35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You’d Know

The past year and counting was marked by the biggest public health crisis in modern history, and it’s fair to say that healthiness and wellbeing have been at the top of our minds. But in times of anti-vaxxers, covid deniers, and fake news sweeping across the web like a parallel viral storm, we must get our health facts straight.

So when someone asked doctors and medical practitioners “What one medical fact do you wish everybody knew?” on r/AskReddit, the thread blew up and it now serves as a perfect source for things we should all know without exceptions.

From trusting our immune system to following antibiotic treatment, and exercising like it was the most prescribed pill in the world, these are some of the most eye-opening responses from people devoting their lives to treating others.

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Vaccines are safe and save lives.

tinyandhyper , National Cancer Institute Report

Final score:

416points

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Dan Buczynski 3 years ago

We need a vaccine against stupidity.

14points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know I may be alone in this, but I want my patients to know that there is no possible way I can keep up with all the medical advances and new studies that are out there. And I also want them to know that there are thousands of conditions that I learned about in medical school that I've forgotten because I've never seen or recognized them in practice.

This is important, because my patients frequently apologize for looking up things on the internet. No, don't apologize. I want you to research your condition. I want you to look things up. I want you to know about new treatments, new research, and alternative medications. Because often I don't. I may not agree with the things you've read, and that's fine too. Ask me about thinks you've read and the picture you found that looks like your rash. I can't tell you how many times a patient has come to me with a suggestion about a possible explanation for symptoms because they read about it on the internet that turned out to be a correct or at least reasonable guess. Please educate yourselves about yourselves.

Some good websites are the CDC website and AAFP.org (the American Academy of Family Practice). And if your doctor is offended that you're trying to be educated, get a different doctor.

Source: I'm a doctor

frumious_b , Debby Hudson Report

Final score:

369points

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Ozacoter 3 years ago

Finally! I love this doctor! Most GPs don't have training enough about many diseases and often ignore them or give even damaging advice. But they often are too arrogant to admit that they dont know. I was 10y with textbook endometriosis symptoms without a diagnosis because nobody bothered to listen to me or do any effort. A quick 5m research would have suggested that disease. But why bother trying to heal your patients?

104points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Mental illness can be as serious as a physical one. Get treated. You wouldn't let a broken leg go.

autumnx , Anthony Tran Report

Final score:

339points

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Julie C Rose 3 years ago

I wish I’d asked for meds a lot sooner than I did.

72points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know If your kid has a fever, and you give them Tylenol or Ibuprofen to bring it down, they are STILL. SICK. You're only treating symptoms temporarily, not curing anything.

For the love of everything holy, do not give them Tylenol and send them to school/daycare/sports/birthday parties/etc. to become patient zero and infect everyone else.

SmthgWicked , Kelly Sikkema Report

Final score:

321points

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Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago

Parents who send their kids to school knowing they are sick make me so angry. It is so selfish and could be life threatening to others. If your kids are sick, keep them home.

105points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know I work in a burn unit.

Don't put accelerants on a camp/bonfire.

Don't go back into a burning house/vehicle/airplane

Don't put accelerants on bonfires. This includes aerosol cans of stuff. Those blow up.

Don't make meth unless you have an advanced degree in the field.

Don't put accelerants on bonfires. Even if it "Just won't light."

Don't let your pot handles hang over the edge of the stove where your kid can reach.

Don't put accelerants on bonfires, even if you've "been doing it for years."

Don't pick up containers of flaming grease and oil.

Don't put accelerants on bonfires. Diesel is an accelerant.

Don't keep electric cigarettes in your pocket.

If you wear oxygen, don't smoke with it on/in your lap.

Don't burn trash. You don't know what the f**k's in there. Probably accelerants.

Stop opening your radiator cap unless the car is cold.

Carburetor injuries are common. I don't know how it happens. Help me out car people.

DON'T. PUT. ACCELERANTS. ON. YOUR. GADDAM. FIRE

DeLaNope , CHUTTERSNAP Report

Final score:

297points

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Kirsten Kerkhof 3 years ago

I sense a mild frustration here ;)

144points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know if exercise were a pill, it'd be the most prescribed drug in existence

filo4000 , Fitsum Admasu Report

Final score:

259points

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Julie C Rose 3 years ago

Just gotta manage the side effects like my actual meds. Especially since my actual meds cause fatigue. I’m having to start really small with exercise and increase it gradually.

