January 2024 "Science" Rumors List: Will coughing for a long time lead to pneumonia? Will hot springs infect you with HPV?

The list of "scientific" rumors for January 2024 is revealed! Will coughing for a long time lead to pneumonia? Wearing black underwear is more likely to cause cancer? Can coconut oil be used for weight loss? The truth >>

The monthly "science" rumor list is guided by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Cyberspace Administration, and the Capital Internet Association, and jointly released by the Beijing Science and Technology Journalists and Editors Association and the Beijing Regional Website Joint Rumor-Refuting Platform, and is supported by the Science and Technology Journalists and Editors Professional Committee of the China Science Writers Association, the China Evening News Science Editors and Journalists Association, the Shanghai Science Communication Association, and the Institute of Science and Technology Information of the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology.

1. Coughing for a long time will lead to pneumonia

gossip:

If you cough for a long time after a cold, it will affect the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia.

the truth:

Cough and pneumonia are different concepts. Cough is only a symptom of a disease, not a disease. Cough can be caused by various reasons. When pathogens such as viruses and bacteria only affect the upper respiratory tract and have not affected the lower respiratory tract, cough symptoms usually occur. The common cold can cause cough, and pneumonia can also cause cough, but cough itself will not cause pneumonia.

When the cough is severe, lying flat will easily cause accumulation of respiratory secretions, which will aggravate the cough. You may consider raising your head, which is conducive to smooth breathing and expectoration. If you have hemoptysis (blood in the sputum), aggravated cough at night (or when changing body position), coughing up a large amount of yellow purulent sputum, or fever after infection, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain and other original symptoms are significantly aggravated, and the cough lasts for more than 2 weeks, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment.

2. You will not get influenza B again in the short term after having influenza A.

gossip:

After having influenza A, your body will become immune to influenza B in the short term because they are both influenza.

the truth:

Influenza A and influenza B are two different subtypes of influenza and do not have a cross-immunity mechanism. The specific antibodies produced after infection with influenza A virus cannot provide effective protection against influenza B infection, and vice versa. In other words, after being infected with influenza A, if the patient's physical condition is relatively weak, he or she may still be infected with influenza B.

Generally speaking, the probability of being infected with the same influenza virus subtype within a year is very small. For example, the influenza virus A (H3N2) subtype is currently prevalent. After infection, the patient's body will have immunity to this type of virus, so the probability of being infected with the same type of virus again within a year is small. However, since influenza A viruses are very easy to mutate, people who have not been vaccinated against influenza may be infected with other subtypes of influenza A viruses again. In recent years, since influenza B viruses have not mutated much and the spread range is relatively small, the probability of being infected with influenza B again within a year is also small.

As the Spring Festival approaches, social mobility of people increases. Those who have not been infected with the flu virus can seize the opportunity to get the flu vaccine. In addition, schools and homes should be ventilated regularly, especially if there are flu patients at home. Ventilation must be maintained to reduce the concentration of viruses in closed environments; go to densely populated places less often, and wear masks in public places, especially when going to the hospital; wash the nose with saline every day to help reduce the probability of viral infection.

3. Exercising right after a meal can cause gastroptosis

gossip:

The stomach just after eating is like a balloon filled with water. If you run or jump at this time, the stomach will be deformed by the things inside, causing gastroptosis.

the truth:

Our internal organs are actually attached to muscles, connected to many ligaments, fascia, etc., and are "held" where they should be. Although they can move a little, it is difficult to move violently. Gastroptosis is caused by problems with this "suspension system", such as insufficient diaphragm suspension force, decreased function and relaxation of supporting ligaments, decreased intra-abdominal pressure, low gastric tension, and relaxed abdominal muscles. Long-term fatigue, excessive brain use, gastrointestinal hypermotility, and decreased diaphragm position can all lead to gastroptosis. Long-term undereating or overeating can also increase the risk of gastroptosis. However, these factors are often caused by accumulation over time and have nothing to do with mild exercise after meals. Therefore, we don't have to worry about "walking a hundred steps after a meal" causing gastroptosis.

Of course, if you eat too much and then immediately engage in strenuous exercise such as running or skipping, it may cause the contents of the stomach to reflux, making you feel uncomfortable. In addition, if you exercise vigorously right after eating, your movements may become deformed due to factors such as bloating, and you may not be able to perform at your best. Therefore, if you are exercising vigorously, it is recommended to wait 1 to 2 hours after eating.

4. Hot springs can infect you with HPV

gossip:

Recently, a netizen posted that he found flat warts on his neck after taking a hot spring bath. This was caused by HPV infection during the hot spring bath.

the truth:

People will not get genital warts or flat warts just by taking a hot spring bath. Without contact between broken skin parts, people will not be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) which can easily cause cervical cancer and genital warts.

There are more than 100 types of HPV viruses in nature, only a small number of which infect humans. Some of them mainly infect the skin and cause common warts, filiform warts, flat warts, plantar warts, etc.; others mainly infect mucosal tissues, among which low-risk types (such as HPV-6 and HPV-11) mainly cause genital warts, while long-term chronic infection with high-risk types (such as HPV-16, HPV-18, etc.) may cause cervical cancer, anal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, etc. in women.

HPV is mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, especially sexual transmission is the main cause of genital warts. After leaving the human body, the survival time of HPV virus in the daily living environment is very short. Even if there are some viruses on the surface of objects, it does not mean that they can be effectively transmitted. HPV virus is difficult to survive in hot springs, and there is not enough to infect human intact skin, so the probability of contracting HPV by taking a hot spring bath is also very low.

