Busting Some Old-Wives' Tales - Medical Myths For The Holiday Season

ScienceDaily - December 26 2008

In a study published in the Christmas 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal, Aaron Carroll, M.D., M.S., and Rachel Vreeman, M.D., M.S., of the Indiana University School of Medicine, explore the science behind six myths commonly associated with the holidays yet relevant year-round.

   1. Sugar makes kids hyperactive.
   2. Suicides increase over the holidays.
   3. Poinsettias are toxic.
   4. You lose most of your body heat through your head.
   5. Eating at night makes you fat.
   6. You can cure a hangover with…

These beliefs are commonly accepted as true, not only by the general public, but also by many physicians. To the surprise of the authors, who are health services researchers with the Indiana University Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research, the Regenstrief Institute, and Indiana Children's Health Services Research, they found all six myths to be false or unsupported by medical research.

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