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I'm very slim, so I needn't worry about my heart. Only those over 50 years old get cataracts. Cancer is contagious. True? We sort out the facts from the pulp.
Contact lenses will prevent my myopia from getting worse.
MYTH So far, there has been no good scientific evidence that contact lens use prevents myopia, or shortsightedness, from progressing.
LASIK does not always improve eyesight.
MYTH LASIK done appropriately in suitable candidates will always improve the unaided vision of the person.
"Unaided vision" means not wearing glasses or contact lenses. However, not all eyes may attain perfect 6/6 vision if the myopia or astigmatism is very high. Each case needs an ophthalmologist to assess the chances of success.
Sitting too close to the TV is bad for a child's eyes.
TRUTH A young child's eyes are still developing and he may get myopia earlier if he spends excessive time in "near" activities, like using computers, reading or sitting too close to a TV.
Do these in moderation and strike a balance by making useof opportunities to participate in outdoor activities.
Only those over 50 years old get cataracts.
MYTH There are patients aged 30 to 50 who get cataracts. This may be due to high myopia, family history, excessive UV light exposure, medical illness or trauma to the eye. But the most common type does occur after 50 and this is due to ageing.
Cataracts can be removed only when they are "ripe".
MYTH With more advanced technology and techniques, eye surgeons can remove cataracts before they get "ripe" - as when the whole eye has clouded over - as was the case in the past. Cataract surgery can be considered when the patient feels his/her daily activities are disturbed by the poor vision caused by the cataract.
Most heart attack patients are male, so a woman's risk is low.
DEPENDS In general, the risk of heart attack is higher in a man than in a woman. However, the risk factors for women increases after menopause. By about five to 10 years following menopause, the risk for coronary heart disease for women increases to almost the same rate as men. In addition, if the woman has underlying risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, her risk of heart disease is the same as that of a man.
Heart attacks should worry me only after 50, after menopause.
MYTH No, atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) is a progressive disease that starts young, so it is essential to lead a healthy lifestyle. Eating sensibly, not smoking and exercising regularly are some ways that can help you prevent this disease and lower your risk.
Chest pain is always a symptom of a heart attack.
MYTH Although heart attacks are typically heralded by crushing or heavy central chest discomfort that may involve the arm or jaw that lasts for more than 20 minutes and can be associated with vomiting, sweatiness or breathlessness, there are exceptions to this rule. This is especially so for the elderly or diabetics in whom giddiness, abdominal discomfort, or backache may be present.
I'm very slim, so I needn't worry about my heart.
MYTH In general, being overweight does increase your chances of having a heart attack, so every person is encouraged to maintain an appropriate body weight. However, regardless of your body weight, you are still at risk if you have high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure, or if you smoke. |
The only surgery for the heart is cardiac bypass.
MYTH There are numerous cardiac surgical procedures, not just a cardiac bypass. It would depend on what the problem is. For instance, tumours may need excision; trauma, for instance a stab wound to the heart, requires surgical repair; heart failure could necessitate a heart transplant or the insertion of a mechanical heart assist device or pacemaker. These are just a few examples. For more information, visit http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/
journalsandbooks/books/index.html. It lists books suitable for the layman. Cancer is contagious.
MYTH Cancer is NOT contagious. Cancer that has already developed in one person cannot be spread to another by any means. But certain contagious diseases, like the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, can cause cancer. And certain risk factors, like tobacco smoke, can predispose a group of people to cancer due to a shared environment.
Thus, cancer is not contagious in the traditional sense of the word, but the underlying cause or behaviour can be "contagious".
Certain foods like sugar promote cancer growth.
DEPENDS Sugar in itself does not promote cancer growth. But there is a definite link between obesity and many cancers, including breast and colon cancer. There has been concern on whether aspartame, a low-calorie artificial sweetener, increases the risk of cancer growth. Present evidence does not show any link between aspartame and increased cancer risk.
Handphones can cause cancer.
MYTH Studies have shown that mobile handphone usage is not linked to an increased cancer risk. However, a longer follow-up is still necessary to be more certain about these findings. The general advice is to not encourage prolonged mobile handphone usage.
Does screening help to prevent cancers?
DEPENDS Screening itself does not pievpnt cancers but can detect certain cancers early before it causes any symptoms in the individual or when the person is in a high risk group. Among the qualities the ideal screening would have are relative safety, acceptability to patients and doctors; relative low cost; and the ability to reduce mortality or improve quality of life, or both.
Screening should be done only if I have high risk of cancer.
MYTH For cervical cancer screening, a PAP test and pelvic examination is recommended at least every three years in patients between 20 and 65 years old. For breast cancer screening in women 50 to 70, clinical breast examination and mammography are generally recommended every one or two years. Annual stool for occult blood testing along with flexible sigmoidoscopy at five-year to 10-year intervals is the standard recommendation for colorectal cancer screening in patients older than 50 years. For patients who fall into a high or very high-risk group because of personal history of cancer or strong family history of cancer, the recommendations to screen for breast and colorectal cancer require more extensive or earlier age for screening.
Beyond a certain age, there is little reason to treat cancer.
DEPENDS Although age is a very important factor in a person's ability to tolerate cancer treatment and their chances of a long life expectancy, there are other considerations when deciding whether to treat cancer in an elderly patient.
If the person is otherwise healthy and is physically active, they could be treated with a curative intent for early cancers. If they have advanced cancers, they may still be suitable for palliative treatment, which may alleviate symptoms due to the cancer. The decision would be made after communicating with the patient or a close relative on their expectations.
This would be based upon understanding the patient's diagnosis and the details of treatment, including possible side effects. When there are only risks of side effects and very small chance of responding to anti-cancer treatment, it would be more useful to the patient to look at other options that are less distressing.
This could mean a more holistic approach for managing the symptoms of cancer with the aim of keeping the patient as comfortable as possible with medications such as painkillers and good nursing care. |