The Truth Behind Common Medical Myths

One of the most important concepts in life science marketing is clarity. For a new medicine or piece of MedTech to be successful, the concept must be clearly, concisely and accurately explained as well as how it can benefit patients.

This is important because if your evidence is unclear it can give a mistaken or misleading impression of what a particular discovery can do, leading to concerns, controversies and hesitancies which are unnecessary and potentially dangerous.

Here are some examples of common medical myths and the truth behind them.

We Do Not Use Just Ten Per Cent Of Our Brains

A theory misattributed to Albert Einstein amongst many other popular scientists, the idea that the vast majority of our brain matter remains unused and thus could be activated if we only knew how is in defiance of brain mapping and other tools which highlight that all of our brain matter is used nearly all the time.

The exact origin of the myth is unknown, although it was popularised by Lowell Thomas in the forward to the highly popular self-help book How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie, attributed to Harvard psychologist William James.

Mr James did not say this, instead noting when discussing child prodigy William Sidis that people rarely meet their full mental potential, which was then misinterpreted by the 1920s self-help movement.

Reading In The Dark And Looking At Screens For A Long Time Can Destroy Your Eyesight

The idea of square eyes and blurred vision after sessions of reading in suboptimal conditions can create the impression of damaged eyesight, but in both cases these symptoms are temporary and a connection has not been found between the condition and the two situations.

People Should Drink Eight Glasses Of Water A Day

Hydration is important to avoid the risk of dehydration, but the eight by eight rule (eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day, or two litres) is a myth with a rather convoluted history.

The earliest mention of a figure close to eight glasses was the US National Research Council’s Food and Nutrition Board, which claimed that people should take in 2.5 litres of water per day, but also notes that most foods, especially fruit and vegetables contain water themselves.

In general, as long as you do not feel thirsty, you are drinking enough water.