Myths related to health and weather

Arabs Weather medical site - many people circulating myths that relate to health and weather, due to the transmission of erroneous information from parents or grandparents. But times have changed and weather forecasting has evolved considerably, with information on health and weather becoming broader and more accurate.

Here are some myths related to health and weather.

Myth: Lightning does not strike in the same place twice

This myth is one of the most widespread myths among people, but in reality lightning may strike the same place twice, especially if the thing that was hit long, straight, and isolated.
For example, the Empire State Building is lightning more than 100 times a year.

Myth: Drinking alcohol gives a feeling of warmth

In fact, alcohol lowers body temperature, and the feeling of warmth is caused by increased blood flow to the skin away from the internal organs of the body, which reduces sensitivity to cold, thereby reducing tremors.

All of these effects increase the risk of hypothermia.

Myth: Cold weather causes disease

Viruses are causing the disease and not cold weather. But cold days can make people more susceptible to the disease if they are exposed to pathogenic bacteria, as the cold weather reduces blood vessels in the nose, causing dryness and reduced immunity in this region, and thus easy to catch viral infections, such as colds and flu.

Because staying inside buildings and homes is the right solution in winter, people tend to gather in one place to feel warm, helping to spread diseases easily.

Myth: No need to use sunscreen in winter

The skin is more sensitive to sunlight in winter, because ultraviolet radiation increases the production of melanin in the skin in the summer, protecting the skin cells from damage due to radiation.

But in winter, ultraviolet radiation decreases, and melanin production in the skin decreases accordingly, increasing the risk of skin cell damage. Therefore, you should stick to sunscreen even on cloudy days.

Myth: Cold worsens migraines

Many migraine or migraine patients are affected by weather changes, but cold weather is not a trigger for migraine attacks. But other weather factors may trigger migraine attacks, such as:

• Humidity in the air.
• Atmospheric pressure.
• Significant weather changes over a period of one or two days.

Migraine patients should discuss the causes that trigger pain attacks with the attending physician.

Does the flu vaccine change by season? Is a pastor given a specific chapter?

Myth: You should wait at least half an hour after eating before swimming safely

Most people go for a swim in the summer, and many believe the myth is correct. People believe that eating just before swimming can cause strong muscle cramps, which can cause drowning.

Although blood circulation actually moves to the digestive tract away from the muscles after eating, no drowning has been documented due to fullness of the abdomen.

Theoretically, a person may experience cramps when swimming immediately after eating, but if this happens while swimming in a closed public pool, or in a regulated swimming area, one can get out of the water without problems.

Swimming just after a fatty meal can cause discomfort and discomfort, just like exercising right after a meal.

Myth: Sunburn turns brown

This information is not true at all, since sunburn is not a preliminary stage of tanning.

Sunburn causes skin damage, redness, and finally skin peeling, and excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of sunburn, or skin cancer.

Myth: Sunburn turns brown

This information is not true at all, since sunburn is not a preliminary stage of tanning.

Sunburn causes skin damage, redness, and finally skin peeling, and excessive exposure to sunlight increases the risk of sunburn, or skin cancer.

Myth: Dark-skinned people don't need sunscreen

People with light skin have less melanin than darker skin, and the melanin pigment absorbs ultraviolet light and protects against skin damage.

While light-skinned people are more sensitive to UV rays and more prone to skin damage when exposed to the sun, dark-skinned people are also vulnerable to UV damage.

So all people are advised to use sunscreen, whatever the skin color.

Health tips for each season

Myth: Melon seeds grow in the stomach if swallowed

This is not true. Melon seeds do not sprout and grow in the stomach if swallowed, but swallowing seeds of any kind is not good either.

There is a small risk of damage to the intestines due to ingestion of seeds, as you may get inflammation, blockage, or wounds and rupture.

The risk is that the watermelon seed, or any other type of seed, is jammed in the appendix, which can lead to appendicitis, but the probability of this happening is very small.

The benefits of adding fruits and vegetables to the diet are much more than the risks of eating them, so you should not hesitate to eat them.