45points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Vaccines are the greatest advancement in modern medicine. They save lives and prevent weeks of lost work each year (flu season). If people started seeing more pertussis (whooping cough) or epiglottitis (part of the throat swells up and can kill children) they'd get their shots, but vaccines have become victims of their own success. Get your shots to protect immunodeficient people that can't get their shots.

tl;dr If you don't get vaccinated and you don't vaccinate your kids then you are an a-hole.

ocddoc , Mufid Majnun Report

Final score:

257points

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Ozacoter 3 years ago

Vaccinating kids should be mandatory. Its child abuse to not do it imo

114points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know You should not stop an antibiotic treatment because you feel better already.

Mikigi , Testalize.me Report

Final score:

247points

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Radek Suski 3 years ago

Every time I got it prescribed the doctor’d explicitly say that

55points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Smoking will kill you.

"Nah... cancer won't get to me" you might say, and you'd be statistically right.

It'll be your heart.

In the simplest of terms, smoking makes your arteries rigid, so as they progressively get filled with fat, instead of increasing their diameter they'll just get stuffed until no more blood can get through and you'll be done.

If you're lucky you'll get some chest pains beforehand but that's not always the case.

"Joke's on you sucka! I got a heart attack and survived, death ain't got shit on me!"

Welcome to the world of chronic heart failure where from now on every day that goes by your heart will be less a pump and more a container, until you get out of breath from just speaking and eventually die. There's no going back.

Please stop smoking.

Valproic_acid , Eanlami Report

Final score:

226points

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Ozacoter 3 years ago

Not only that. It makes others sick, which is the bad part. My mother always smoked around us, even whenshe was oregnant of me. I "banned" her from smoking in my bedroom when I was 16 and she got really pissed. Now i have ton of heth issues including lung problems and I do blame her for those.

18points

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#10

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Your immune system is one of the greatest assets you have and you never thank it. In your life, your body will autonomously eradicate between 6-10 cancers without your realising. It will fight your infections, repair micro traumas and police the entire population of billions of cells in your body without your asking.

All it requests in return is a little bit of health to preserve it. Stop smoking, lose weight. Maybe exercise a little. Don't drink so much. Your diet is so much more important that you realise.

cousinbebop , Girl with red hat Report

Final score:

220points

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Jerry Conaway 3 years ago

I can attest to this. A few years back I went on a health food and exercise kick. Not anything nutty like veganizing or working out three times a day. Just healthy servings of fruits, veggies, lean meats. Cut the soft drinks. Only occasional alcohol, absolutely NO smoking. Cycling 3-4 times a week. I had a streak of about five years with no colds or flu with no flu vaccination, and nothing else other than mild spring allergies. Once I started back into a more "normal" American diet and lifestyle, the seasonal flu started visiting me again.

46points

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#11

Australian paramedic intern here. we are not the police and we really honestly don't care about any of the shit, illegal or not, you have done or taken. we just need the full story to make sure that you can get the best targeted treatment. also, we don't mind getting called to old people falling and not being able to get up, especially if they have no family or no way to contact them. for me, that's a medical emergency, because if you stay there you will die and paramedic school taught me that that is bad for you.

pancreaticpirates Report

Final score:

218points

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Ian Koch 3 years ago

BREAKING NEWS: Dying is bad for your health. I hope this sheit joke made you at least just a little happier.

33points

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#12

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics.

doodlebugkisses , Pixabay Report

Final score:

207points

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Šimon Špaček 3 years ago

I sometimes wonder if is there some placebo antibiotic, which doctors presbribe to those morons demanding antibiotics for their viral infections. You know, instead of arguing with them, just give them a prescribtion for a week of "nothingasol", which works best when used four times a day with a cup of tea with honey and lemon.

7points

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#13

Just because you're not suffering from a mental health disorder, it doesn't mean it's not a real thing.

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Final score:

204points

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KombatBunni 3 years ago

And being denied work because you tell your employer you have it, or can't do university work because you have an anxiety disorder and being ignored or told "don't worry we'll do all we can to make sure you pass!" doesn't bloodywell help.

