Another post (about stupid things patients say) made me think about this, I don't know if it's been posted before. But I have an elderly family member who says these things (and will not hear otherwise):
1) Having a baby at 7 months is better than having it at 8 months. My doctor told me something happens in the 8th month and if the process is disturbed it's bad for the baby. (I told her I've learned that every day in the womb is better for the baby, but she insists that's not the case).
2) Her breastmilk turned "to water" when her daughter was 3 months old and it was no longer good for her to breastfeed (I mentioned that babies go through a growth spurt at that time, but she insists, her Dr told her the breastmilk turned to water).
Makes you wonder about these docs back then huh? I know they probably did the best with their knowlege, but some people won't accept any new advice, if their doctor said it in 1940 it must be true huh? Any other favorite wives tales?
Specializes in LTC, AC, ER, Outpatient, Urgent Care.
I love misconceptions about BPs.
Frequently, I have a patient whose BP is high, and they'll say, "No it's not - you're supposed to add your age to 100 and that's what your top number is supposed to be." I had one guy get irate and ask me where I went to school.
BP 98/60 - patient panics - "That CANT be right! That's WAY too low!"
When asking about med compliance ( when the BP is like 220/110) - many patients tell me, "Oh I only take that pill when I get a headache."
maybe this one's already been posted: Running will make a woman's organs drop. Another favorite- Running in cold weather will cause pneumonia from breathing in the cold air.
How about the one about a nosebleed? Put bread under the top lip (between the lip and the teeth to stop a nosebleed.
I hadn't heard of the bread but as a kid I had frequent nose bleeds and it was usually "put a cold wet rag behind your neck and lean your head back". Ended up wiith a headache too. Plus people swear that blood will make you vomit if you swollow it, never did to me.
They also shave the baby's head when it is a certain age (like 2 or 3 year old) to make it's hair grow in thick and strong.
Lots and lots of other ones from India....
people still do this in African communities as well. A little girl at my kids preschool was shaved once a year for a couple of years or so, and she had very thick hair (until they covered her head in extentions, looks painful :uhoh21: )
When I was about 12 I had a boil on my elbow. Had it for a while before I finally showed it to my dad and he said it was a boil. Went into the kitchen to heat up a little milk, soaked a piece of bread in the hot milk and slapped it on the boil and wrapped it. Next morning the core popped and started draining and it was gone within days. Dad swore it had to be white bread and hot milk, but now I know it was just the heat that drew the head up.
When I was pregnant everyone told me I was having a girl because I carried wide instead of out front. Little One is a girl.
my granma :heartbeat , swore eating the crusts of bread gave you curly hair. As a wee girl with straight hair i always ate them, what do you know! now i'm a whole lot bigger, and i have mad curly hair!!! ( But then so did my Granma, my uncles, my daughter etc!, maybe just a family trait?) NO , it must have been that we all ate the whole of that bread!!!
And dont sit on a cold step, you'll get piles!!
My parents told me this one too - I have really really curly hair!!
my grandmother always told me if you eat salt it'll dry your blood up and you'll die. also the one about eating watermelon seeds and gaining weight due to the watermelon growing inside your stomach
theofficegirl
34 Posts
I love misconceptions about BPs.
Frequently, I have a patient whose BP is high, and they'll say, "No it's not - you're supposed to add your age to 100 and that's what your top number is supposed to be." I had one guy get irate and ask me where I went to school.
BP 98/60 - patient panics - "That CANT be right! That's WAY too low!"
When asking about med compliance ( when the BP is like 220/110) - many patients tell me, "Oh I only take that pill when I get a headache."