We live in an age where information is instant. A quick Google search can bring up millions of results in seconds. But along with solid facts, plenty of outdated or misleading ideas keep getting recycled, and far too many people accept them without a second thought.
So when a Reddit user asked doctors to share the medical myths they still hear often, plenty of responses came in. And it’s concerning, because believing the wrong thing about your health can have serious consequences.
Keep reading to see what they had to say—just remember, for real medical advice, always consult a qualified healthcare professional directly.
#1
Biggest myth....that Kennedy knows what he is talking about and will make American healthy again.
48points
#2
YOU DONT NEED ANTIBIOTICS FOR YOUR VIRAL COLD.
46points
#3
Essentially everything RFK says.
41points
#4
As a friend of mine once said, "Even arsenic is all natural".
39points
#5
I'm not a Doctor but I work in end of life care.
So many people think hospice workers are just waiting to k**l their loved ones with morphine.
I've even heard they think we get a bonus if their loved one dies more quickly. This belief is very prevalent amongst older people.
It's incredibly insulting and hurtful.
I've heard it repeated so many times that I have lost my patience with it and have to bite my tongue.
No one is recommending morphine because they want your loved one to die, it's because they can't swallow their pain pills anymore and they're suffering.
End of story.
So many people think hospice workers are just waiting to k**l their loved ones with morphine.
I've even heard they think we get a bonus if their loved one dies more quickly. This belief is very prevalent amongst older people.
It's incredibly insulting and hurtful.
I've heard it repeated so many times that I have lost my patience with it and have to bite my tongue.
No one is recommending morphine because they want your loved one to die, it's because they can't swallow their pain pills anymore and they're suffering.
End of story.
37points
#6
That vaccines do more harm than good.
37points
#7
You know what's unnatural? Eyeglasses. You know what is natural? Being chased down by predators you notice too late.
36points
#8
"Women have been having babies for thousands of years" as a rationale to dismiss risks.
Child birth has incredible risks, most of which are carpet swept under the joy of having kids, and leads to a lot of shock during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Every would-be parent should be assessing the risks before getting pregnant. Not as a deterrent, but as a way to be fully informed as various things can unfold, and how to be ready for them.
Child birth has incredible risks, most of which are carpet swept under the joy of having kids, and leads to a lot of shock during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Every would-be parent should be assessing the risks before getting pregnant. Not as a deterrent, but as a way to be fully informed as various things can unfold, and how to be ready for them.
34points
#9
"Natural" supplements are better and safer than proven medications. Have seen people die with treatable cancer, heart disease, liver failure- or get very sick from these untested products. And they cost a lot. Please be careful.
30points
#10
Not a doctor; that the cervix doesn't have nerves and thus can't feel any pain. I think the overwhelming amount of women who say getting an IUD inserted hurts enough that many have passed out beg to differ.
30points
#11
“The doctor told me I had 6 months to live.” Not that I can blame people for possibly misunderstanding the details of a cancer diagnosis. What the doctor actually is saying is that the median survival is 6 months. Half live more than 6 months and half live less.
This might seem trivial to some of you, but I think this misunderstanding hurts trust in doctors at the exact time they need it most. How many times have you heard something like “The doctor gave me one year to live and I’m still alive 3 years later.” The implication for some being that doctors don’t know what they are talking about.
I have seen too many people forgo effective treatment to do something crazy like smoke marijuana instead of having a bone marrow transplant for their leukemia. And misunderstandings like this are partly to blame.
This might seem trivial to some of you, but I think this misunderstanding hurts trust in doctors at the exact time they need it most. How many times have you heard something like “The doctor gave me one year to live and I’m still alive 3 years later.” The implication for some being that doctors don’t know what they are talking about.
I have seen too many people forgo effective treatment to do something crazy like smoke marijuana instead of having a bone marrow transplant for their leukemia. And misunderstandings like this are partly to blame.
28points
#13
ICU nurse here. This is a new one I just heard today. A patient’s family member asked me if the blood we were giving the patient had been screened to make sure it wasn’t high pressure blood. I didn’t delve into what they meant by that .
27points
#14
You can catch a cold by being outside in the cold and wet without a jacket on. Or catch a cold just by sitting around in wet clothes.
25points
#15
You need to drink 8 cups/2 liters/whatever of water a day to be healthy. There is no such evidence-based recommendation. The best science says to drink to your thirst.
24points
#16
**Myth 1**: going to bed with your hair wet will make you sick.
It doesn’t. It can lead to hair damage and headaches, but it doesn’t make you sick.
**Myth 2**: you don’t need to take your whole antibiotic regimen, you can stop when your symptoms stop.
For the love of god, please don’t do this. Please always finish your entire antibiotic regimen as directed, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
It doesn’t. It can lead to hair damage and headaches, but it doesn’t make you sick.
**Myth 2**: you don’t need to take your whole antibiotic regimen, you can stop when your symptoms stop.
For the love of god, please don’t do this. Please always finish your entire antibiotic regimen as directed, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
24points
#17
The ivermectin is better for cancer than standard therapies myth is growing. And whenever a patient shows data it’s always cell culture data.
23points
#19
Less a myth. More a lack of education. Hydrogen peroxide is decent for using at initial wound cleansing. Repeated use actually resets the healing process. Most don’t know this.
22points
#20
Teeth are luxury bones and that's why insurance doesn't cover them. Teeth are not just cosmetic they are also needed. Without teeth the ability to chew food properly diminishes, leading to potential nutritional deficiencies and digestive problems. Not having teeth also causes bone loss in the jaw and speech problems. Not to mention all the trouble that comes with an infected tooth. They can and will k**l you without treatment.
22points