34points

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#14

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Vaccines don't cause autism, nor do they contain elemental aluminum or mercury.

KyleRichXV , Mufid Majnun Report

Final score:

202points

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Eslamala 3 years ago (edited)

There's more mercury in a can of what people call tuna, or the actual fish, than you will find in any vaccine.

70points

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#15

Former EMS here.

Don't get angry when that quiet person gets taken out of the ER waiting room before you. You have a headache and are raging and I can't help you, but that person who just got taken back is quiet for a reason.

You're not dying. Death is quiet. I can't tell you how many times I took someone to the ER yelling and kicking and screaming and when we roll up and they get looked at it's often minor.

I've seen people who I had a feeling would not make it. They don't rave like idiots, they lay still and quiet and it's almost eerie.

KasperAura Report

Final score:

196points

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N G 3 years ago (edited)

It's like what they teach on First Aid courses - the one that is quiet needs your help first. If you're screaming, you're breathing, if they're quiet, they may not be. This is just the next level of care.

118points

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#16

Pee after sex. Any sex, just do it. All kinds of bacteria get pushed up your ureatha. UTIs suck.

Theantijen Report

Final score:

190points

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Leigh C. 3 years ago

As you get older it's a given.

27points

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#17

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know The pregnancy test you get in the ER is no different from the one at the store and equally accurate.

hebrewstwelve , cottonbro Report

Final score:

181points

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Anne 3 years ago

Also almost all women are tested for pregnancy as standard procedure in the ER because it's a big thing to factor in to care (and sometimes the reason they are there but didn't know)

5points

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#18

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Nurse here. If you're an alcoholic that's admitted to the hospital, don't lie about how much you drink. There are drugs we can give you to take the edge off of withdrawals. It's safer for you and safer for us. We're not judging you, we have safety in mind.

golson3 , Nathan Dumlao Report

Final score:

172points

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Trillian 3 years ago

Except tha's not how addiction works. Show me an alcoholic that is ready to call themselves an alcoholic. They think it's "not that bad" which is a huge part of the problem.

28points

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#19

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Doctors are there to help you, stop lying to them. They have to protect your privacy, so if you're doing drugs - tell them, they have to keep it secret, and it could kill you if you don't.

_Hopped_ , MART PRODUCTION Report

Final score:

165points

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Eslamala 3 years ago

Some people are just morons. The doctor doesn't give a shït about your lifestyle, and even so, you as a fkcn adult shouldn't care about what other people think of you. If you do drugs, they'll most likely interfere with your treatment, and you know what? Dying is not the worst that could happen to you. Becoming a vegetable and a burden to your family is way worse. (One of the many reasons I'm pro euthanasia, btw)

30points

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#20

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know It's significantly more effective to prevent cancer than it is to treat it, but the world isn't interested because most people just want a pill to fix their problems.

Don't smoke. Wear sunscreen. Don't drink excessively. Get a bit of exercise and eat some goddamn vegetables. Do those and bam!, huge drop in cancer risk, but nobody wants to hear it.

noobwithboobs , James Yarema Report

Final score:

158points

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Robert T 3 years ago

I don't smoke, I hardly drink and I used to do a reasonable amount of excercise and it didn't help one iota! Whilst the point is that your lifestyle can significantly increase your risk of some types of cancer, there are others that you can do nothing about. A kinder more effective treatment is still needed, as chemo is brutal.

45points

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#21

If you're impaled by something don't pull it out.

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Final score:

152points

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Mazer 3 years ago

Hollywood movies are so damaging, actors are forever yanking out a knife or arrow, the poster is 100% spot on. The item and the inflammation around it may be keeping you from bleeding out, Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter pulled a stingray barb out of his chest, causing massive blood loss in an instant.

27points

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#22

Not a doctor but something a doctor told me when the incident occurred.

Girls if you get excruciating cramps at the time of your period and it feels much worse then it actually is, go to a doctor.

When I was 13 I had already been confirmed to having a ovarian cyst, and it made it very painful for me during my periods to the point where I had passed out from the pain of it once. However at one point it felt much worse then it typically did and I blew it off as being because of my period.

It turned out my appendix was bursting.

