Medical Myths

Posted by Kathy Quan Jul 9, 2008

Here are a few medical myths which should be dispelled:

You can swallow your tongue during a seizure. The truth is the tongue in anyone experiencing a seizure or even someone who is actively dying may fall backwards in the mouth especially if the person is lying on his/her back. But the frenulum linguae will prevent the person from actually swallowing the tongue.

Putting butter on a burn will ease the pain and help it heal. In reality, the butter or any greasy substance will just hold the heat in and make the burn worse. It can also introduce bacteria and cause infection. A non-chemical burn should be treated by running cool water over the burned area. Don’t use ice or ice water. Chemical burns and burns that blister or cover large areas of the body need immediate professional care.

Feed a cold, starve a fever. Many people who experience symptoms of a cold or fever may have no appetite or desire to eat or drink.. In both instances however, fluids are important to prevent dehydration. Warm soup such as chicken soup can help to open nasal passages and let the person breathe easier. This will help the patient to rest, which along with fluids, is very important to recuperating from a cold or fever. Feed them both and drink plenty of fluids.