Файл: Medical_Myths_Lies_and_Half-Truths_guidebook.pdf

98

Glossary

disorder

:

A condition characterized by the lack or impairment of a function 

usually possessed by healthy individuals and resulting in demonstrable harm. 
A disorder is distinguished from a disease, which has a speci

¿

 c demonstrable 

pathology (Lecture 13).

dying in dreams

: Although there is a common belief that dying in one’s 

dream will cause one to die in real life, there is no evidence to support this. 
Dreaming of dying is not uncommon, and if someone did in fact die from a 
dream they would not live to tell about it. Even if later revived, they would 
likely not remember the event, given that the process of dying and being 
resuscitated would likely lead to brain anoxia and therefore lack of memory 
of the event (Lecture 24). 

facilitated communication (FC)

: FC is a disproven technique developed 

in the 1980s involving a facilitator who will aid a client who is not able 
to communicate on their own by “helping” them move their hand across a 
keyboard or other pointing device. Early popularity among therapists gave 
way to carefully controlled scienti

¿

 c studies that clearly indicated that 

the facilitator was doing all the communication, not the client. FC is now 
known as an example of the ideomotor effect in which a person makes small 
subconscious muscle movements, such as during the operation of a ouija 
board. Despite scienti

¿

 c evidence that FC does not work and is a deception, 

it remains in use by fringe practitioners (Lecture 20).

fats

: Fats, or lipids, are one of the macronutrients from which we derive 

much of our calories (energy) and are also essential building blocks for life. 
However, too much of the wrong kinds of fats can increase disease risk, 
especially vascular risk. So-called “good” fats are monounsaturated and 
polyunsaturated fats that increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The 
term HDL refers to the size of fat globules in the blood, and they are “good” 
because they shuttle fat and cholesterol from the lining of blood vessels to the 
liver. “Bad” fats are saturated fats and trans-fats which increase low-density 
lipoprotein (LDL) levels. LDL contributes to fat and cholesterol deposition 
in the blood vessels (Lecture 4).

99

fever

: A fever is an abnormal increase in body temperature. 98.6° F is not the 

normal temperature for everyone; that number is based merely on an average 
computed in the 19

th

 century.

There is a range of normal body temperature, 

and the cutoff for a

fever is a temperature over 100 degrees F. Most fevers do 

not pose any health risk (unless they are very high, 107 degree F or greater), 
and therefore the only need to treat them is for comfort (Lecture 9).

À

 u vaccine

: The 

À

 u is a severe upper respiratory infection caused by various 

strains of in

À

 uenza virus. Vaccines made from either attenuated or inactivated 

versions of 

À

 u viruses have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of 

getting the 

À

 u and morbidity from the 

À

 u. Despite some claims, 

À

 u vaccines 

do not contain aborted fetal cells (Lecture 10).

genetically modi

¿

 ed (GM) food

:

Genetically modi

¿

 ed food refers to 

cultivars of edible plant and animal species that are the result of direct genetic 
manipulation. This involves either inserting a gene from another variety, or 
even species, or modifying existing genes. Critics claim that GM foods are 
inherently risky and have not been adequately safety tested. Supporters point 
out that all foods consumed by humans have been substantially modi

¿

 ed 

over centuries and millennia with breeding and cultivation, and GM simply 
speeds up this process (Lecture 5). 

hangover:

 Hangover refers to a set of symptoms, including headache, 

dehydration, and nausea, caused by the after effects of alcohol toxicity, and is 
the target of many popular, but untrue, preventions and remedies (Lecture 1). 

head injury

: A head injury serious enough to cause unconsciousness is also 

likely to cause long term or even permanent brain injury (called traumatic 
brain injury). Unlike in the movies, someone suffering a blow to the head 
that causes unconsciousness does not simply revive minutes or hours later 
with no long-term impairment (Lecture 20). 

heat loss through head

: This notion is inaccurately based on the idea that 

heat rises (heat has no tendency to rise, although some hotter 

À

 uids, like air, 

will rise above relatively cooler 

À

 uids). Heat is lost through entire surface 

area of skin through radiation and evaporation, and is affected by various 
factors, including blood perfusion and exposure (Lecture 24).

100

Glossary

herbal treatments

: Herbs have been used for millennia as drugs and 

remedies, and are an important source of modern drug development 
(pharmacognasy). However, while they are used for their pharmacological 
effects, they are often poorly regulated as dietary supplements (Lecture 14).

hiccups

: A hiccup is an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm resulting 

in a sharp intake of air followed by a glottal stop. There are countless folk 
remedies, none of which work but may appear effective because most 
hiccups stop even without intervention (Lecture 1).

