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32 WWW.UNWLA.ORG “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛИСТОПАД 2016 MEDICAL MYTHS DEBUNKED by Ihor Magun, M.D., FACP We frequently come across medical recommendations and advice. Much of this information is helpful, but this month’s article addresses some common medical myths that should be clarified or rejected. Myth : Green nasal mucus is a sign of a bacterial infection. Fact : For most of us, an examination of the contents of a paper tissue after blowing your nose invariably provides a variable range of colors, especially green. The color of the mucus is not, for the most part, due to bacteria. In fact, when someone has a cold, white blood cells called neutrophils accumulate in the na- sal area. These neutrophils contain a greenish-colored enzyme that changes clear mucus to green mucus. In addition, if mucus is thick, it can also have a greenish color. These are not a sign of bacterial infection. Myth : Ingestion of vitamin tablets is the sure way to get the "recommended daily requirement." Fact : The medical response to this assertion is “yes and no.” All the claims that ingesting a particular vit- amin provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals from A to Z are not completely true. If this was the case, the vitamin tablet would be so large you could not swallow it. The truth is that most of the tablets do not provide adequate levels of vitamin D and calcium or miss some other important vitamins alto- gether. This does not mean that they are not helpful, it simply means they don’t do enough. Nevertheless, growing children, pregnant women, elderly persons, and individuals who have eating issues and/or in- testinal problems, or people who have had surgery for obesity, should not stop taking these vitamin sup- plements. For the rest of us, as you probably already know, the best source of vitamins is from food sources that are rich in the recommended minerals and vitamins. Myth : Normal human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Fact : Body temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. In most people, temperature is characteristically lower in the morning and typically increases throughout the day by about one degree. Fever is a concern if it is 100 or greater. The environment, hydration level, age, and exertion all play a role in influencing temperature. Slight deviations from the 98.6 (lower or higher) are normal and of no significant concern. Myth : Sinusitis is always treated with antibiotics. Fact : Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. Symptoms include thick nasal mucus, congestion, fever, sore throat, or cough. Most sinus infections are of viral origin and do not require antibiotics. Antibiotics are warranted only if symptoms last more than ten days or if someone feels worse after feeling better. Treatment with antibiotics does not shorten the duration of viral sinusitis. Myth : Flu vaccination prevents all flu infections. Fact : The annual influenza vaccination protects only against several strains that come from Asia and change every year. The vaccine does not prevent the common flu. Myth : All probiotics are the same and everyone should increase their intake. Fact : Probiotics are a new trend in food supplements, but if there are no digestive or other medical issues that warrant their use, ingesting probiotics may not be necessary or helpful. Here are a few tips for those who do need them. (a) If a probiotic is in capsule form, make sure it is coated. If uncoated, the stomach acid will kill most of the strains before they get a chance to work. (b) Make sure the capsule has at least a billion CFU (colony forming units) per dose. (c) Check the expiration date because proper stability and efficacy drop significantly if the probiotic is ingested past the labeled time frame. It is more beneficial to consume naturally occurring probiotics like yogurt and fermented foods such as sauerkraut and pickled produce. Myth : You must drink eight to ten glasses of water daily. Fact : Good hydration is always crucial and frequently ignored. The ideal amount of liquids to be ingested all depends on a number of facts: ambient temperature, exercise activity, quantity of salt ingested in meals, diuretic use, caffeine intake, and even bowel issues (diarrhea). One very simple way to check your level of hydration is to take a look at your urine. If it is dark yellow, you need to increase your liquid in-
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