Don't Cross Your Eyes...They'll Get Stuck That Way!: And 75 Other Health Myths Debunked [Paperback]

Aaron Carroll (Author), Rachel Vreeman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 5, 2011

The ultimate myth-busting collection of quirky and curious facts about your body and health

In 2009, Drs. Aaron E. Carroll and Rachel C. Vreeman explored a wide range of myths and misconceptions about our bodies and health in the media sensation, Don’t Swallow Your Gum!, featured on The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, and in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

Now, they’re delving into a whole new collection of myths based on the latest scientific research, including:

•           Eggs give you high cholesterol.

•           You should stretch before you exercise.

•           Kids in day care catch more colds.

•           Sit-ups or crunches will flatten your stomach.

•           A glass of warm milk will put you to sleep.

With a perfect balance of authoritative research and breezy humor, Don’t Cross Your Eyes . . . They’ll Get Stuck That Way! exposes the truth behind all of the things you thought you knew about your health, your well-being, and how the body works.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Don’t Swallow Your Gum!:

“Breezy and entertaining, yet relevant and scientific…the authors demonstrate clear research and documentation.” —LIBRARY JOURNAL

About the Author

DR. AARON E. CARROLL is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Children’s Health Services Research Group at the Indiana University School of Medicine and director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

DR. RACHEL C. VREEMAN is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Children’s Health Services Research Group at the Indiana University School of Medicine and co-director of Pediatric Research for the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH).

Aaron and Rachel’s research has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, Newsweek, and many other national publications. They have appeared on Good Morning America, The Colbert Report, CBS Evening News, and The Dr. Oz Show.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312681879
• ISBN-13: 978-0312681876
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to read and interesting facts, too August 6, 2011

By A&D

Format:Paperback

This was a fun book to read. Here are some typical beliefs that people say/believe that are NOT true according to the authors.
1. (artificial) sweeteners cause cancer.
- You might have heard this statement a few times. However, it is not true. There is no proof that they would cause cancer or any other health risks according to the authors.

2. The dirtiest part in the (public) bathrooms is the handle
- This is not true because the handles and the seats are usually cleaned more than other parts of the bathroom. The dirtiest is probably the floor in the public bathrooms. So if you do want to avoid getting dirt and germs with you/on you then avoid putting down your briefcase on the bathroom floor!

3. Cold makes you sick
- not true. There is no proof of this belief. You have probably heard someone say: "you need to put on more clothes because it's cold outside." This is just a myth. You don't get sick because of cold weather - you'll get sick if you catch a flu bug.

4. You'll get sick in the airplanes because of the air that you breath there.
This myth probably started with the swine flu outbreak. However, today, usually most of the bugs are killed because the air goes through the air filters. You won't get more sick because you travel by air, than if you travel by bus, train, or spend your time in the office.

5. A glass of milk will help you go to sleep.
- It's just a psychological effect, not based on any health reasons. People can connect sleepyness and a glass of milk together in their minds, and thus, drinking a glass of milk just before going to bed can make them go to sleep.

I enjoyed reading this book. I hope you will, too!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The MythBusters of scientific studies August 2, 2011

By Dahlia Valentine

Format:Kindle Edition

For 20 years I've been telling my mom that you can't get a cold from sitting under the air conditioner. I almost had her 8% converted if it weren't for that darn SpongeBob SquarePants episode when SpongeBob caught a killer cold by, yup... sleeping with the air conditioner on.

I doubt I'll change her mind, but at the very least I can marinate in my smugness knowing that cold weather does not cause colds -- and in fact, it's actually just what we need during cold season. And eggs aren't the high cholesterol demons they've been made out to be. And hydrogen peroxide... well, I don't want to be a plot spoiler on that one.

Don't Cross Your Eyes...They'll Get Stuck That Way!: And 75 Other Health Myths Debunked offers scientific proof in the form of a "yes... those old wives tales you hear about are true" or "no, stop drinking the Kool-Aid." Each (potential) myth is broken down into bite-sized reading portions, complete with respected journal studies to corroborate the authors claims.

I was kind of shocked by the studies they outed as being laced with shenanigans, as I've seen some of these references on a fair share of health websites.

For example, one major brand claimed their product had gone through a double-blind study. However it was later discovered that the "lab" (and I use that term very looesly) conducting this double-blind study consisted of two guys in a garage.

I'm no moonlighting beaker heater, but when I think of labs and double-blind studies and sterile conditions, I don't see a garage in the picture.

I'll just conclude this review by saying we are seriously satiated by the almighty placebo affect in so many different ways. This book was a real eye opener in that department.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Physician's thumbs up! May 30, 2012

By neapolitan289

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a great little book! I am a primary care physician, and this book does a wonderful job of addressing some of the most common concerns and wivestales that exist in society. The physician author looks objectively at each common thought by reviewing all of the research and summarizing it in a way that the general public can understand and make good decisions based on the current knowledge. I would recommend this to everyone as an easy, fun, enlightening read!