Toxic Poinsettias? Hangover Cures? It May Be All Fiction

Related Encyclopedia • Abdominoplasty • Acidophilus • Acne • Addison's Disease More... Related Healthscout Videos Software Makes Childbirth Safer Recipe for a Healthy Holiday Weighted Belt for Autism? Teaching Old Docs New Tricks More... Related Animations • Dental Cavities • Diabetes • GERD • PPI Therapy More... Related Drug Information • Aciphex • Actonel • Actos • Adderal XR More... Related News Articles • Health Tip: Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder • Spice Compounds May Stem Tumor Growth • Early Treatment of Hearing, Vision Helps in Schizophrenia • Menopause Often Means Worsening Cholesterol More...

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2

Another pervasive myth is that more people try to commit suicide over the holidays, but numerous studies have failed to find a peak of suicides during the holidays, according to Vreeman and Carroll.

Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, said he wasn't surprised that there was not an increase in suicides during the holidays, because people tend to be surrounded by other people in December. He wondered, however, what happens after the holidays.

"There are such high expectations around the holidays," he said. "Holiday anxiety and depression are very common, so a better question might be whether or not people are more unhappy during the holidays."

Text Continues Below

---

Another common holiday myth surrounds hangover cures. Although most everyone has a favorite that they swear works for them, the only real cure for a hangover is not to drink excessively in the first place. Also, Siegel pointed out that some hangover cures, such as aspirin or acetaminophen, can actually create troubles, such as liver problems or stomach irritation, in people who've been drinking.

As for the other myths? Vreeman and Carroll said that poinsettias, even in large doses, appear to be safe, though they certainly don't recommend consuming them. Your head, like the rest of your body, releases heat, but it's no more important to shield your head than to protect other parts of your body against the cold.

And, finally, they said that eating at night won't make you fat as long as what you're eating doesn't put you over your normal daily calorie total. Generally, they said, people who eat at night tend to gain weight, because those calories consumed nocturnally are in addition to three regular meals and snacks.

So, Santa, if you've already had breakfast, lunch and dinner, maybe you'd better put down the milk and cookies.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on other important health myths.

Page:  << Prev | 1 | 2