Month: July 2017

Anyone who has ever had a bad head cold can certainly relate to this spell found in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text:

“May you flow out, catarrh, son of catarrh, who breaks the bones, who destroys the skull, who hacks in the marrow, who causes the seven openings in the head to ache.”

The Egyptians, like many other ancient cultures, thought that illness was caused by an angry deity or perhaps was a supernatural punishment for one’s actions. Spells, incantations, and magic were typically used to cure disease.

Fortunately, today’s doctors rely on science and modern medicine, but our ancestors believed diseases were caused by some pretty bizarre stuff.

1. Where’s your sense of humor?

The humors—blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm—aren’t the worst team of superhero names you’ve ever heard. As early as the third century, people believed these four physical qualities controlled the body.

Hippocrates (you know, the reason doctors take the Hippocratic Oath) rejected the then-pervasive notion that disease and illness were caused by deities and magic. Hippocrates was on the right track, because he believed that disease started within the body. His theory of humoral balance, however, definitely missed the mark.

He proposed that the body was balanced by four fluids, or humors. The humors were associated with both the fundamental elements of earth, wind, fire, and air as well as the four seasons. Disease, Hippocrates proposed, occurred when the humors were out of whack.

The humors were also the original personality test. Each humor was associated with a certain temperament that defined a person’s personality. If you had too much black bile in your body, for example, you were thought to be extremely melancholy. Since black bile was associated with cold, dry weather and the earth element, melancholy individuals might have been sent to the seaside (a warm, wet climate) to cheer up and restore bodily balance.

This idea of the humors persisted well into the 19th century. Even Shakespeare relied heavily on humoral theory for character development in his plays. It was only in the late 1800s, as scientists discovered the bacteria and germs that caused certain diseases, that humoral theory fell out of favor.

2. Feeling sick? Blame Santa’s helpers.

Modern-day depictions show elves as being childlike, mischievous creatures like Santa’s helpers. Most early European cultures would disagree with this cute depiction. Instead, they saw elves as godlike creatures who had the power both to cause disease and restore health.

In particular, elves were thought to cause sudden illness by shooting invisible arrows into people and cattle, commonly called “elfshot.” Understandably, it’s pretty hard to protect against invisible arrows. In Scotland, people wore amulets and arrow charms to protect themselves from elfshot.

Elves were also largely thought responsible for infant illness. Ancient Europeans believed that elves would steal healthy babies, replacing them with an identical elf child, or changeling. When the baby became sick, parents suspected their child was a changeling.

To confirm their suspicions, parents would boil eggs in the presence of the baby, and if the baby laughed, cooed, or startled in surprise, their true changeling nature was revealed. Often, the parents would try to get their human baby back, but if they failed, they’d “give” the changeling back to the elves.

3. Ladies, beware the wandering womb.

I’ve never been happie
r to be a modern woman. As early as Plato’s day, doctors (all men, of course) believed the cause of most women’s illnesses to be a pesky case of wandering womb, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Our ancestors believed that the barren uterus would roam all over the body, causing any number of pains and diseases. These ailments were tidily summed up in one word: hysteria, derived from the Greek word for womb.

To recover from hysteria, women were advised to “lure the womb” back to its place in the body with fragrant scents, or better yet, by giving the womb a job to do and getting pregnant.

By the Middle Ages, doctors agreed that the womb did not, in fact, wander around the body. But they still believed hysteria to be an exclusively female disease. The most common cure was for ladies to receive specially administered “massages” to relieve the nervousness associated with hysteria. No wonder women back in the day loved going to the doctor!

4. Divine intervention isn’t always a good thing.

Ever wondered why we say “bless you” after a sneeze? Our ancestors believed that even the benign act of sneezing was something much more sinister.

A common belief was that sneezing could accidentally release your soul from your body. Others believed that the devil or other evil spirits could enter the body after a sneeze and steal your soul. And still others believed that the heart actually stopped beating for a moment during a sneeze.

The cure?

Saying “bless you” as quickly as possible to provide divine protection after a sneeze.

In addition to sneezes, our ancestors believed divinities were responsible for all kinds of illnesses. Mental illness, for example, was thought to be the result of demonic possession across several different cultures.

Starting in biblical times, our ancestors believed that physical skin disorders, like leprosy, were divine punishment for sin and bad behavior. During the Middle Ages, especially, people with leprosy were thought to be contagious, and were outcasts in society. They were made to give up their possessions, wear special clothing, and ring bells announcing their presence.

Treatment for leprosy was varied. Because people believed they were being punished by God, many sought a cure in the Church, while others turned to the modern (for the time) practice of humoral balance to cure the disease.

On the flipside, in ancient Greek culture seizures and epilepsy were thought to be the result of divine visitation and were often associated with being powerful. Although it has long been thought that Julius Caesar had epilepsy, historians now think he may have suffered from a genetic condition or mini-strokes and played up the epilepsy to make himself more powerful. Unfortunately, that plan really backfired for Caesar.

