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Medical Myths That Can Kill You: And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life
Do you know what’s really good for you?
In this age of countless miracle cures, it’s vital to separate the myths that endanger your health from the medical facts you need.
Unfiltered coffee can clog your arteries.
Donating blood may lower your risk of heart disease.
You don’t really need eight glasses of water a day.
Coughing won’t help if you’re having a heart attack. (But aspirin will!)
We’ve become a nation of cyberchondriacs, diagnosing ourselves with false information and half-truths found on sketchy websites. In Medical Myths That Can Kill You , Dr. Nancy Snyderman, chief medical editor for NBC News, provides clear, practical, scientifically proven advice that can lead you to a healthier, happier life.
Discover the simple, everyday things that affect well-being, and get the information you need to revitalize your body, maintain your longevity, manage your care, and possibly even save a life–yours.
In this age of countless miracle cures, it’s vital to separate the myths that endanger your health from the medical facts you need.
Unfiltered coffee can clog your arteries.
Donating blood may lower your risk of heart disease.
You don’t really need eight glasses of water a day.
Coughing won’t help if you’re having a heart attack. (But aspirin will!)
We’ve become a nation of cyberchondriacs, diagnosing ourselves with false information and half-truths found on sketchy websites. In Medical Myths That Can Kill You , Dr. Nancy Snyderman, chief medical editor for NBC News, provides clear, practical, scientifically proven advice that can lead you to a healthier, happier life.
Discover the simple, everyday things that affect well-being, and get the information you need to revitalize your body, maintain your longevity, manage your care, and possibly even save a life–yours.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 4, 2021
Basic health info with a few deeper insights to specific diseases, viruses, etc from a tv medical spokesperson/doctor. Not bad, but it is short and meant to keep things on an introductory level, so don't expect intense introspection into your personal ills.
July 3, 2008
I heard the writer on NPR, and she sounded really interesting, but when I got the book, the sections seemed like sidebar articles that you might read in a pop magazine (like Shape, or Women's Day). It wasn't really riveting, or surprising. I felt like I'd seen all this information before.
September 6, 2017
I picked this up browsing at the library and while the other reviews are correct about it being common-sense and simply written, I find it very motivating. Yes, much of it I already know, but some things I didn't and the chart on preventive care check-ups alone makes this worth perusing.
May 30, 2008
Not so impressed by this book or her writing ability. Didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Did appreciate the nice chart of medical tests and screenings with the frequency recommended.
August 12, 2019
Medical Myths That Can Kill You is surprisingly good. I picked it up out of the Library because I wanted to see what sort of myths would prevail around 2008. We all heard about Vaccinations and other such things, but what other misconceptions exist in the field of medicine? I honestly saw the title and picked it up without seeing the full cover. When I saw the image of some photogenic woman on the cover I didn’t know what to expect. I especially didn’t know what to expect when I saw that she was the Chief Medical Editor for NBC News. This doesn’t tell me much since I don’t watch television very often. I mean, how do you choose for that sort of position?
So the book has a ton of information packed into its pages. It is organized by talking about a myth that exists and telling a story to debunk this myth. Along the way, we find the medical truths put into little sections that distract from the mainline of conversation. For example, the first myth that the book talks about is that you don’t need to have regular check-ups. It puts it like this; Annual Check-ups are Obsolete. This is one of the silliest things I have ever heard of. Everyone should know that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ Along that line of ideas, we find truths that relate to the myth.
The book only covers seven myths. This is good, but most of the myths are honestly very dangerous and silly misconceptions. The section on Vaccinations is especially heart-wrenching since it talks about a vibrant young man who contracted Meningitis and was hoping to become a doctor. He eventually died after falling into a coma, but not before they had to amputate some of his limbs. Following the anecdotal story, the book goes into suggestions for how to maintain your health.
It was a well-done book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The information is delivered in a manner that doesn’t use too many jargon words. I appreciated this as well. Although the book is mostly devoid of those sorts of terms, it does get the point across that this author knows what she is talking about.
So the book has a ton of information packed into its pages. It is organized by talking about a myth that exists and telling a story to debunk this myth. Along the way, we find the medical truths put into little sections that distract from the mainline of conversation. For example, the first myth that the book talks about is that you don’t need to have regular check-ups. It puts it like this; Annual Check-ups are Obsolete. This is one of the silliest things I have ever heard of. Everyone should know that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ Along that line of ideas, we find truths that relate to the myth.
The book only covers seven myths. This is good, but most of the myths are honestly very dangerous and silly misconceptions. The section on Vaccinations is especially heart-wrenching since it talks about a vibrant young man who contracted Meningitis and was hoping to become a doctor. He eventually died after falling into a coma, but not before they had to amputate some of his limbs. Following the anecdotal story, the book goes into suggestions for how to maintain your health.
