When it comes to health and wellness, there have always been many folk tales and home remedies. However, experts point out that some of the wellness habits you take for granted and have been using all along are actually wrong! Here are the top ten common misconceptions about health, and let's correct them one by one today!
Mistake One: Tilt your head back when you have a nosebleed.
The only benefit of this method is that it prevents the blood from dripping on the floor, but it doesn't stop the bleeding. Instead, it makes the blood flow down your throat, which can even cause vomiting and suffocation. The correct way is to plug the bleeding nostril with a small cotton ball, press the side of your nose gently, and lean your head forward. You can also stop the bleeding by wrapping an ice pack or a wet towel around your neck.
Mistake Two: Brushing your hair 100 times a day is good for your health.
Excessive brushing stimulates the sebaceous glands on the scalp. People with oily hair should brush it less. If you have long, dry hair, it's more suitable to brush it more often. However, it's best to use a brush made of natural bristles, as it is less likely to damage the scalp.
Mistake Three: Shaving your armpits reduces sweating.
Shaving your armpits has no effect on preventing sweat production. On the contrary, after shaving, the discharged moisture in the armpits has nowhere to hide, leaving sweat stains on your clothes. Moreover, shaving can easily cause folliculitis. The correct approach is to wash your sweaty armpits before the sweat decomposes.
Mistake Four: Sweat is smelly.
Sweat itself has no odor. However, sweat contains many organic substances that are nutrients for bacteria. It is only when these bacteria break down the sweat that they produce smelly waste products.
Mistake Five: Brush your teeth immediately after a meal.
Brushing your teeth right after eating will allow the acids in the food to erode the enamel, which only enhances the destructive effect of the acid on your teeth. The correct way is to rinse your mouth first and brush your teeth half an hour later.
Mistake Six: The effects of drugs are the same for men and women.
The latest research shows that the effects of drugs are absolutely different for men and women. For example, aspirin can help men prevent heart attacks, but it is not very effective for women. For fat-soluble drugs like anesthetics, women require a higher dosage than men.
Mistake Seven: Walking consumes more energy than standing.
This is because when you stand, both of your legs are constantly supporting your body weight, and neither foot can relax. When you walk, however, one leg bears the weight while the other is resting.
Mistake Eight: People with sweet blood are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes cannot smell blood. But they are very sensitive to heat and can even detect a difference of 0.05 degrees Celsius. Therefore, when we exhale carbon dioxide and water vapor, we attract mosquitoes.
Mistake Nine: The toilet is a very unhygienic place.
A frequently cleaned toilet is much cleaner than people's stereotypes suggest. Experts in home bacteria research have found that most of the bacteria in a home are hidden in the drain of the refrigerator's interior wall, and the amount of bacteria on a dishcloth is also more than that in the toilet.
Mistake Ten: Smart people have bigger heads.
The size of the brain is not the key to determining intelligence; the brain's structure is most important. The function of the human brain is determined by its neural network. People with low IQs are so because some functions in this network have died off, which has nothing to do with the size of their brains.
How about it? Are you surprised after reading this? It turns out that these common misconceptions, which have been deeply rooted in our minds, are actually wrong. Correct them quickly to avoid causing greater harm.