By the Middle Ages, feelings had changed, and people who suffered epileptic seizures were treated as outcasts, similar to people with leprosy.

There was one sure way to cure disease caused by the divine: the royal touch.

Throughout history, people have believed that royalty were divinely ordained to be leaders. As such, they had the power to heal with just the touch of their hand.

5. Blame it on Saturn.

In the 1300s, the Black Death ravaged Europe, reducing the total population by a third. The devastating plague that affected Europe was actually a result of
bacterial infection from fleas and rats, but medieval scholars believed that the planets were to blame.

Normally, astrology foretold omens and predicted the future but was rarely believed to be the cause of disease. In the case of the Black Death, however, contemporary scholars thought that a perfect alignment of Saturn, Jupiter, and Uranus caused the outbreak.

Unlike the commoners who believed the plague to be a caused by God, these scholars were attempting to explain the deadly outbreak scientifically. The planetary alignment, scholars theorized, basically caused a perfect storm of widespread humoral imbalance.

You’d think that 300 years later, scholars and doctors would have made some medical breakthroughs to prevent another plague outbreak.

But things hadn’t changed much by the 1600s, when the plague once again spread like wildfire throughout Europe. This time, Saturn got a pass, and instead deadly vapors in the air were blamed for the epidemic.

Our ancestors still may not have understood why the plague made a comeback, but the second time around, doctors had a treatment plan: collecting farts in a jar.

The one thing doctors wish their patients would stop doing?

Googling their symptoms.

Doctors always encounter that one patient on every rotation. You know, the patient who spent five minutes on Google and is convinced they know more than the doctor, who spent years in medical school and residency to become a healthcare expert.

Although doctors actually like it when their patients are informed, the problem arises when patients demand extensive, invasive testing and treatments based on solely on internet research.

Cardiologist Dr. Ami Bhatt explains:

“While it’s always important for patients to be informed, the most important facet of these advances in information dissemination is patient and physician engagement. …Oftentimes, the information a patient finds is not even relevant to their specific situation. This has happened to me as a doctor and as a patient.

“Unfortunately, information taken out of context can be frightening and confusing. In this era where time for the doctor and patient to connect in person is limited, we need physicians to have the time to communicate with their patients about what they are learning.”

Cyberchondriacs aren’t even the worst patients. The doctors of Reddit reveal the most annoying things patients can do.

“Eating before surgery. Not only will it most likely cancel your surgery and screw up the schedule you risk vomiting into your lungs which can kill you.”–propofolme

Eating before surgery falls into both the “annoying” and “dangerous” categories. Contrary to what a hungry patient might believe, doctors do not want to torture you. You shouldn’t eat several hours prior to surgery because of the risk of aspiration, in which the contents of the stomach empty into the lungs while you’re under anesthesia.

Aspiration can cause major complications during surgery. If your doctor or anesthesiologist tells you not to eat prior to surgery, stay strong and avoid the temptation to chow down before a trip to the operating room.

“You do NOT need antibiotics for your cold. If you have some infection that requires antibiotics, take the entire dose. Don’t stop taking them when you feel better, and hoard the remainders for the next time you think you’re getting sick.”–pm_me_baby_pig_pics

A recent study suggested that patients may not need to finish a whole course of antibiotics for medication to be effective. But most doctors agree that there just isn’t enough evidence to support this claim and that patients should absolutely finish the whole course of antibiotics they are prescribed.

Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infection. If you have a virus, antibiotics won’t work.

If you are prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection, you may begin to feel better within a couple of days of starting treatment, but that doesn’t mean the infection has been eliminated.

The infection could come back, leading to another round of antibiotics, which can build up a resistance to antibiotic treatment over time. If you develop immunity to certain antibiotics, they may not work the next time you get sick.

“Constantly telling me how much they hate the dentist. I GET IT. IT’S NOT FUN HERE.”–rspkt3

Your dentist is aware that having a root canal is no fun. Your dentist also knows that if you don’t have one, you risk getting a serious infection that could literally spread through your entire body. So think twice before telling your dentist how much you hate sitting in their chair.

Want to spend less time in the dentist’s chair? Prevention is key. Dentists recommend regular brushing and flossing, getting plenty of calcium, and limiting caffeinated beverages to keep teeth healthy.

“Complain about being in the worst abdominal pain imaginable then eat hot wings.”–ptolemaeus_II

If your doctor believes you are in the most excruciating pain of your life, they will do everything they can to stop that pain. 

When you exaggerate, you run the risk of unnecessary testing (which might cause more pain than you’re currently in). In addition, doctors can’t truly gauge your symptoms if you’re fibbing about them.

A nurse in New York reiterates, “If you’re happily texting and laughing with your friends until the second you spot me walking into your room, I’m not going to believe that your pain is a ten out of ten.”

