Online news article about medical myths tells people not to finish their antibiotics

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok this article I found online about medical myths really annoyed me...

"Any related myths? That you should always finish your course of antibiotics. It usually makes little difference"

...whaaattt? Great way to give people the wrong advice! ARGH

Taken from:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3774523.ece

Specializes in ICU/ER.

What annoys me more is the lay people who will read this and swear it is the gospel "because I read it!" When it comes time for education it wont matter that a nurse who is registered and has a degree begs to differ.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I thought it was a pretty bad article all around, actually. Not totally 100% inaccurate, but one that might mislead people into overlooking things they should be concerned about.

All headaches aren't high blood pressure nor brain tumors, but I have seen more than 2 or 3 people whose BP actually has caused headache. Besides, there are other things that can cause headache besides BP and tumor.

Same thing with breast and testicle exam. maybe everyone doesn't need to be checking everything all the time, but what if someone does feel something and blows it off with "that article said you really couldn't feel a cancer."

Then the anemia thing...

I suppose my concern with articles like this is that someone who would otherwise get something checked out might decide to shrug it off when they shouldn't.

Specializes in ER.

From the article...

Any related myths? That sex is a form of exercise. In fact, it equates only to climbing two flights of stairs.

Wow. Not only do they not know what they're talking about...they don't know what they're doing either.

Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.

Patients on the internet can drive you crazy. I learned that when a patient argues something they read on the internet that is totally wrong, I always send them to either the CDC or INH websites for "the real story". Both sites can be challenging and involved and rather than admit they could not find the answer, they generally drop the subject.......

Specializes in ED/trauma.
from the article...

"any related myths? that sex is a form of exercise. in fact, it equates only to climbing two flights of stairs."

wow. not only do they not know what they're talking about...they don't know what they're doing either.

i think they took bologna information and turned it into bs!

health information that qualified health agencies (i.e., hospitals) give to patients who've recently suffered heart attacks suggest that individuals should not have intercourse until being able to climb 2 flights of stairs. the climbing is suggestive of whether or not an individual can have intercourse without problems.

the author of this article took that information, flipped it around, and made it indicative fact, though!

bah! :banghead:

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