We’ve all heard someone speak about how cracking your knuckles causes arthritis, or going out at night with wet hair can bring about a common cold. And let’s face, it seems pretty believable. But here are two popular health myths that are debunked and supported by research professionals.
Going out with wet hair makes you sick
So you’ve just gotten out of the shower, and your hair is still dripping wet. You don’t even consider going outside in fear that you might get sick. According to healthline, leaving the house after a shower won’t make you sick unless you are already sick.
In a study, researchers tested the hypothesis that chilling your body increases the chances of being affected with a common cold virus. The result found that this is not the case, however, it can cause the onset of symptoms if the virus is already in your body, healthline adds.
So you might want to make sure that you dry your hair before heading out if you are already feeling unwell.
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis
This can be perceived as a nasty habit, but in that same breath, some people find this action extremely therapeutic. However, clinical studies reveal that this habit may not contribute to arthritis.
However, arthritis develops when the cartilage within the joint breaks down, causing friction between the bones. Your joints are surrounded by, what is called, a synovial membrane, which contains synovial fluid that lubricates it and prevents it from grinding together, both healthline and Harvard Health writes.
The process of cracking your knuckles means that you are simply pulling your joints apart, and this movement causes an air bubble to form within the fluid, which pops and makes the sound that we often enjoy hearing. Persistent cracking can, however, tear down the synovial membrane, and cause hand swelling as well as weakening your grip, WebMD says.
If you are experiencing pain, or are feeling unwell, kindly consult your healthcare professional for advice.
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