Medical Myths Exposed

From Nancy Snyderman, the chief medical editor for the “Today Show”:

When it comes to your health, you can’t believe everything you hear. In fact, some advice passed down from your parents – or researched on a website – could actually kill you! Let’s bust open a few medical myths so you can live a longer, healthier life.

• Medical Myth #1: Vaccines are just for kids. Actually, there are very few vaccines that last a lifetime. As people get older, their immune system loses strength – especially after the age of 30. So some adults need “booster shot” vaccines even more than kids do – for diseases like tetanus, influenza, hepatitis A and B, shingles, and even chicken pox.
  Here are some other vaccinations and boosters that adults need:
  - Diphtheria and pertussis (DTP)
  - Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  - Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
  - Pneumococcal vaccine
  - Meningicoccal
  
  
• The next Medical Myth: Anything labeled “natural” must be safe! These days, about 25% of all prescription drugs come from “natural” sources – like trees, plants or herbs. Even aspirin comes from willow trees. A lot of people assume that a natural remedy is better than a drug prescribed by a doctor. Know this: Many “natural” substances are never tested by the FDA. So, if you’re taking any supplements, run them by your doctor to make sure they really are good for you. Remember: Just because something is “natural,” doesn’t make it good or safe. Case in point – both tobacco and arsenic are natural, but can kill you!
  
  
• Here’s a 3rd medical myth you can ignore: Only OLD people have heart attacks and strokes. The truth is, doctors are finding that many people who have heart attacks in their 50s and 60s start showing symptoms as early as their teen years! So, the American Heart Association recommends getting annual heart check-ups starting at age 20.
  
  
• Here’s the #4 medical myth: We’re losing the war on cancer. It’s true that cancer remains the #2 cause of death in the world – behind heart disease. Thanks to research over the past 4 decades, fewer than half the people now diagnosed with cancer will die from it – with many of those people being completely cured! We also know more about how to reduce our risk of getting cancer in the first place.
  
  
• Next medical myth: You can just ‘snap out’ of mental illness. We all hit bumps in the road throughout life, and we all handle these hard times differently. But many of us think people should be able to snap out of depression or anxiety because we don't recognize it as a treatable illness. But in the case of mental health, such attitudes can stand in the way of recognizing when things get off track and when it might be time for measures that help restore joy, energy and purpose to life.
  Here is an encouraging, empowering fact to take to heart: Mental disorders like depression and anxiety are illnesses, and you are no more responsible for them than you would be if you had diabetes — and if you did have diabetes, you would not hesitate to treat it. Mental health problems are not caused by the person suffering from them, either. Certainly, you need to take responsibility for the thoughts, feelings and behaviors associated with the problem, but you are not to blame for them. There is a difference between taking responsibility and accepting blame — and it's important to not confuse the two.
  There is no single cause for mental illness, but factors can include family history, stress, chronic illness, or brain chemical imbalances. Getting professional help will help you with your illness and make you stronger.
  One in five American adults will experience a diagnosable mental illness in their lifetime. In fact, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the Unites States for people ages 15 to 44. According to a study published in the journal Lancet, depression can do more physical damage to someone's health than several long-term diseases.
  
  
• One final myth: Annual checkups are obsolete. Having ourselves checked on a regular basis is a vital step and if we all did it, diseases could be prevented or detected at an early stage, when treatment is most effective. Why? The annual checkup gives us a chance to establish and build a relationship with a doctor — a connection that can prove vital if you are ever ill. The annual checkup also gives your doctor a sense of where your health stands from year to year. This yearly conversation can also be used as a form of self-monitoring regarding your habits and lifestyle and is one of the most important talks you can have. Note: Each annual checkup should be tailored to your own personal needs, your health and your family history.