The doctor told me a lot of woman blow off period cramps because doctors tend to do the same. Don't, it almost meant life or death for me.

neutral_ew Report

Final score:

138points

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Kirsten Kerkhof 3 years ago

I had a volvulus (where your large intestine twists and closes). It is excruciating, but it's also in the lower abdomen. So, being a woman, it was OBVIOUSLY period cramps. It took five (!) years before I finally managed to get a scan - and then I was told I shouldn't have waited so long. I had no reply to that, well, not any that would help ...

42points

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#23

If you get in an accident as a biker, don't take your helmet off your head under any circumstances. You can unhook the strap if you really need to to not suffocate, but that's it.

(Stop reading here if you're a faint of heart): Many times, your head will break like an egg and the helmet is basically the only thing preventing your skull from being skewered by your cranium shards or spilling out.

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Final score:

137points

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Michelle M 3 years ago

WEAR AN HELMET PEOPLE!

58points

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#24

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Nurse & Midwife here.

I wish people understood that if they are receiving treatment for a condition, they still have that condition.

Case in point: If you're taking medication for something you aren't suddenly free of that disease.

Your blood pressure meds are maintaining a normal blood pressure BECAUSE you have the condition of high blood pressure. Your insulin is maintaining your blood sugars BECAUSE you have diabetes.

Sounds simple but amazing how much people tell us they have no conditions but are on 1000 medications that tell a different story

alisaysaccio , Laurynas Mereckas Report

Final score:

128points

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MargyB 3 years ago

As a nurse, I have def had patients say this

23points

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#25

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Volunteer SAR-ship crewmember here; when you suspect whoever is lying down is not breathing by themselves, begin CPR immiditially AND DO NOT STOP until medical professional arrives, even if this means that you have to go on for several hours. We do not perform CPR to have the patient miraculously wake up and make out with us, we do this to sustain the most vital bodily function - the circulation of oxygen to the brain - until we can get that person to a hospital.

Prozacna , RODNAE Productions Follow Report

Final score:

116points

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Michelle M 3 years ago

Everyone should know how to perform CPR

47points

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#26

In a situation where first aid is required it is better to do something than to be scared and not do anything. You might save someones life.

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Final score:

116points

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Deborah B 3 years ago

Except pulling out the impaling object or removing someones helmet. Don't be that guy.

117points

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#27

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know RPh here. Do not keep your medicine in your "medicine cabinet" in your bathroom. The steam from a shower and the temperature fluctuations will degrade your medication. Keep them in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.

Also look through your OTC items in your house and clean out the expired drugs and restock your basics ( ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pepto, eyedrops, etc).

rofosho , Erik Mclean Report

Final score:

111points

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Shelp 3 years ago

That's a good advice

23points

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#28

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Alcohol withdrawal is deadly. Many of my patients don't know this. It's a gamble - I've seen fifth of vodka/day drinkers not withdrawal, and 2-3 beers/day withdrawal. It onsets quickly, and it's deadly. Anyone who drinks almost daily and is deciding to quit cold turkey needs to understand this, and notify family at the bare minimum.

skibbytoast , Ralph (Ravi) Kayden Report

Final score:

108points

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Norma 3 years ago

Meantime, nearly every TV show/movie, someone quits cold turkey and couple days later like they've never had a drop!

21points

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#29

Not a doctor and this is a minor thing, but: If you don't have celiac disease, gluten is not bad for you.

More important: Vaccines do not cause autism. They save lives.

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Final score:

105points

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Eslamala 3 years ago

The whole "gluten free" diet when people don't have celiac disease is idiotic. Even more so because those who do it, do so because some influencer told them to 🤦🏼‍♀️

34points

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#30

If you want to keep hands/fingers/upper limbs intact:

Do not punch a wall/car door/guy in the face/brick, etc. You will end up with a "boxer's fracture," or a break of your fifth metacarpal bone. Most of the time everyone will know you were drunk when it happened and it's not comfortable or fun.

Do not reach into the chute of a running snow-blower, even if it's stopped because something is stuck in there.

Do not attempt to fix your chain-driven garage door opener by putting your fingers in the track and asking your wife to "hit the button."

Do not reach into an auger at work trying to retrieve your safety glove that just fell in there.

Do not hold onto something at work that winches rope.

If you have a wound on your hand/fingers/arm, and it is oozing something that looks green, yellow, white, or pink, go to the doctor and have it looked at. You may save yourself from an amputation.

