en's Health Myths from Viagara Tales to Hair Growth Legends Posted by Writing Staff on July 7, 2008 11:07 PM by Leanna Skarnulis It's no wonder he

ed by Writing Staff on July 7, 2008 11:07 PM

by Leanna Skarnulis

It's no wonder health myths abound. For example, as a kid you may have believed that if you didn't wait an hour after eating to go swimming, you'd get a stomach cramp and drown. Not trueunless you've eaten lead. But sometimes what sounds like a myth may be true. For example, wearing briefs that are too tight can indeed lower your sperm count.

Myth: Men Don't Get Osteoporosis

Fact: While women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, one out of eight men over the age of 50 is at risk. It's a sneaky disease because many people don't realize they're losing bone density until a brittle bone fractures. Proportionally, more men than women who have the disease suffer hip fractures, and men are twice as likely as women to die within a year after breaking a hip.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) says osteoporosis in men is under-diagnosed, under-reported, and inadequately researched. What is known is that age, certain medical conditions (eg cancer and some of its treatments), medications, and bad habits speed bone loss. The NOF advocates a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. They caution against smoking and excessive use of alcohol. And they have launched the Step On It America! campaign to promote weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, dancing, playing tennis, and strength training.

Shaving Your Head Will Make Hair Grow Back Thicker

Fact: Don't bother. But the good news about this myth is that it doesn't cost anything. You could spend a fortune chasing other so-called hair-loss remedies that don't work either: special shampoos, creams, scalp massage, electrical stimulation, and vitamins.
Many prescription and nonprescription treatments are available. But the American Academy of Dermatology cautions consumers to be wary of drugs and herbal remedies that aren't approved by the FDA for treating hair loss. So far the oral drug finasteride (Proscar) and topical drug minoxidil (Rogaine) are the only two products that have passed FDA trials.

Myth: Depression Is a Sign of Personal Weakness

Fact: Major depression is not a sign of personal weakness. "It's a bona fide disorder with characteristic symptoms: insomnia, particularly waking up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m., poor appetite, weight loss, low energy, loss of interest in usual activities, and oftentimes thoughts of suicide," says Steven Wengel, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. "There are tests done in a research setting that demonstrate there really are brain changes with depression. One thing we know is that certain brain receptors are altered either in number or sensitivity, and that the brain changes back to normal after a patient has been successfully treated."