Top 6 Myths in Women's Health

1. MYTH: Cranberry Juices Cure UTI’s

TRUTH: This myth has been around forever and while there is very little research showing that cranberry juice, extract, or pills may help prevent infections, cranberry products are not effective in treating bladder infections if you already have one. Most urinary tract infections need to be treated with antibiotics.

What to do: Check out these tips on how to prevent UTIs. If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI, make an appointment to see your physician.

2. MYTH: You can’t get pregnant when you are breastfeeding.

TRUTH: The truth is exclusively breastfeeding can be a form of temporary birth control, but it is still possible. After giving birth you likely won’t be able to know when you will start ovulating again and ovulation may even occur while you are breastfeeding.

What to do: You can read more on using lactational amenorrhea method here but remember that the best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a reliable birth control every time you have sex.

3. MYTH: Only men need to worry about heart disease

 TRUTH: Heart Disease is the number one cause of death in men and women in the US. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death but only 56% of women are aware of the risk.

What to do: Schedule regular appointments with your health care provider to track your health, including your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Choose heart healthy meals and stay active!

4. MYTH: Drinking Alcohol will help you sleep.

TRUTH: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and because of this it may help you fall asleep faster. However, drinking alcohol before bed can disrupt your sleep later as alcohol is metabolized.

What to do: Remember the more alcohol you drink before bed, the more pronounced the effects are in disrupting your sleep. For optimal health, women should limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day.

5. MYTH: You need to drink 8 glasses of water per day

TRUTH: Studies have produced many recommendations for our average water intake, but the truth is, how much water we need to consume is dependent on each individual. Most healthy individuals can stay hydrated by drinking water when they are thirsty.

What to do: Eight glasses of water a day is an attainable goal, modify your intake based on your overall health and how much you exercise. Also remember that you don’t have to depend on drinking water to get your daily intake. There are plenty fruits and vegetables that can provide a significant portion of your water intake, like watermelon, cucumbers and spinach!

6. MYTH: Wearing Bra's cause breast cancer

TRUTH: This is another myth that has been around for some time, but again there is no truth to it. In fact, the American Cancer Society states “there is no good scientific or clinical basis for this claim, and a 2014 study of more than 1,500 women found no association between wearing a bra and breast cancer risk.”

What to do: By making healthy lifestyle choices – such as not smoking, eating nutritious foods, and limiting alcohol consumption – you can help keep your risk as low as it can be.