Instead, be honest with your doctor. If you’re not in that much pain, but you know something isn’t right, a good doctor will still take you just as seriously.

“Coming into the emergency department to be seen while eating a bag of chips or stopping for fast food prior to coming. This place is for EMERGENCIES. If you were able to stop for food beforehand you don’t need to be seen.”–noentic

People misuse the emergency room for a number of reasons. Patients don’t have a regular primary care physicians. Cyberchondria fuels health fears that just can’t wait. The emergency room is always open, etc.

Packed emergency rooms lead to long wait times, and patients can rack up pricey bills for routine services. If you are considering a trip to the emergency room, check to see if your situation is truly an emergency. 

If not, consider a trip to the local urgent care instead.

Urgent care doctors can treat just about anything and will also let you know if your symptoms warrant further investigation in the emergency room.

“Showing up late to an early morning appointment—you ever wonder why your doctor is always late? It’s because the first appointment showed up 30 minutes late, has two extra problems to talk about, and by the time your appointment comes, we are 45 minutes behind. I don’t mind the extra problems—in fact, I want to know these things—I do care about you. But please consider other people.”–DrBearcut

Doctors do work on a very strict schedule. It might seem like no big deal to show up five minutes late for an appointment, but by the end of the day, doctors could be hours behind.

When your doctor asks you to show up 15 minutes prior to an appointment, it’s common courtesy to be there on time. By showing up on time, you give your doctor plenty of time to devote to your care, as well as that of other patients.

“Being hostile to doctors and nurses does not result in better medical care for you or your loved one.”–littlespoot

Instead of berating a doctor for your or a loved one’s pain, try to understand their position.

Doctors worry about whether they made the right call for every single patient in their care.

Sure, they knew what they were
getting into when they chose their profession, but doctors are people too.

Some doctors work extraordinarily long shifts—often 24 to 48 hours at a time—caring for a whole caseload of sick patients. A kind word to your doctor will go a lot farther than an angry tirade.

Likewise, don’t complain about other doctors you’ve previously seen. As Dr. Allen Roberts explains, “Your complaints about your prior doctor will not endear you to us. The more you say, the less we want to deal with you.”

Your doctors might be colleagues or friends. Even if they aren’t, complaining about previously medical care tells your current provider you’ll most likely complain about their care too.

Your furry friend might not just be a cute companion.

Research has shown time and time again that owning a dog can reduce a person’s stress and lower their blood pressure. When your most excited superfan greets you every day, your body has no choice but to relax.

Even the act of petting less affable animals—namely, turtles and rabbits—calmed participants in a 2003 study. The authors of a literature review of 69 scientific studies explained that interacting with animals increases oxytocin, a hormone that helps humans interact socially, tolerate pain, and reduce stress levels.

There’s plenty of evidence that dogs boost oxytocin production in humans. In fact, scientists found that simply gazing into the eyes of a pet dog increased oxytocin concentrations in both the owner and the dog. That helps explain why we feel so good simply cuddling with our pups, but new research indicates that dogs do even more to promote our well-being.

Two new studies found that dog ownership was associated with higher activity levels.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia and Centre for Diet and Activity Research studied data from the EPIC Norfolk cohort study, which tracks the health of thousands of Brits. The scientists found that dog ownership led to a much more active lifestyle.

Project lead Andy Jones said, “We were amazed to find that dog walkers were on average more physically active and spent less time sitting on the coldest, wettest, and darkest days than non-dog owners were on long, sunny, and warm summer days.”

Apparently, gazing into your dog’s eyes not only increases your oxytocin levels but also convinces you to get off the couch—even when it’s raining. On average dog owners spent about 30 minutes less per day sitting.

A smaller study confirmed the positive impact of dogs on an active life. The authors tracked 43 dog owners and 43 non-dog owners and found that the dog owners walked 20 minutes more per day on average.

The authors concluded that dog ownership could be a useful tool for increasing physical activity in older adults. Even if someone didn’t want the commitment of owning a dog, volunteering at a pet shelter could motivate them to walk more regularly.

Of course, every relationship has downsides, and the human-dog partnership is no exception.

A 2017 study published in Zoonoses and Public Health found that owning a dog increased a person’s likelihood of encountering ticks. Because ticks carry disease-causing microorganisms, increased risk of contact with ticks translates to a higher chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.

Another hazard of dog ownership is the increased likelihood of falling. Boisterous dogs cause as estimated 76,437 fall injuries per year (cats, either through their nonchalance or relatively lower weight, cause just over 10,000 fall injuries).

We don’t recommend basing pet ownership decisions on health benefits or drawbacks. Still, it’s interesting to know how big of an effect pets have pets have on our well-being. From gazing at us to guilting us off the couch, dogs help improve our health. Just beware of ticks and falling.