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Myths

MYTH: The flu vaccine causes the flu.
REALITY: One cannot catch the flu from a flu vaccine. In the earlier days of medical history, vaccines were less pure, resulting in brief reactions such as chills and fever. New flu vaccines, instead of containing the whole virus, use only parts of the influenza virus to create an immune response in the body; side effects are minimal. New vaccines are highly recommended, unless you have an allergy to eggs, which are used to make them. The flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.

MYTH: It is perfectly safe, even health promoting, to lick a wound.
REALITY: How many times have you seen a person get a cut and then put it to their mouth? The fact of the matter is that the mouth is full of bacteria. By putting the mouth, tongue or saliva on an open wound, you are putting yourself at risk for infection. Small wound or not, bacterial infections can rage out of control, killing tens of thousands of Americans every year.

MYTH: One should wait one hour after eating to go swimming
REALITY: It makes sense to avoid strenuous activities for a short period immediately after a heavy meal to avoid abdominal cramping, but it won’t necessarily make your legs “seize up” or cause you to sink or drown. Far more important is to follow all other water safety protocol, like swimming in designated areas with a Lifeguard on duty, never swimming alone, following beach and boating safety (life vests are a must!), supervising small children closely near open water… And remember: alcohol and water don’t mix-- half of adults who die from drowning had positive blood alcohol levels.

MYTH: Cigars are safer than cigarettes.
REALITY: Not only do cigars contain the same addictive, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds as cigarettes, but cigar smokers experience nearly the same risk factors as cigarette smokers, like being four to ten times more likely to die from oral, esophageal, or laryngeal cancer in comparison to nonsmokers—not to mention the similarly increased rates of lung cancer and heart disease among those who favor stogies, as well.

MYTH: Lightning only strikes during a thunderstorm.
REALITY: It doesn’t have to be raining for a lightning bolt to zigzag across the sky—lightning can quite literally come out of the blue. If you’re in the open air, be aware of what’s going on in the sky around you. A bolt of lightning can stop your heart—permanently.