Myths about human body

1. Five myths about human body that patients still believe

Prepared by Shelobudin Vladimir, Simohin Daniil, Toropov Artyom, Belov Aleksey,
Strelkov Egor
205th group

2. Debunking medical misconceptions in everyday practice

• Every day, patients come to clinics with firmly held beliefs about
their health that are simply not true. Today, we are going to look at
five common myths about the human body that patients still
believe, and how we can gently correct them.

3. Myth №1 – The Brain Capacity

• Myth: “We only use 10% of our brains”.
• The Reality: The entire brain is active almost all the time.
• Medical Fact: We use virtually every part of our brain throughout the
day. Modern scans prove that even simple tasks (or just resting)
require the coordination of complex networks across the entire
organ. There is no massive, unused reserve waiting to be unlocked.

4. Myth №2 – Cold Weather and Illness

• Myth: “Going outside with wet hair or without a coat
causes a cold”.
• The Reality: Viruses cause colds, not low
temperatures.
• Medical Fact: Rhinovirus and influenza spread more in
winter due to indoor crowding, dry air, and closer
contact. While cold air might dry out nasal mucosa
and make us slightly more vulnerable, you cannot
catch a cold without exposure to a pathogen. The
winter spike is mostly due to people gathering
indoors with poor ventilation.

5. Myth №3 – Toxins and Detoxification

• Myth: “You need special diets, juices, or patches to 'detox'
your body.”
• The Reality: The liver and kidneys are a 24/7 internal detox
system.
• Medical Fact: Products marketed as 'detox' have no proven
medical benefit and can sometimes cause electrolyte
imbalances. Unless a patient is suffering from acute organ
failure, liver and kidneys filter and clean the blood
perfectly well on their own. No commercial juice cleanse
can replace or improve that.

6. Myth №4 – Antibiotics vs. Viruses

• Myth: “Antibiotics can cure the flu or a bad cold.”
• The Reality: Antibiotics only kill bacteria, not
viruses.
• Medical Fact: Inappropriate use of antibiotics
contributes to global antimicrobial resistance.
Prescribing them for a virus won't make the
patient recover faster; instead, it exposes them
to side effects and accelerates the global
threat of antibiotic resistance.

7. Myth №5 – Shaving and Hair Growth

• Myth: “Shaving makes hair grow back thicker,
darker, and faster.”
• The Reality: Shaving doesn’t alter hair physiology.
• Medical Fact: Shaving cuts the hair at the surface,
leaving a blunt tip that feels coarse. The follicle
beneath the skin remains unchanged. Shaving has
zero effect on the hair follicle underneath the
skin. When hair grows back, it appears thicker
only because it has a blunt, sharp edge instead
of its natural tapered point. It also looks darker
because it hasn't been exposed to sunlight yet.

8. Conclusion

• Addressing misconceptions is a vital part of patient care. When
the medical professional take a moment to explain the 'why'
behind the medicine, it builds trust, protect patients from wasting
money, and prevent dangerous habits.