How can you feel safe when taking a hot spring bath? First of all, if you have skin injuries, especially in private areas, or if you are a woman during your menstrual period, it is not recommended to take a hot spring bath. Secondly, try to choose a hot spring with a clean and sanitary environment and a rated spring quality, and it is best to choose an independent bathing pool. After bathing in a public bathing pool, rinse your whole body in time and use a clean special bath towel to wipe your body. Finally, if you find that your skin has wounds or ulcers after taking a hot spring bath, you should treat it immediately and do not scratch it.

The following groups of people should not soak in hot springs: elderly people with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, emphysema, anemia; patients with severe arteriosclerosis and people with poor long-term hypertension control; women during their menstrual period, people with hot spring allergies; people with wounds, ulcers and severe infections on the skin, and people with infectious skin diseases. In addition, children, pregnant women, diabetics and people with allergies should not soak in hot springs for a long time.

5. Oil produced by the “leaching method” contains harmful chemicals

gossip:

Do not buy oil labeled "extraction method". The extraction process requires the use of chemical solvents, which can easily produce various harmful chemicals.

the truth:

"Leaching oil" refers to the process of extracting oil from vegetable oil. Many people are worried that the leaching oil will be soaked with chemical reagents, and there will be chemical residues. In fact, the "vegetable oil extraction solvent" used in the leaching method is a food-grade special solvent produced by the country specifically for vegetable oil extraction. During the entire production process, the solvent does not react chemically with the oil, and it will be completely removed in the subsequent refining process.

At present, there are two main technologies for extracting oil from vegetable oils: pressing and leaching. Pressing oil is a method of extracting oil from oil by mechanical pressing, which is also the most traditional method. Many local oil presses are pressed; leaching oil is a process of dissolving the oil components in the oil using chemical solvents and then separating them from the solids, also known as leaching and extraction. It is the same principle as using water to extract sugars from beets and using alcohol to extract the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine.

The oil yield of the pressing method is low, while the efficiency of extracting oil by leaching is much higher, which can reduce waste, and the scale of leaching oil can be made very large, which is also impossible to achieve by the pressing process. Therefore, the leaching process has gradually become the mainstream practice of oil processing plants.

Therefore, whether it is the pressing method or the extraction method, as long as the finished edible vegetable oil is produced in accordance with national standards and meets national food safety standards and product quality standards, it is safe.

6. Wearing black underwear can increase your risk of cancer

gossip:

Black is one of the most common colors in textile and clothing products, but it is best not to buy black underwear. Wearing black underwear will increase the risk of cancer.

the truth:

Among chemical synthetic dyes, azo dyes account for the largest proportion, because their molecular structure contains azo-connected aniline structures, involving most commonly used reactive dyes, disperse dyes, direct dyes, etc., and are used for dyeing and printing a variety of natural and synthetic fiber fabrics. Azo dyes themselves are non-toxic, but a small part of them will mix with human metabolites during the wearing process, and will undergo reduction reactions under certain conditions, releasing carcinogenic aromatic amines, which will damage human health.

However, we can rest assured that these azo dyes have been banned in most countries. my country's national mandatory standard "National Basic Safety Technical Specifications for Textile Products" (GB 18401-2010) clearly stipulates that "degradable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes are prohibited"; the national mandatory standard "Limits and Determination of 23 Harmful Aromatic Amines in Dye Products" (GB 19601-2013) regulates the development and production of dye products in my country from the source, ensuring that high-quality and safe products are provided to enterprises that use dyes for textile and clothing products.

Therefore, as long as the clothing is of qualified quality, no matter what color it is, it is safe and harmless. The above regulations also apply to black textile and clothing products, and qualified black textile and clothing products are also safe and harmless.

7. Eating spicy food can cause acne

gossip:

Every time I eat something spicy, pimples will pop up on my face soon, which shows that eating spicy food can cause acne.

the truth:

There is no link between eating spicy food and acne. On the contrary, some studies have shown that capsaicin in chili peppers is good for treating acne.

The reason why "acne appears after eating spicy food" occurs is that eating spicy food will make the acne that was not very obvious become redder due to the stimulation of "spicy food", and appear more obvious.

Spicy foods that we often associate with skin acne include red oil hot pot, boiled pork slices, and spicy chicken. These foods are often high in sugar and fat, which are the main causes of skin acne. Therefore, next time, don't let spicy food cause acne. Eat less greasy, high-sugar foods and develop a regular work and rest habit, which is the key to preventing acne.

8. Coconut oil can be used for weight loss

gossip:

Commonly used vegetable oils are mainly composed of long-chain fatty acids, which easily accumulate fat after consumption. Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, which can quickly provide energy without storing fat.

the truth:

Whether medium-chain fatty acids can really help lose weight, the current research results are inconsistent. Although some experiments have found that they can increase satiety and reduce food intake, and some studies have found that medium-chain fatty acids may help reduce waist circumference and weight, other studies have not found a significant weight loss effect. Therefore, although medium-chain fatty acids have good prospects for weight loss, more high-quality research is needed to verify it.

In addition, coconut oil is not equivalent to pure medium-chain fatty acids. Although coconut oil contains 54% medium-chain fatty acids, the majority of them are lauric acid, which is metabolized in a similar way to long-chain fatty acids. In fact, there are very few fatty acids in coconut oil that help lose weight.

Moreover, coconut oil itself is 99% fat, which is very high in calories. 100 grams of coconut oil contains 895 kcal. If you want to lose weight by using coconut oil, you may not lose weight, but gain a lot of fat.

(Image source: Visual China, this issue's content sources: Xinhua Daily, China News Network, People's Daily Science, Science Popularization China, Science Popularization Times, Beijing Youth Daily, Tencent Jiuzhen, "Science Rumors Refutation" WeChat public account, Health Times, Guangzhou Daily)