myths – Hello Doctor

Breast cancer myths and truths

October 10th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Breast cancer is serious, and in South Africa, around 1 in every 31 women will develop it in their lifetime. So it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of fear around the breast cancer issue. Nearly everyone’s received at least one scary email warning about supposed risks, which includes using antiperspirant deodorant and wearing under-wired bras, but how much of this is really true?

The big deodorant question

The good news is there’s no need to stop using antiperspirants or deodorant. There’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that antiperspirant chemicals are absorbed through the skin, block the release of toxins when you sweat, and cause these toxins to build up in the breast. Even the strongest antiperspirant doesn’t completely block sweat, and if it did, sweating isn’t the most efficient way of getting rid of toxins. Most cancer-causing substances are filtered by the kidneys and released through urine or processed by the liver.

Fragrance danger

There are also email claims floating around to suggest that chemicals, such as phthalates and parabens used in fragrances, may also be absorbed from the body and contribute to a higher breast cancer risk. To date, there have been no scientific studies to confirm any relationship, so don’t throw out your perfume.

What about underwired bras?

Most women complain about uncomfortable bras at some point, and then there are those emails talking about underwire bras blocking the drainage of lymph fluid from the bottom of the breast. But what’s the truth?

A well-fitting bra is important for your personal comfort, and that’s it. The consensus is that neither the type of bra you wear nor the tightness of your underwear or other clothing has any connection to breast cancer risk.

What if I’ve had a breast injury?

There’s also no evidence to support a link between breast cancer and a breast injury – like being hit by a flying hockey ball at school.

What are the real risks?

Many people think breast cancer is all about inheriting bad genes, but the reality is that only 20-30% of women have a family history of the disease. One thing you can do to reduce your risk, is to reduce the risks you have control over. This means:

Maintaining a healthy weight for your height/activity levels
Staying active
Stopping smoking and reducing the amount of alcohol you drink

Big or small, treat your breasts as your greatest assets, and look after them!

Myth busting: How much water do you really need to drink?

August 14th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

60% of our bodies might be made up of water, but does that really mean we need to drink at least 8 glasses of it a day? What happens to your body if you don’t drink the right amount? Will your organs shrivel up and die from dehydration? Where did the magic number of “8 glasses” a day come from anyway?

Here’s the truth

We definitely do need to drink water every day, but the exact amount we need varies, depending on your body size, physical activity levels, climate, and the type of food you eat.

The 8-glasses-a-day rule dates back to 1945, and may stem from a misinterpretation – they forgot to add that part of your daily water intake comes from food. In fact, there’s no scientific evidence to suggest that you need to drink more water than what your thirst dictates. Our kidneys work to perfectly balance and regulate our water requirements so that we take in and retain as much fluid as we need.

There are exceptions though

Certain diseases like diabetes can alter your thirst mechanism, and elderly people often have a poorly-regulated thirst mechanism. There are also some situations in which you’ll want to drink a bit more: hot, humid weather causes you to lose more water through sweating, and if you’re sick with a fever or vomiting you’ll lose liquid that way too. Pregnant and breastfeeding women also need to drink more water, as do athletes and people who exercise every day.

The bottom line is; drinking 8 glasses of water a day is certainly a healthy habit, but if you follow your thirst, you won’t go wrong. Remember, pre-modern man never ran around sipping on a water bottle. A dry mouth indicated it was time to run to the stream for a drink, but you get to use a tap!

5 Strange superstitions about your body

January 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s Friday the 13th, and – although we don’t believe in superstitions – many people in the world still do. In fact, in some countries, superstitions are held to even more than science! So, in the spirit of fun, we collected a few interesting superstitions about the body, from around the world.

In Japan, people believe that you shouldn’t clip your nails after the sun goes down. If you do, you will not have a chance to see your parents before they die.
Does your right hand have an itch? Yay! You will soon get unexpected money…but beware – if it’s your left hand, you’ll lose money unexpectedly. (Or, perhaps, you had a mosquito-bite?)
In Europe, there is a superstition that when you dream that one of your teeth is being pulled out, one of your family members will die. (I wonder if this includes in-laws?)
If you’re an unmarried woman in Indonesia, then you shouldn’t wash your hair on Saturdays, or you will marry a very difficult-to-please man.
Living in Canada? Pregnant? Craving fish? Then you better eat some – if you don’t, your baby will be born with the head of a fish!

Is there anything you believe that may be an old wives’ tale? If you want to fact-check, maybe get hold of one of our doctors. We’d be happy to give you the facts.

Where’d this ring on my arm come from?

February 20th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

“A ring is round and never ends, that’s how long we’ll stay friends,” unless it’s ringworm.

Despite the name and what you might think you know about ringworm – it’s not actually a worm that finds its way into your skin! Continue reading “Where’d this ring on my arm come from?”

Four ageing myths for men

August 16th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

In a world that praises youth and beauty, it’s not uncommon to find people who fear ageing. People aren’t always scared of the wrinkles and grey hair, but are scared of losing their body, their sexual desires and developing various conditions and diseases. But the truth is, many of these conditions can affect young men too. Here are just a few misconceptions that men have when it comes to ageing. Continue reading “Four ageing myths for men”

Don’t let fertility myths get you down

May 4th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

The answer to falling pregnant may seem obvious, but thanks to all the unfounded and sometimes downright strange information available these days, many women are confused about their reproductive health.

Continue reading “Don’t let fertility myths get you down”