Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Health Series: Myths that Break the Bank - Sneezing

As almost all people get older, they find themselves spending increasing amounts of time and money treating new health issues.  Many feel that there's not too much that can be done about it.  In actuality, there is plenty that can be done.  The problem is that there are many health myths that are perpetuated by various groups and industries, with the purpose of relieving you of your money.  This health series will address these myths, one per blog post, to teach you where you can afford to spend less.

Image Source: CDC Public Health Image library ID 11162
This first myth is my favorite, since it is spread by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an irrelevant government agency that needs to convince Congress that they deserve funds.  After every major viral outbreak in the past 10 years (SARS, Avian Flu, Swine Flu, etc), the CDC has advised people to wear dust masks and sneeze into their armpits.  The goal has been to prevent the further spread of the virus through sneezes.  This cannot be further from the truth of what's actually happening.  When you breathe in a virus through your nose, it is filtered through the nasal cavity.  Likewise, when you sneeze, you are again filtering out any traces of virus.  Sneezes are so sterile, in fact, that I'll frequently sneeze on kitchen counters, doorknobs, or even toilet seats.  Doing so means I spend less on household essentials such as tissues, bleach, and laundry detergent.

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