It’s summertime! That means time for fun in the sun, staying up late and vacationing. Today I quizzed my favorite KTLA anchors on common summer medical myths. See how many you get right. Have a healthy and safe summer! Dr. Tanya
You must wait 30 minutes after eating before you can safely swim.
FALSE
I do remember my grandmother telling me this when I was a child. The theory was that you could suffer severe muscle cramps and possibly drown from swimming on a full stomach. While it’s true that more blood circulates towards the stomach when you are digesting food and somewhat away from the muscles, the fact is there has never been a documented episode of drowning caused by swimming on a full stomach. Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the American Red Cross makes any specific recommendations about waiting any amount of time after eating before swimming. As with any exercise after eating, swimming right after a big meal might be uncomfortable, but it won’t cause you to drown.
You should urinate on a jellyfish sting.
FALSE
I remember the episode of friends that popularized this myth. Aside from the gross factor, urinating on a jellyfish sting doesn’t usually help and may even make the pain worse. It really depends on the species of jellyfish and there are over 100 types. When a jellyfish stings you, the tentacles remain in your skin and can still release venom, that’s what causes the pain. It is important to remove jellyfish tentacles promptly, and the best way is to wash them off in seawater and brush them off using a plastic object (such as a credit card). Don’t immerse the wound in cool fresh water or rub the wound because this may cause the tentacles to fire more venom. Even dead jellyfish tentacles can still release venom.
What should you do to help the pain? Scientific studies show that hot water immersion is effective for jellyfish stings, especially for the two species common to North America and Hawaii.
Poison oak rash is contagious.
FALSE
Poison Oak rash cannot be spread or caught from a family member or friend, even if you directly touch the rash or the blisters. The rash, which can be miserably itchy, is a reaction to the oil found in the plant. So you have to touch the plant itself, or get the oil on your skin. The oil can stick to clothes or pets and even under your fingernails, so that’s another way it can spread. The oil penetrates your skin very quickly, so it’s best to wash your skin as quickly as possible with cold water. Also wash, clothes, shoes and even your dog if he was out hiking with you. The rash can take a day to a week to present, which is often why people think it’s contagious, because the first part of your skin that came into contact may react first and then other areas of your skin that didn’t come into contact with as much of the oil, or thicker areas of skin, may react a day or two later. As always, if it’s severe or you have any swelling or spreading redness or pus, see your doctor.
Going back and forth from cold air conditioning to hot summer air can make you sick.
FALSE
Ducking into an air-conditioned room on a hot day will not make you sick. Viruses or other germs cause infections. So it’s more likely that you caught that cold from touching the doorknob or other surfaces that viruses live on in that nice air-conditioned room. So remember to watch your hands frequently, even during the summer.
Air-conditioned cold air is less humid than warm summer air and can dry out the lining of your nose and make some people with allergies more susceptible to allergic symptoms such as an itchy, runny nose. Also, just the cold air itself can irritate the eyes, nose or lungs in some people and cause a runny nose or cough (but not an infection) in many people.
Taking daily vitamins (B1) can help prevent mosquito bites.
TRUE
I say true, but other medical professionals may say it’s a myth. In certain people, taking B1 is believed to put an odor on their skin that some mosquitoes don’t like. I get eaten alive by mosquitoes on summer nights and when I take B1 it dramatically decreases the number of bites I get. That said, even though it works on me, my family and many of my patients, scientific studies have not shown B1 it to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes aren’t only a nuisance, but their bites can transmit serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and west nile virus, so you can’t rely on B1 alone to protect you, especially if you are travelling to areas where these diseases are common. In such cases you must cover yourself with clothing and use a mosquito repellant with DEET, Picaridin or Permetherin to prevent mosquito bites and the serious diseases they carry.
Using the highest SPF you can find is best.
FALSE
The difference in sun protection between SPF 30 and SPF 100 is not that great and there isn’t good data that demonstrates that products with an SPF higher than 50 provide additional protection compared to products with an SPF of 50, which is why the FDA now requires that SPF values higher than 50 be labeled as “SPF50+”
What’s more important than the number is that you reapply often and use plenty. Remember that there is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen, so what you want to look for when buying sunscreen is an SPF of at least 30, broad spectrum (UVA and UVB), water resistant, use lots and reapply frequently, especially after swimming and sweating.
Kids are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after age 3 or 4.
FALSE
This used to be considered true because there wasn’t any scientific evidence that swim lessons under age 4 prevented drowning or resulted in better swim skills, and there was a concern parents would become less vigilant about supervising a child who had learned some swimming skills. But a few years ago, new evidence showed that children ages 1 to 4 may be less likely to drown if they have had formal swimming instruction, so the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their recommendations.
Now it is recommended that all kids learn to swim anytime after age 1, depending on when your child is ready. But it’s important to note that swim lessons are only one of the layers of protection needed to prevent drowning. In addition, all pools should be completely surrounded by a fence at least 4 feet high that is self-closing and latching. This alone can cut drowning risk in half. For young children, practice touch supervision, which means an adult should always be within arms reach and have their eyes and attention focused on the child.
If your child has a bloody nose, they should tilt their head back to make it stop?
FALSE
Tilting your head back will cause the blood to run down the back of your throat, you will likely swallow it and swallowed blood may irritate your stomach and cause vomiting.
What you should do? Sit up straight and tip your head slightly forward. Use your thumb and forefinger to firmly pinch the soft part of your nose shut. Hold the squeeze for 10 minutes. Use a clock and don’t peak. Peaking can disrupt the forming clot and then you have to start over again. Check to see if your nose is still bleeding after 10 minutes. If it is, hold it for 10 more minutes. Most nosebleeds will stop after 10 to 20 minutes of direct pressure. You can also apply an ice pack to your nose and cheeks. Cold will constrict the blood vessels and help stop the bleeding. And it’s a good idea to rest for a few hours after a nosebleed. If you can’t stop the bleeding, or you have recurrent nose bleeds, see your doctor.
You can squeeze out a bee sting.
TRUE
Until recently, it was advised that bee stingers should be scraped off using a credit card or fingernail, never by pinching or using tweezers. This was because it was believed that pinching or squeezing the stinger would force more venom into the skin. But a study last year concluded the main factor in determining the amount of venom injected was how long the stinger remained in place, not the method of removal.
So my advice is to remove the stinger quickly, wash the area with soap and water and closely observe for any signs of a local reaction or allergic reaction. How can you tell the difference between a local reaction or a more serious allergic reaction? If the reaction is in the same location as the sting (you get stung on your arm and you have a rash and swelling on that arm), then that is a local reaction. Treat with ice, ibuprofen and an antihistamine. But if you have a reaction anywhere else on your body (you get stung on your arm, but have a rash on your face, swelling in your throat or trouble breathing), then that is an allergic reaction and must be treated right away with an antihistamine and epinephrine if you have been prescribed it. Call 9-1-1 immediately for signs of anaphylaxis such as trouble breathing, dizziness or throat swelling.
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