Source: I'm an RN at an orthopedic surgery center. All of these things have happened NUMEROUS times. And yes, archaic as it seems, sometimes people have to get fingers or even hands amputated (in this day and age!) because they ignored an infection.

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Final score:

101points

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Eslamala 3 years ago

Are people really THIS stupid??

15points

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#31

Prostrate is to throw yourself onto the ground.

Prostate is the gland that can make it hard to pee. (or give you cancer).

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Final score:

95points

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Roxy Eastland 3 years ago

And only men have one. I'm not kidding, I once spoke to a man of thirty who was astonished to learn that his girlfriend didn't have a prostate.

38points

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#32

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Doctor here. Don't stop your medications by yourself. Just don't, no matter how good you feel. Patients stop antibiotics and relapse. So many resistant TB cases here. Stop taking insulin and come with DKA. Stop taking anti-hypertensives and get a stroke. Don't stop any drug unless cleared prior with your doctor. Most of the diseases can only be managed, they can't really be cured. If you have diabetes, get sugar levels tested at least once a month. Don't ignore it. Don't mix alcohol and anti-depressants. Also, no matter how bad it is, we have seen worse. Don't be ashamed. Pull out doesn't mean she won't get pregnant. Precum has sperm too. Last, if you see anyone vomiting and loss conscious, turn them to their side. Less chances of it entering lungs.

buttercup987 , Olga DeLawrence Report

Final score:

94points

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Helen Haley 3 years ago

A lot of the medications mentioned are stopped because of no money. Rail against it if you like, your patients are still broke with broken (if any) insurance.

35points

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#33

35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You'd Know Keep an eye on your weight. Rapid unintentional weight loss is often a sign something serious is up.

serac145 , i yunmai Report

Final score:

92points

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Andy Acceber 3 years ago

My doctor actually told me this one. My mom was a bit of a hypochondriac. I was constantly in and out of doctors' offices as a child. Now, I have a hard time determining what's worth making an appointment for. I told my doctor I wanted to go in less. She said to come in for 1) any substantial head injuries, 2) moles that change shape, or 3) losing weight when you weren't trying to.

30points

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#34

The 10% of your brain thing is a myth. So is most left/right-brained stuff you hear. Stop asking me about it.

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Final score:

89points

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Shelp 3 years ago

If it was true, getting shot in the head would be harmless in 90% of the cases

33points

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Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 34 images based on user votes.

What do you think ?

PandaMonium 3 years ago

OK so my main take away from this is don't put accelerants on bonfires.

13points

s. vitkovitsky 3 years ago

Remember just that and you're good to go!

2points

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Tracy Wallick 3 years ago

Sick to death of hearing advice to exercise and lose weight, I have depression which makes daily living sometimes impossible, let alone exercising. Someone tell me how to get the ball rolling on exercising when I'm suffering from depression! ("Just do it" isn't advice, if it was that simple I'd have done it by now)

Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago

Sending you a hug, stranger. I get it.

3points

Keley Babs 3 years ago

As a physician who struggles with weight gain and generalized anxiety disorder, I can tell you that people who tell you weight loss is all diet and exercise are either (A) still under 25 years old (in which case, enjoy that metabolism while it lasts), or (B) have a great genetics (in which case, congratulations and I'm jealous). There's so much more going on to weight loss and weight gain in our bodies, not to mention how our brain talks to our gut about when and why we want food. We are just barely starting to understand all this. Do what you can, try to be healthy, but live your life and it's OK to blow people off sometimes, even doctors

Christina Uhlir 3 years ago

The advice is: start slowly - go for short walk - and gradually do more in your own pace, Tracy. If you are on BP, writing comments you can exercise, believe me - kind words, hugs, plant-based diet......and exercise are good for you.

General/trauma surgeon here: if you ride a motorcycle, it doesn't matter how "safe" you are on the road. If a reckless car hits you at highway speeds, your body will still fly off the motorcycle and break multiple limbs or your neck or die.

And if the reckless driver is you, the motorcyclist, weaving in and out of cars at highway speeds, your body will pay a heavier price, but the driver that hits you will never be the same. Just drive safely people!

4points

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35 Medical Facts That Doctors Wish You’d Know

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