HIV 

and

 HIV prevention

: The human immunode

¿

 ciency virus (HIV) 

is the virus which causes the acquired immunode

¿

 ciency  syndrome 

(AIDS). Preventing the spread of HIV is a major goal of the world’s health 
organizations. Their efforts are sometimes hampered by myths about HIV 
and prevention, including the myth that HIV is not the true cause of AIDS 
(Lecture 23).

homeopathic products

: Homeopathy is a prescienti

¿

 c medical philosophy 

dating from the late 18

th

 century. Its premises or “laws” are fanciful and not 

supported by modern science. They include using substances diluted to the 
point where not even a single molecule remains. Claims for homeopathic 
products have been shown in clinical trials to be no different from placebos. 
Homeopathy does not refer to herbal or natural remedies (Lecture 15).

honey

: Honey is highly concentrated 

À

 ower nectar made by honeybees. Its 

extremely low moisture content makes it an effective antiseptic for wounds 
(Lecture 12).

hormones in meat and dairy

: Natural and synthetic hormones are used to 

increase growth and production. Small amounts can be found in beef, slightly 
more in eggs and dairy, but overall levels of added hormones are much less 
than naturally occurring hormones in people and animals. There is no current 
evidence for adverse health effects (Lecture 5). 

See also

 antibiotics

.

hyperactivity

: Although normal in children to some extent, increased 

hyperactivity is considered a disorder and may occur with or without 
attention de

¿

 cit. Hyperactivity is often erroneously linked to food as the 

101

cause, particularly sugar, caffeine, or preservatives but scienti

¿

 c studies do 

not support a causal link (Lecture 7). 

hypnosis

: Hypnosis is not a trance but rather a state of heightened alertness 

and suggestibility. People are capable of lying when hypnotized. Hypnosis 
does not grant access to otherwise forgotten memories and, in fact, may result 
in the formation of false memories. There is evidence to support medical 
use of hypnosis for pain, blood pressure, stress management, and muscle 
relaxation—essentially using hypnosis as a form of relaxation (Lecture 19). 

infrared lasers

: Infrared lasers refer to coherent light in the infrared 

spectrum, which is ef

¿

 cient at transferring heat. They are legitimately used 

to relax muscles, which is a response to the heating effect (Lecture 18).

ionized water

: All water contains ions of H+ and OH- in a steady state. The 

balance of these ions in water determine the water’s pH. Technically pH is 
a logarithmic scale of the H+ concentration in water, with a pH of 7 being 
neutral, less than 7 being acidic, and greater than 7 being alkaline or basic. 
So called “ionized” water has no health bene

¿

 t over nonionized water. The 

term “ionized water” is not an accepted scienti

¿

 c term but rather is used in 

marketing. Pure water always has a pH of 7 and cannot be “ionized.” Water 
may contain ions of other substances, and it is they that make water acidic or 
alkaline. There is no health bene

¿

 t to consuming “ionized” or alkaline water, 

as is sometimes claimed (Lecture 2).

iridology:

 Iridology is a form of diagnosis based on the false notion that the 

colors and 

À

 ecks in the iris of the eye are connected to all parts of the body 

and re

À

 ect the health or disease state of the body. Practitioners therefore 

claim to infer a person’s state of health by looking at the iris. This idea, 
however, is not based on any known anatomy or physiology, nor is there any 
evidence for its claims (Lecture 19). 

irradiated foods

: Irradiated foods are those that have been treated by passing 

radiation through them in order to kill any bacteria or other organisms. The 
food is therefore sterilized, which greatly reduces spoilage and extends safe 
shelf-life. Irradiated foods are not radioactive (Lecture 5).

102

Glossary

kidney stones

: Kidney stones are formed from solid concretions or small 

crystals forming from substances dissolved in urine. Some individuals 
are predisposed to kidney stones due to genetics or certain medications or 
chronic medical conditions. Drinking enough 

À

 uid helps keep the urine 

dilute and washes out any small crystals or concretions before they form into 
stone (Lecture 2).

knuckle cracking

:

Knuckle cracking is the process of making a popping 

sound by stretching the joints, thereby expanding the synovial 

À

 uid which 

forms bubbles that then “pop.” This activity has not been linked to arthritis; 
but in one study was shown to be associated with some loss of strength in the 
hands, perhaps due to lax ligaments (Lecture 24). 

locked-in syndrome

:

Locked-in syndrome is a syndrome in which a person 

is mostly paralyzed but still fully conscious. This may result, for example, 
from a brainstem stroke or other injury that causes a person to be paralyzed 
everywhere except for some remaining eye movement. Some patients who 
are locked in may communicate by blinking their eyes or by computer 
tracking of their gaze (Lecture 20). 

low fat versus low carb

:

See

 dieting.

magnets

:

Most magnets are permanent magnets, which are made by 

ferromagnetic material, like iron, being exposed to a magnetic 

¿

 eld while 

being stroked or struck. Static magnets, like refrigerator magnets, have a 
static (unchanging) magnetic 

¿

 eld. There is no demonstrated biological 

effect or medical bene

¿

 t for static magnets, despite centuries of products 

with such claims. Dynamic magnets, however (such as electromagnets with 
an alternating magnetic 

¿

 eld), do have biological effects and may have 

potential bene

¿

 t for migraine and other indications (Lecture 18). 

See also

cell phones 

and

 copper.

meditation

: Meditation is a self-induced state of relaxation. This may be 

achieved through self-re

À

 ection, rhythmic chanting, or “mental silence.” 

There is no consensus on a more speci

¿

 c neurological de

¿

 nition. Meditation 

is useful medically to achieve relaxation, reduce pain, and lower blood