As much as we'd like to trust the Internet, it doesn't always have all the answers. That goes for social media, as well. A new diet, a new skincare hack, or a booming interest in some form of alternative medicine. Sometimes, certain trends come, and they might seem safe and fun, yet in reality, they're not.
So it's nice when professionals tell us what is really up. We've gathered some of the best tips from nurses, dermatologists, paramedics, surgeons, and even chefs on things they would never do because of their insider knowledge. Never knew it's better not to defrost your food on the counter? Read on and find more nuggets of wisdom that professionals from various fields wish others knew as well!
#1
Image credits: travelingnurse
#2
Image credits: zemparamedic
#3
Image credits: zemparamedic
Wouldn't this be the dream: to use TikTok and social media in general for education? To know more about our bodies, health, and how best to take care of them? More and more people trust experts on social media to do the job. A 2022 survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that one in five people turn to TikTok before their doctor.
The most common topics that people turn to social media influencers for are anxiety, depression, and weight loss. The survey also found that almost one in five Americans trust health influencers more than medical professionals in their community.
While this might sound alarming, there is also some good news that comes with this. 89% of the respondents think that social media influencers contribute to health misinformation online. And even 76% fact-check what they watch and hear online.
#4
Image credits: drrajarora
#5
Image credits: drrajarora
#6
Why do people turn to social media for important topics such as health? For some, it's about the trust and care that they didn't receive from their doctors. For others, it's financial: some people can't afford to go to their doctor or buy prescriptions. "TikTok also makes it easy to connect with people who have similar health issues, which provides me with a sense of community and support," one person told Forbes.
One woman told the publication that doctors couldn't figure out what exactly her symptoms meant. She started watching other women with similar symptoms on TikTok and doing what they claimed helped them. "In the beginning, this was partially done with the guidance of a doctor, but at this point, I've just taken it upon myself to see what works," she told Forbes. The woman now says she made more progress in a month than in an entire year she spent going to doctors.
#7
Image credits: travelingnurse
#8
#9
Image credits: ladyspinedoc
However, experts warn against blind faith in health influencers. Matthew A. Dolman, founder and senior partner at Dolman Law Group, told Forbes that the amount of misinformation online is alarming. "Completely different medical issues can manifest with similar symptoms, and the required course of treatment may differ greatly. Hence why it is vital to consult with a real licensed physician, either in person or, at least, via telemedicine."
#10
Image credits: travelingnurse
#11
#12
Image credits: dermguru
#13
Image credits: drrajarora
#14
#15
Image credits: ladyspinedoc
#16
#17
Image credits: dermguru
#18
Image credits: ladyspinedoc
#19
Image credits: ladyspinedoc
#20
Image credits: dermguru
#21
Image credits: zemparamedic
#22
Image credits: ladyspinedoc
#23
#24
#25
Image credits: dermguru
#26
#27
Image credits: drvanessasmithhorning
#28
Image credits: drvanessasmithhorning
#29
#30
Ever going to a chiropractor again. Last year, there was a 26-year-old woman in Seattle who died after a chiropractor adjusted her neck. The main danger in chiropractors is when they adjust your neck because your spinal cord is lined with your vertebral arteries. You got one on each side. And any amount of like, quick force in that area could cause those arteries to rip apart. And when those arteries rip apart, the blood that's in them tries to clot off to like stop the bleed. And when it does that, it creates a huge stroke. And that stroke goes directly to your brainstem, and brainstem strokes will kill you so fast. We can't even do anything. By the time you get to the hospital, you're screwed. I personally have taken care of two patients that had this exact scenario happen to them. But I have been in neuro ICU when we had five. Don't touch me. Don't touch my neck. Don't do it. I will never go to a chiropractor again in my life.Put my feet on the car dash.Not wear a seat belt in a car.I would never use female hygiene products, we just don't need them. Our womanly parts are self-cleansing. And actually, we can do more harm than good if we're altering the pH by using these over-the-counter cleansers. In addition, I would not be using any perfumed products, any sprays, I would not do any douching in the area. I would just leave it alone, use simple water, and that will be more than good enough.I would not take antibiotics for a viral illness. They just won't work. Antibiotics only work on bacteria. They do not work on viruses. Viral illnesses need antivirals, and those will be prescribed by a doctor if deemed necessary. Or, most viral illnesses are self-limiting. If you take antibiotics and they're not needed, you're going to cause more harm than good. Lots of side effects can be associated with medicines like antibiotics. And not just that, antibiotics can also deplete your normal healthy gut bacteria that we need for immunity and for wellness. It's important to ensure that if you don't need antibiotics, don't take them unnecessarily.Never leave a knife in the sink. This is something in restaurants that is widely preached, and for good reason. One of my first, actually no, my first kitchen injury was from someone leaving a knife in a sink. They're hard to see, especially if water starts covering things or other things get placed on top, and it can really do some serious damage.Motorcycles. Even with a helmet on. I'm telling you right now, you are just asking for it. You could be the safest biker in the world, and I'm telling you right now, you being on a highway, going highway speeds without a closed and circulating object around you is asking to get smashed like a bug.Slide down a slide with a child in my lap. No seriously, stop doing this. Every year around this time when the weather's nice and people are going to the parks, there is an influx of kiddos rushed to the ER, urgent care, orthopedics office with a particular injury. 