It was a well-done book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The information is delivered in a manner that doesn’t use too many jargon words. I appreciated this as well. Although the book is mostly devoid of those sorts of terms, it does get the point across that this author knows what she is talking about.
December 28, 2014
A lot of pop medical books or crap -- or really long advertisements for certain products. This is neither. In one sense, it's a shame that a book like this is necessary. However, most people need practical advice, like "Natural does not mean it's good for you."
November 26, 2022
Excellent!
This is a well written, easy to read book. The author provides antidotes from her life throughout the book. Sensible and simple ways to improve one’s health and ultimately life.
This is a well written, easy to read book. The author provides antidotes from her life throughout the book. Sensible and simple ways to improve one’s health and ultimately life.
September 7, 2017
Most of this I knew, but there was some nuggets of new information in this book that I never heard before.
May 11, 2020
Good information.
The information was good, however the format used, made it difficult to read. I read digital version, perhaps actual book made the format better.
The information was good, however the format used, made it difficult to read. I read digital version, perhaps actual book made the format better.
November 13, 2021
Listened to this audio book which was around 5 hours. Full of great information and good reminders.
March 3, 2023
Motivated me to make an appointment with my doctor about preventing all my family history things. Thank you!!
July 13, 2023
Nice book and read quick if you read specifically the myths
October 2, 2023
So much practical information in this book. I want to re-read it and take notes.
February 20, 2021
This book is sensible, and easy read, and easy to understand. The ending wrapped it all up, and made it clear that the author has good common sense. You won’t find the “secret” to success in here. It is not a secret, we have known for decades what we should and should not do. Gradually the evidence accumulates and we learn more details about exactly what causes and what prevents specific problems.
“Homeopathy ... in a more recent review study, published in 2005 in The Lancet, researchers compared the results of 110 trials of homeopathy with the same number of trials of conventional medicine. The conclusion: benefits credited to homeopathy were, at best, placebo effect.” (Page 193)
“That's where the vicious cycle begins. People with chronic illnesses are more likely to be depressed, and depressed people are more likely to succumb to chronic illnesses. It's natural to feel depressed when dealing with a chronic, potentially fatal illness, but that alone does not explain depressions damaging effects. Mental illness adversely alters the chemical balance of the body. In patients with diabetes, for example, depression makes the body even less sensitive to insulin the hormone the processes blood sugar, and best further activates the disease. Fixing a problem in one place, thankfully, can often help in the other.” (Page 217 – 218)
“Sex is pleasurable, and great sex is even more pleasurable. Sex is a way of sharing intimacy. Safe sex is also good for your mental health. Sex releases an assortment of beneficial chemicals in the body to produce a natural euphoria in addition, satisfying sex leads to better communication and strengthens the bonds between two people, and these can be Hedges against depression triggered by relationship issues. So go on and do it.” (Page 234) This was a little sidebar; the book did not make a big deal of it.
"Myths, whether ancient or modern day, are instructive and meant to guide us and open our eyes to truth.” (Page 239)
Although the big picture is not new in this book, yet there are a lot of interesting details that will flesh out your your knowledge, and make clearer the path to fuller health.
“Homeopathy ... in a more recent review study, published in 2005 in The Lancet, researchers compared the results of 110 trials of homeopathy with the same number of trials of conventional medicine. The conclusion: benefits credited to homeopathy were, at best, placebo effect.” (Page 193)
“That's where the vicious cycle begins. People with chronic illnesses are more likely to be depressed, and depressed people are more likely to succumb to chronic illnesses. It's natural to feel depressed when dealing with a chronic, potentially fatal illness, but that alone does not explain depressions damaging effects. Mental illness adversely alters the chemical balance of the body. In patients with diabetes, for example, depression makes the body even less sensitive to insulin the hormone the processes blood sugar, and best further activates the disease. Fixing a problem in one place, thankfully, can often help in the other.” (Page 217 – 218)
“Sex is pleasurable, and great sex is even more pleasurable. Sex is a way of sharing intimacy. Safe sex is also good for your mental health. Sex releases an assortment of beneficial chemicals in the body to produce a natural euphoria in addition, satisfying sex leads to better communication and strengthens the bonds between two people, and these can be Hedges against depression triggered by relationship issues. So go on and do it.” (Page 234) This was a little sidebar; the book did not make a big deal of it.
"Myths, whether ancient or modern day, are instructive and meant to guide us and open our eyes to truth.” (Page 239)
Although the big picture is not new in this book, yet there are a lot of interesting details that will flesh out your your knowledge, and make clearer the path to fuller health.
