23 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You’d Know
Article created by: Mantas Kačerauskas
The past year and counting was marked by the biggest public health crisis in modern history, and it’s fair to say that healthiness and wellbeing have been at the top of our minds. But in times of anti-vaxxers, covid deniers, and fake news sweeping across the web like a parallel viral storm, we must get our health facts straight.
So when someone asked doctors and medical practitioners “What one medical fact do you wish everybody knew?” on r/AskReddit, the thread blew up and it now serves as a perfect source for things we should all know without exceptions.
From trusting our immune system to following antibiotic treatment, and exercising like it was the most prescribed pill in the world, these are some of the most eye-opening responses from people devoting their lives to treating others.
I may be alone in this, but I want my patients to know that there is no possible way I can keep up with all the medical advances and new studies that are out there. And I also want them to know that there are thousands of conditions that I learned about in medical school that I’ve forgotten because I’ve never seen or recognized them in practice.
This is important, because my patients frequently apologize for looking up things on the internet. No, don’t apologize. I want you to research your condition. I want you to look things up. I want you to know about new treatments, new research, and alternative medications. Because often I don’t. I may not agree with the things you’ve read, and that’s fine too. Ask me about thinks you’ve read and the picture you found that looks like your rash. I can’t tell you how many times a patient has come to me with a suggestion about a possible explanation for symptoms because they read about it on the internet that turned out to be a correct or at least reasonable guess. Please educate yourselves about yourselves.
Some good websites are the CDC website and AAFP.org (the American Academy of Family Practice). And if your doctor is offended that you’re trying to be educated, get a different doctor.
Source: I’m a doctor
Mental illness can be as serious as a physical one. Get treated. You wouldn’t let a broken leg go.
Your immune system is one of the greatest assets you have and you never thank it. In your life, your body will autonomously eradicate between 6-10 cancers without your realising. It will fight your infections, repair micro traumas and police the entire population of billions of cells in your body without your asking.
All it requests in return is a little bit of health to preserve it. Stop smoking, lose weight. Maybe exercise a little. Don’t drink so much. Your diet is so much more important that you realise.
Just because you’re not suffering from a mental health disorder, it doesn’t mean it’s not a real thing.
Nurse here. If you’re an alcoholic that’s admitted to the hospital, don’t lie about how much you drink. There are drugs we can give you to take the edge off of withdrawals. It’s safer for you and safer for us. We’re not judging you, we have safety in mind.
If you get in an accident as a biker, don’t take your helmet off your head under any circumstances. You can unhook the strap if you really need to to not suffocate, but that’s it.
(Stop reading here if you’re a faint of heart): Many times, your head will break like an egg and the helmet is basically the only thing preventing your skull from being skewered by your cranium shards or spilling out.
Nurse & Midwife here.
I wish people understood that if they are receiving treatment for a condition, they still have that condition.
Case in point: If you’re taking medication for something you aren’t suddenly free of that disease.
Your blood pressure meds are maintaining a normal blood pressure BECAUSE you have the condition of high blood pressure. Your insulin is maintaining your blood sugars BECAUSE you have diabetes.
Sounds simple but amazing how much people tell us they have no conditions but are on 1000 medications that tell a different story
Volunteer SAR-ship crewmember here; when you suspect whoever is lying down is not breathing by themselves, begin CPR immiditially AND DO NOT STOP until medical professional arrives, even if this means that you have to go on for several hours. We do not perform CPR to have the patient miraculously wake up and make out with us, we do this to sustain the most vital bodily function – the circulation of oxygen to the brain – until we can get that person to a hospital.
In a situation where first aid is required it is better to do something than to be scared and not do anything. You might save someones life.
RPh here. Do not keep your medicine in your “medicine cabinet” in your bathroom. The steam from a shower and the temperature fluctuations will degrade your medication. Keep them in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.
Also look through your OTC items in your house and clean out the expired drugs and restock your basics ( ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pepto, eyedrops, etc).
Alcohol withdrawal is deadly. Many of my patients don’t know this. It’s a gamble – I’ve seen fifth of vodka/day drinkers not withdrawal, and 2-3 beers/day withdrawal. It onsets quickly, and it’s deadly. Anyone who drinks almost daily and is deciding to quit cold turkey needs to understand this, and notify family at the bare minimum.
Not a doctor and this is a minor thing, but: If you don’t have celiac disease, gluten is not bad for you.
More important: Vaccines do not cause autism. They save lives.
If you want to keep hands/fingers/upper limbs intact:
Do not punch a wall/car door/guy in the face/brick, etc. You will end up with a “boxer’s fracture,” or a break of your fifth metacarpal bone. Most of the time everyone will know you were drunk when it happened and it’s not comfortable or fun.
Do not reach into the chute of a running snow-blower, even if it’s stopped because something is stuck in there.
Do not attempt to fix your chain-driven garage door opener by putting your fingers in the track and asking your wife to “hit the button.”
Do not reach into an auger at work trying to retrieve your safety glove that just fell in there.
Do not hold onto something at work that winches rope.
If you have a wound on your hand/fingers/arm, and it is oozing something that looks green, yellow, white, or pink, go to the doctor and have it looked at. You may save yourself from an amputation.
Source: I’m an RN at an orthopedic surgery center. All of these things have happened NUMEROUS times. And yes, archaic as it seems, sometimes people have to get fingers or even hands amputated (in this day and age!) because they ignored an infection.
Prostrate is to throw yourself onto the ground.
Prostate is the gland that can make it hard to pee. (or give you cancer).
Doctor here. Don’t stop your medications by yourself. Just don’t, no matter how good you feel. Patients stop antibiotics and relapse. So many resistant TB cases here. Stop taking insulin and come with DKA. Stop taking anti-hypertensives and get a stroke. Don’t stop any drug unless cleared prior with your doctor. Most of the diseases can only be managed, they can’t really be cured. If you have diabetes, get sugar levels tested at least once a month. Don’t ignore it. Don’t mix alcohol and anti-depressants. Also, no matter how bad it is, we have seen worse. Don’t be ashamed. Pull out doesn’t mean she won’t get pregnant. Precum has sperm too. Last, if you see anyone vomiting and loss conscious, turn them to their side. Less chances of it entering lungs.
Keep an eye on your weight. Rapid unintentional weight loss is often a sign something serious is up.
