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A new book published by Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman and Dr. Aaron E. Carroll of the Indiana University School of Medicine is seeking to expose the myths and misconceptions behind ailment and illness.

This follows an article published in the British Medical Journal which listed myths that even many medical practitioners believe to be true.

You should drink eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, there is actually no scientific evidence supporting this theory. Doctors believe that an adequate daily fluid intake can be met through the combined consumption of water, juice, milk and other beverages.   Humans only use ten per cent of their brains.
 
Fact: Another theory unsupported by any medical evidence or research.  In fact, brain imaging studies on brain-damaged patients has found the opposite. According to the authors of the book, “Numerous types of brain imaging studies show that no area of the brain is completely silent or inactive.”

Shaving causes hair to grow back quicker, darker and thicker

Fact: A 1928 study found no evidence of this, which has since been supported in recent study. Yet, why do we still believe this?
•    Hair seems coarse when it grows back because it lacks the “fine taper” of unshaven hair.
•    Regrowth also appears dark because it hasn’t been exposed to sunlight.

Reading in low light damages eyesight

While reading in the dark may make it difficult to read and cause eyes to dry up because of a drop in blinking, no permanent damage will occur as this is a myth grounded in misconceptions around eye strain.

Mobile phones cause hospital equipment to malfunction

When over 100 reports of reported electrical malfunction were reported in the Wall Street Journal in the nineties, hospitals quickly responded, putting up signs banning the use of mobile phones. However, when over 500 tests were conducted for an American study in 2005, an incidence of only 1.2 per cent was found.

One recent study also reported mobile phones used in a “normal way” would not interfere with medical equipment, some suggesting that use of mobiles in hospitals worked to even limit medical error by increasing communication between practitioners.

Debunking famous hoaxes the novel lifts the lid on a range of commonly misunderstood ailments making an interesting read for anyone, not just for gym junkies.

Don’t Swallow Your Gum: Myths, Half-Truths and Outright Lies about Your Body and Health, Penguin Books; RRP $24.95.