefore, rather inaccurate.
7. X-Rays are dangerous
Our radiographers often hear concerns of the radiation patients are exposed to during X-Ray imaging. Contrary to popular belief, it is one of the safest diagnostic tools. One X-Ray is equivalent to just a couple of days of background radiation.
8. Exercise to lose specific body fat?
How many times have you googled ‘how to lose stomach fat?’ or ‘how to get skinnier arms?’. No matter what you see promoted on social media, the fact remains that; you cannot spot reduce fat. To lose weight, one must be in a calorific deficit (burning more than consuming). There is no way to specifically target any are of the body. You can do as many crunches as you physically can, it will not directly influence stomach fat.
9. Eggs are high in cholesterol
People have been back and forth about the cholesterol in eggs for years. One day its recommended, the next people are warning against. Studies have shown that eating two eggs per day is, in fact, a consumption of a completely safe amount of cholesterol [in a healthy individual]. The effect is minimal when compared to other trans fats found in food.
10. Complete rest leads to quick recovery
Any athlete has heard of rest, ice, compression, elevation. A common misconception is that rest means completely not using the injured part. This can be extremely counterproductive to rehabilitation of a ligament or tendon let’s say, in an ankle sprain. It is important to load ligaments or tendons and perform light exercises until the point of pain. It is the pain that indicates the range in which the part needs to be rested.
