25 health myths exposed

Fact or fabrication? When it comes to health, there's a lot of "information" floating around on the grapevine, and not all of it is recognizable for what it is - which may be anything from truth to half-truth to nothing-like-the-truth. Which of these medical "facts" do you believe?

1. If you're pregnant and carrying a male fetus, it will "show high."
Here's another one: suspend a pregnant woman's wedding ring on a thread over her belly. If the ring swings in a circle, it's a girl; if it swings in a straight line, it's a boy. Or there's the belief that if you're having a lot of morning sickness during the first trimester, you're carrying a girl. These are all fun ways to guess the sex of the unborn baby but they're nothing more than games. How you carry your baby has nothing to do with gender. In fact, you may find that even in a family that is all girls or all boys, the babies all carried differently before they were born.

2. You're guaranteed to lose weight on a low-fat diet.
Although you're wise to cut your fat intake, low-fat is not necessarily low-calorie. Once upon a time, a low-fat diet was one that consisted of a lot of fruits, vegetables and fibre-rich foods. It was easy to lose weight then because these foods not only are low-calorie but also fill you up. However, things have changed and supermarket shelves are now flooded with low-fat products, such as cookies and muffins, that are often high in calories from sugar. Low-fat processed foods don't contain the nutrients and fibre found in low-fat whole foods. As a result, you may feel hungry soon after eating them. To lose weight, you need to cut calories and increase your physical activity as well as cut your fat intake.

3. Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your vision.
Being close to the TV won't ruin your eyesight, but sitting less than 1.5 metres from the set can tire the muscles that focus the lens of the eye, resulting in eyestrain and tired eyes that burn and water. Make sure you sit far enough from the TV set, have enough light in the room and give your eyes a break by refocusing your gaze during commercial breaks.

4. Herbs are harmless because they're natural.
While many herbs have been around for centuries, it's only recently that some of the problems associated with their use have come to light; for instance, kava — popular for its ability to reduce anxiety — has now been shown to be toxic to the liver. Ginkgo leaf extracts, promoted to improve mental clarity and treat dementia and peripheral vascular disease, are known to cause headaches, nausea and diarrhea. Echinacea, St. John's wort, German chamomile and ginkgo biloba have been reported to cause allergic reactions. It's a good idea to tell your family physician about any "natural" products or supplements you're taking — or considering taking — to find out whether they're compatible with your health needs and other medications you may already be taking.

5. Everyone should take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) every day to prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Yes, if you've already had a heart attack or stroke. Studies show that taking ASA daily can reduce the risk of having another heart attack by 25 per cent. As a result, ASA has become a standard treatment for many types of heart disease and stroke and is an important part of emergency treatment for a heart attack that's in progress. However, researchers have yet to determine whether ASA can prevent a first heart attack or stroke, and for people who are perfectly healthy, the risk of gastrointestinal upset — even bleeding — can be significant. Bottom line? Always check with your physician before embarking on any drug therapy, including taking ASA each day to prevent a heart attack or stroke.