Jill Blake
~ Cozy mysteries with a medical twist ~
From Phoebe's Files:
Hi there! I'm the newest resident of Almond Grove, population 3500--make that 3501. Don't bother looking it up. It's a fictional town on California's Central Coast, where the per capita murder rate is higher than all surrounding towns combined. But don't worry: we also have a 100% solve rate, mostly thanks to yours truly (and Sheriff's Lieutenant Carter Adams—who'd be happier if I didn't get involved at all, but oh well).
--Phoebe Sharpe MD
Legal Disclaimer:
I'm a doctor, but I'm not your doctor. This is education and entertainment, not medical advice. For real medical issues, see your real physician.
10 Medical Myths -Examined by Someone Who Actually Went to Med School
Myth #1: You must walk 10,000 steps every day or your fitness tracker will judge you.
The Evidence:
The 10,000-step goal didn't descend from Mount Sinai. It came from a 1960s Japanese pedometer company with a catchy product name (万歩計, man-po-kei, which translates to "10,000 steps meter"). Marketing, not medicine.Walking more is good for you, but 10,000 isn't a magic number. A study of older women found that mortality rates dropped going from 2,700 steps to 4,400 steps per day, and kept improving until leveling off around 7,500 steps.[1] For younger adults, benefits may continue up to 8,000-10,000 steps.[2]
Phoebe's Verdict: Walking is good. The exact number of steps is negotiable
Myth #2: Exercise doesn't count unless you're doing it for 30+ minutes
The Evidence:
The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, plus resistance training. [3] But how you break it up is up to you. So go on a brisk 10-minute walk, take the stairs, or dance while you wait for the water to boil. Every bit counts, and it all adds up. Even a minute or two of vigorous activity several times a day can lower mortality risk.[4]
Phoebe's Verdict: Exercise doesn't require a gym membership, a playlist, or any Lycra-based clothing.
Myth #3: Chocolate is a cardiovascular miracle food
The Evidence:
Flavanol-rich foods have been studied for possible cardiovascular benefits.[5] But the evidence that your average chocolate bar prevents heart attacks remains thin, and most commercial chocolate is loaded with sugar and fat. A square or two of dark chocolate, which contains more flavanols than milk chocolate, can be part of a healthy diet—but don't count on it curing whatever ails you.
Phoebe's Verdict: Eat chocolate (in moderation) because you want it, not as "preventive medicine."
Myth #3: Chocolate is a cardiovascular miracle food
The Evidence:
Flavanol-rich foods have been studied for possible cardiovascular benefits.[5] But the evidence that your average chocolate bar prevents heart attacks remains thin, and most commercial chocolate is loaded with sugar and fat. A square or two of dark chocolate, which contains more flavanols than milk chocolate, can be part of a healthy diet—but don't count on it curing whatever ails you.
Phoebe's Verdict: Eat chocolate (in moderation) because you want it, not as "preventive medicine."
#4
You must drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day or you'll shrivel like a raisin.
The Evidence:
Fluid needs vary with body size, activity level, weather, diet, and health conditions. Water in food (soup, fruit, vegetables) counts toward hydration. Other beverages contribute too, though some act as diuretics and increase fluid loss (at least temporarily). Coffee, tea, and alcohol are the main offenders. The National Academies of Sciences suggests adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women, counting all beverages and food.[6] The good news: you don't actually have to keep a log. Most healthy people can just drink when they're thirsty. Older adults are an exception—thirst signals get weaker after 65. Some medications and medical conditions also mess with fluid balance.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Drink when you're thirsty. Your body has a built-in hydration alarm system—unless you're over 65 or on certain medications, in which case talk to your actual doctor.
#6
"Antibacterial" soap is superior to regular soap and will protect you from all kinds of germs.
The Evidence:
For routine handwashing at home, the FDA says there's no evidence that antibacterial soaps work better than plain soap and water.[8] The agency banned 19 active ingredients (including triclosan and triclocarban) from consumer antibacterial soaps because these "antibacterial" ingredients didn't show sufficient benefit and might actually carry some risk. Plain soap and water physically removes germs. The "antibacterial" label is marketing.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Your technique matters. The label on the bottle doesn't. Just lather up and wash your hands for 20 seconds under running water.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
Mains
A Pasta Hack That Will Transport You to Rome
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Healthy
Creative Salad Ideas for the Veggie Lover
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#5
Green or yellow mucus means you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics.
The Evidence:
Mucus color is determined by white blood cells and the enzymes they release. This happens whether your infection is viral or bacterial—the color alone won't distinguish between the two. [7]
The sad fact is: antibiotics don't treat viruses.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Green mucus looks impressive. It proves nothing.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
Mains
A Pasta Hack That Will Transport You to Rome
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Healthy
Creative Salad Ideas for the Veggie Lover
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
#4
You must walk 10,000 steps every day or your fitness tracker will judge you.
The Evidence:
Fluid needs vary with body size, activity level, weather, diet, and health conditions. Water in food (soup, fruit, vegetables) counts toward hydration. Other beverages contribute too, though some act as diuretics and increase fluid loss (at least temporarily). Coffee, tea, and alcohol are the main offenders. The National Academies of Sciences suggests adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women, counting all beverages and food.[6] The good news: you don't actually have to keep a log. Most healthy people can just drink when they're thirsty. Older adults are an exception—thirst signals get weaker after 65. Some medications and medical conditions also mess with fluid balance.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Drink when you're thirsty. Your body has a built-in hydration alarm system—unless you're over 65 or on certain medications, in which case talk to your actual doctor.
#6
"Antibacterial" soap is superior to regular soap and will protect you from all kinds of germs.
The Evidence:
For routine handwashing at home, the FDA says there's no evidence that antibacterial soaps work better than plain soap and water.[8] The agency banned 19 active ingredients (including triclosan and triclocarban) from consumer antibacterial soaps because these "antibacterial" ingredients didn't show sufficient benefit and might actually carry some risk. Plain soap and water physically removes germs. The "antibacterial" label is marketing.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Your technique matters. The label on the bottle doesn't. Just lather up and wash your hands for 20 seconds under running water.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
Mains
A Pasta Hack That Will Transport You to Rome
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Healthy
Creative Salad Ideas for the Veggie Lover
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
#5
Green or yellow mucus means you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics.
The Evidence:
Mucus color is determined by white blood cells and the enzymes they release. This happens whether your infection is viral or bacterial—the color alone won't distinguish between the two. [7]
The sad fact is: antibiotics don't treat viruses.
Phoebe's Verdict:
Green mucus looks impressive. It proves nothing.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
#7
Normal body temperature is exactly 98.6°F.
The Evidence:
Body temperature varies by person, time of day, activity, age, and the type of thermometer you use.[9] The 98.6°F standard comes from a German physician's work in the 1860s and represents an average body temperature across the population he tested. Recent large studies suggest the average temperature has been dropping slightly over the past century. It's currently closer to 97.5°F to 97.9°F.[10]
Phoebe's Verdict:
Humans are diverse, so are their body temperatures.
Mains
A Pasta Hack That Will Transport You to Rome
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Healthy
Creative Salad Ideas for the Veggie Lover
Make this yours. Click here to edit the text and include any relevant information.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.