With fear and panic running rampant through society and social media, there are a lot of health myths floating around regarding prevention and treatments for COVID-19. Any information about the virus that does not come from a reputable source should never be taken at face value and should be fact-checked. That being said, sometimes it can be hard to tell the real from the fake, so here are three of the most popular health myths that you should avoid.
- There are no specific medications being used to prevent COVID-19.
There are lots of health myths floating around right now about what can be used to treat COVID-19. This has led to a lot of silly self-treatments and a shortage of medications that some people need to survive. Perhaps the most ridiculous of self-treatments is the consumption of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, particularly those getting it from fish tank cleaner.
While the anti-malarial chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been considered as treatments for COVID-19, they are dangerous drugs that can cause death without physician oversight. So, no, you shouldn’t drink fish tank cleaner that contains chloroquine phosphate or any fish tank cleaner for that matter. It’s best to avoid drinking any cleaning product that could strip the leather from a cow. Use your best judgment when it comes to social media treatment fads so you can best avoid health myths.
- COVID-19 can survive in hot environments.
The novel coronavirus has thrived in the cold, spreading across the globe in the winter months. In addition, hand-washing procedures that emphasize the power of hot water with the added power of soap have become commonplace. This has led some to suggest that the warmer spring and summer weather will be the ultimate weapon against COVID-19.
However, the seasonality of diseases like the flu comes from its airborne transmission. But experts don’t believe COVID-19 is spread the same way. Basically, COVID-19 can endure the summer heat; it is simply more viable in the cold.
- Vitamin supplements and essential oils have no documented effect on COVID-19.
Some people make it their life’s goal to rag on supplements and essential oils. Other people believe so steadfastly in them that vaccines and other traditional treatments make them weary. But, when it comes to COVID-19, neither vitamin supplements or essential oils have been proven to affect the virus.
While both have their benefits and can help to alleviate stress or depression deriving from the virus, they are not a cure and should be treated as such.
For a more extensive list of health myths to avoid, check out websites from the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and other accredited medical outlets.
Featured Image by Olgierd Rudak on Flickr
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
