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Medical Myths vs. Facts

NEWS RELEASE — March 18, 2008

BUFFALO, NY — Can drinking coffee really reduce your risk of diabetes? Does alcohol consumption really lead to breast cancer. There’s no shortage of medical myths circulating in today’s world. Richard Vienne, DO, internal medicine physician at the Amherst Health Center, gives the facts on a few of the most popular health fallacies.

Myth #1: Long term coffee consumption can reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

TRUE: A 2004 study from the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that participants who regularly drank caffeinated coffee reduced their risk by 50 percent in men and nearly 30 percent in women as compared to non drinkers.

Myth #2: Normal alcohol consumption is linked to breast cancer.

FALSE: Very little evidence exists to support this correlation. However, there is evidence that high levels of alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk.

Myth #3: Red meat raises cholesterol.

FALSE: Studies have shown that people who eat lean red meat had no significant rises in their cholesterol level compared to those whose diet consisted of lean white meat.

Myth #4: Magnesium can help you live longer.

TRUE: An 18-year French study found that men with the highest levels of magnesium had a 40 percent lower risk of early death. A 17-year study done in Iowa also showed that women with a high consumption of magnesium reduced their risk for colon cancer by 25 percent.

Myth #5: An elevated homocysteine level can lead to blood vessel blockage.

TRUE: Homocysteine is an amino acid, a building block protein, that can lead to blood vessel blockage if levels get too high in a person’s blood stream. Elevated homocysteine has been linked with cardiac disease and stroke. Levels can be measured with a simple blood test. “Consider talking with your doctor to see if you should consider getting this test,” says Vienne.

Myth #6: Muscle weighs more than fat.

FALSE: Remember that old brainteaser - which weighs more; a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks? A pound equals a pound, whether it’s feathers and rocks or muscle and fat.  However, muscle is denser than fat, meaning that it will create less bulk on your body than fat.  In addition, the more lean muscle tissue you have, the more calories you will burn.

“With so much health information at the public’s fingertips, through the Internet and other venues, it can be hard to discern what’s myth and what’s fact,” says Vienne. “When in doubt about a health-related issue, the best thing to do is ask your doctor, or if that’s not possible, make sure the information comes from a credible health or government organization.”

Patients of Lifetime Health Medical Group can ask their doctor non-urgent questions, such as those about health myths, through RelayHealth®, a secure online communication service.

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