October 2, 2009
This book is a quick collection of commonsense medical advice. The medically sophisticated will not find much new in it and will probably find it to be too simple. But even smart and knowledgeable people fall into some of the bad habits or make some of the foolish mistakes that Dr. Snyderman discusses in her book, like not eating a healthy diet, failing to get that annual physical, or not being entirely truthful with their doctor.
The central thesis of this book is that "health springs from living wisely." Dr. Snyderman presents a series of myths and truths about health care with the goal of giving the reader the knowledge necessary to make wise decisions about health care. It's worth a quick read for those intimidated by the health care system and perhaps a skim by others.
The central thesis of this book is that "health springs from living wisely." Dr. Snyderman presents a series of myths and truths about health care with the goal of giving the reader the knowledge necessary to make wise decisions about health care. It's worth a quick read for those intimidated by the health care system and perhaps a skim by others.
July 9, 2008
I found this book easy to read. It was helpful in giving you guidelines - for dr. visits, vitamins, meds, etc. She gives you clear cut questions to ask your doctor and when and what tests you need. Some things I knew but others I didn't. But over all I found it very informative. I like the little myth boxes where she explained why or why not some things we believe are or aren't true and what you should do instead - one was about 8 glasses of water a day; that is a myth - drink when you are thirsty.
May 5, 2010
I am brilliant. I have never fallen prey to any of the super secret "myths" that she debunked in this book. I already knew that vaccines were good for adults, and that you should see your doctor annually. I knew all her secret "truths" too. Like...I forgot. I can't remember any good ones. I just know that I knew them already!
I am suing her for plagarizing my brain.
Just kidding. The book was fine, just not particularly enlightening (to me).
I am suing her for plagarizing my brain.
Just kidding. The book was fine, just not particularly enlightening (to me).
March 29, 2013
I completely agree with the reviewer that said the content was like that found in a pop magazine. The endnotes are few and some citations are reference webmd.com (not exactly a primary source). When I got to the segment on homeopathic medicine I lost any meager confidence in the author that had remained to that page. Despite there being some useful information in this book, I cannot recommend it.
August 16, 2008
Very quick and easy to read. I really liked how Dr. Snyderman used her own examples - personally and from patients - along with jargonless medical explanations.
My review sounds like it should be a 5-star. I only gave it 3 stars because a lot of it was common sense - no huge light bulb moments and not a book I'm going to tell all of my friends to read (like the books I rate with 5 stars).
My review sounds like it should be a 5-star. I only gave it 3 stars because a lot of it was common sense - no huge light bulb moments and not a book I'm going to tell all of my friends to read (like the books I rate with 5 stars).
February 4, 2009
Good reading for your inner hypochondriac from the doctor who's often on The Today Show (although I have switched over to the Diane Sawyer Robin Cook thing on channel 7). As with all these books, one starts to self-diagnose...personally, I feel a coma coming on...oh wait, I'm just sleepy. G'night.
September 16, 2009
This is an excellent book, a great start to debunking myths that have been with us for too many lifetimes. I recommend it to everyone. It's not one of those asinine (not to mention dangerous!) "cures the government is hiding" books, which are chock full of lies and deadly "advice." This is actual medical information from an actual medical doctor. Imagine that.
June 12, 2008
This book was great! She expanded on the knowledge I already had about a lot of medical issues and gave me some new information that I wasn't aware of at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about how to keep their health in check.
August 25, 2008
Most of the book was things I had learned over the years or read in articles, etc. However, I think she did a good job on explaining mental illness to those who do not suffer from Depression, Anxiety, etc.
March 24, 2010
you dont really need 8 glasses of water a day.
tap water is as good as bottled water.
taking vitamin c does not prevent colds.
plain soap works just as well as antibacterial soaps for killing disease causing germs.
the secret to a long life is to stay in school.
tap water is as good as bottled water.
taking vitamin c does not prevent colds.
plain soap works just as well as antibacterial soaps for killing disease causing germs.
the secret to a long life is to stay in school.
June 23, 2011
Very interesting--stuff I didn't know, or hadn't really thought about before. My very favorite part was the ending. I plan to implement her "this is today's gift" idea in my own life, and with my kids.
June 16, 2008
Not much new or surprising information
June 23, 2008
I found this book very informative.
June 4, 2009
i really enjoy her style of writing. Easy to understand.. lots of interesting tid bits of knowledge she shares.
June 15, 2009
Worthy of a quick skim.
October 16, 2009
Not too much that we didn't already know, but she has some interesting factoids that were new to me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews