Medical fact or fiction? The most awkward myths

Without a medical degree, distinguishing medical fact from fiction can be a real challenge. It turns out that even medical doctors have difficulty with widely accepted medical maxims, supposedly considered axioms. A study in the British Medical Journal highlighted medical myths that doctors often accept as truth.

"The problem is that a lot of people take what [doctors] say as gospel, but sometimes it has absolutely no scientific backing," says Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis and co-author of the study.

Using mobile phones in hospitals is dangerous

Despite the signs in most emergency rooms, studies have found little to no significant impact of cell phones on medical devices. In 2010, the Mayo Clinic performed 510 tests using 16 medical devices and six cell phones. The incidence of clinically important interference was only 1.2 percent.

A study of cell phones conducted in early 2011 found no effect in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms.

Fingernails and hair grow after death

“Growing hair and fingernails is a very complex hormonal task,” says Carroll, “which cannot occur after the person has died.” So how did this myth come about? It could occur because after death the skin begins to shrink, which may look like nails growing out.

What are the most ridiculous myths about health and the human body that we know? Share information with us - we will laugh or be sad together.