RE: Sam’s Hangout #134 - “HEALTH MYTHS AND REALITY"

In Nigeria, there are so many health myths. One health myth that amuses me is the belief that a chubby person is healthier than a slim person. Because of their body size, people tend to assume that bigger people are very healthy, not knowing that there are conditions, such as micronutrient deficiencies, that may exist internally and require proper medical investigations and laboratory tests to detect.
Another health myth is the one involving people in local markets who advertise a particular drug as being capable of solving almost every health problem. It amazes me to see their advertising skills and, more interestingly, people volunteering to have the medication administered to them.
Another belief is that teenagers have no business worrying about their blood pressure. So, when a very young individual walks into a health shop or centre to check their BP, it raises eyebrows. However, blood pressure problems are not exclusive to older people, and young people can also experience them.
Yes, people are becoming increasingly comfortable relying on health myths. When you ask why, it often comes down to ignorance of the correct information and the belief that these practices work because they have seemingly produced results in the past.
On the issue of herbal medication, it may be difficult to hear a doctor recommend an unregulated herbal preparation, but does that make herbal medicine bad? No, it doesn't. However, herbal preparations can easily be abused, especially when their ingredients, safety, interactions and appropriate dosages are unknown. People also tend to self-medicate with them.
They may work in some situations, but I believe they should not replace hospital visits, particularly when professional assessment and proper management are needed for serious health conditions.
I also think it is important to understand that not everyone avoids hospitals because they don't want to seek medical attention. Sometimes, the problem is financial constraints. Hospital bills, consultation fees and the cost of medications can be discouraging, so people resort to herbal preparations or visit chemists to have drugs mixed for them. Sometimes, they get better, which further reinforces their belief in these practices.
Have a wonderful weekend experience!!