'Toddler's fracture,' or a spiral fracture of the tibia, which is the big bone in your lower leg. It can be caused by a twist when walking, but more commonly, it's caused when their foot gets hung between you and the slide when they're sliding down in your lap, or in a sibling's lap. They'll have pain, swelling in the shin, refusal to take a step, or even like a consistent limp. Typically there's not any bruising, and it's really hard to see on X-ray sometimes too. So the feet are out to the side, they will get hung right here and twist backwards.I would never have my neck manipulated by a chiropractor.Propane tanks. This one was really solidified this assignment. I have had three, three patients who have had propane tanks explode on them, and it has left them with debilitating burns. And the numbers have got to be wrong, got to be wrong, because I looked it up and the chances of a propane tank exploding on you are literally one in 37 million. But I have had three patients in the last few months that all had propane tanks explode. So yeah, everyone else, everyone else can handle the propane, I will simply not be participating. Simply put, I like having fingers.As a skin doctor, I would never use a physical exfoliant scrub such as St. Ives or the ones you can buy over the counter at Boots or Superdrug. Most of them are way too abrasive for your skin and can cause micro tears and early skin aging.I would never wax my skin when using retinol, retinoids, or Accutane. Retinoids lead to increased sensitivity of the skin, which could leave you with painful, irritated, almost rug-burn or chemical-like burns after waxing.I would not rely on Dr. Google. So if you have been given some resources by your doctor or health professional, of course, go ahead, read them, and they may be online, so you may use a search engine to get ahold of them. However, I wouldn't blindly type into a search engine for symptoms because this can come up with lots of different variations, lots of different diagnoses, and most of them will be anxiety-inducing and stressful to read. So if you have symptoms, it's important to go and see your doctor and to get the advice you need from a medical professional.Go to a trampoline park.If you're at someone's home or staying in a place in which you're unfamiliar, please familiarize yourself with the surroundings. I have seen so many patients that have opened doors thinking that they're walking into the bathroom, but opened doors that are going down into the basement. And we all know how that turns out.Defrost food by leaving it on the counter. This is one of the most dangerous ways you can defrost food. It takes so long, and the outside of the food warms up to a dangerous temperature zone for an extended amount of time before the center of the core even defrosts, so the bacteria has a really great chance to grow and thrive. Best way to defrost food is in the fridge overnight. It's safe and takes up no resources. Second-best way is running under cold water, in a bucket filled with water. Yes, it does require running water, but only really, really small drops of water, just used to replace some of the water in the existing bowl and keep the temperature steady. And it's super quick, like defrosting a few chicken breasts only takes about 15 minutes. Super fast when you need it in a pinch.I would never actually put a laptop on my lap. Prolonged exposure to heat sources like laptops or heating pads can lead to a skin condition called erythema ab igne. It can lead to discoloration that can last for a very long time.Trim tree limbs on a ladder. When you cut that branch down, it will fall and it may fall on you.If I'm driving down the road, and a cute little bunny bounces in front of my car, guess what? I'm going to run over the bunny. Never veer off the road trying to dart around an animal.I would never pop a pimple in the danger triangle. This is the area from the bridge of the nose down to the upper lip, which forms a triangular area. Pop a pimple here, there's a chance that the bacteria from the skin can enter the bloodstream, which has a direct connection to the skull and the brain through something called a cavernous sinus. It can lead to serious infection as well as blindness or even death.Drink around a fire pit.I would never participate in CrossFit.Be in a cold wet bathing suit for prolonged periods of time.Tubing.I would never go to sleep with my hair wet. Sleeping on wet hair can lead to a moist environment, which can be a breeding ground for things like bacteria and fungus. And when hair is wet, it's vulnerable since it's at its weakest state, which can lead to breakage, hair thinning, and damage to the hair follicle.Use prescription pills to solve my problems as a first resort.Sit with my neck exposed in front of the AC or let cold air hit me directly.Walk barefoot on cold cement.I would never drink fruit juices from concentrate, unless it's been adjusted for. If it's not pure, I don't want it.I'd never fry my food in coconut oil or certain types of sunflower oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the best! Quote me on that.
