January 2023 "Science" Rumors List: Is holding your breath for 40 seconds the standard for recovery from COVID-19? Can fireworks disinfect?

The list of "scientific" rumors for January 2023 is revealed! Is holding your breath for more than 40 seconds the standard for recovery from COVID-19? Is it necessary to supplement coenzyme Q10 after being infected with COVID-19? Can setting off fireworks disinfect? ​​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. After "Yang Kang", you can swallow mustard and drink soy sauce to awaken your taste buds

gossip:

If you experience a loss of taste after recovering from COVID-19, you can "awaken" your sense of taste by swallowing mustard or drinking soy sauce.

the truth:

If a COVID-19 patient experiences a loss of taste and smell, the condition will generally improve on its own after two weeks to one month. Trying to use various irritating foods to "fight poison with poison" to restore the sense of taste is not advisable. Eating various irritating foods may also damage the local oral mucosa and even the mucosa of the digestive tract.

After the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, some people may have residual nasal congestion, cough, and loss of smell and taste, which are not sequelae, but are just one of the symptoms of viral infection. Loss of smell and taste is a "transient" symptom after infection. As the disease progresses and symptoms gradually ease, most people can recover to normal on their own, so there is no need to worry too much.

2. After the “Yang Kang” period, you need to spend the “small month”

gossip:

After recovering from COVID-19, you should take a short period of confinement, eat and drink as much as you want, take plenty of supplements, and rest for 30 days.

the truth:

It is not wrong to take proper supplements after positive recovery, but it is not necessary to "sit on confinement" and avoid being too hasty. After the COVID-19 "Yang Kang", many organs, including the digestive tract, need a certain amount of time to recover. Too much, too much, too fierce supplements, or overeating may be counterproductive. More haste makes waste. It is safer to follow the principle of starting from less to more and proceeding step by step.

For people who can eat normally, "Yang Kang" can follow the basic principles of the 2022 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents: try to maintain food diversity, make the table more colorful, and maintain good eating habits, such as eating three meals a day at regular times and in fixed quantities; ensure the intake of several important nutrients or foods, including but not limited to high-quality protein; make a good combination of meat and vegetables for three meals a day, and there should be vegetables at every meal and fruits every day; and maintain adequate drinking water, drink water in small amounts, multiple times, and regularly, and maintain good habits.

3. The standard for recovery from COVID-19 is to be able to hold your breath for 40 seconds

gossip:

The standard for recovery from COVID-19 is to be able to hold your breath for more than 40 seconds. If it is less than 40 seconds, it means there is a problem with the lungs.

the truth:

There are clear criteria for whether COVID-19 is cured, as listed in the ninth edition of the diagnosis and treatment plan: First, the body temperature returns to normal for more than 3 days; second, the symptoms basically disappear or significantly improve; third, if there are pneumonia symptoms, the CT scan shows that the pneumonia lesions have been significantly absorbed; fourth, the nucleic acid test is negative for two consecutive days, or the Ct value is ≥35, or the antigen is negative for 3 times. Meeting the above conditions can meet the cure standard.

Simple breath holding does not reflect the true condition of the lungs. Clinically, many patients' breath holding time or lung function tests are still normal, and some people with normal lung function cannot hold their breath for various reasons. In the 10th edition of the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment plan released on January 6, 2023, it was not mentioned that "holding your breath for more than 40 seconds is the standard for recovery from COVID-19." This rumor is likely a variant of the old rumor in early 2021 that "holding your breath for 30 seconds can test lung health."

4. Coenzyme Q10 can prevent and treat myocarditis induced by COVID-19 infection

gossip:

Coenzyme Q10 can prevent viral myocarditis and treat heart disease, so a large amount of coenzyme Q10 supplementation is needed after being infected with the new coronavirus.

the truth:

There is currently no evidence that coenzyme Q10 can prevent myocarditis induced by COVID-19 infection, and coenzyme Q10 only plays an auxiliary role in the treatment of heart diseases. Some businesses have released the so-called "coenzyme Q10 can prevent myocarditis after COVID-19 positive" propaganda, just to take advantage of the hot spot of the new coronavirus.

As a medicine, coenzyme Q10 needs to be taken under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist. As a health supplement, it is not recommended to take it in large quantities for a long time. The coenzyme Q10 in the human body is mainly synthesized by itself, and only a small amount is supplemented from food. When the human body is not deficient in coenzyme Q10, large amounts of supplementation will not bring additional benefits. Some people may benefit from supplementing coenzyme Q10 in moderation, but they need to fully evaluate their own needs and supplementation goals.

5. COVID-19 is a “small AIDS”

gossip:

Recently, a saying has begun to spread on the Internet and in WeChat Moments: "COVID-19 is not a large-scale flu, but a small-scale AIDS." Some people even confidently pointed out that "many COVID-19 drugs were originally used as anti-AIDS drugs."

the truth:

COVID-19 is not a “small AIDS.” The two are caused by different types of viruses, and their transmission routes, pathogenesis, and treatment options are also different.

First of all, the pathogenesis is different. HIV is not a coronavirus. The full name of AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Compared with other diseases, the biggest difference of HIV is that it attacks the human immune system, taking the most important CD4T lymphocytes in the human immune system as the main target of attack, destroying a large number of cells, and causing varying degrees of immune deficiency in the human body. Untreated infected people are prone to various serious infections and malignant tumors in the late stage of the disease. The full name of the new coronavirus is "new coronavirus". When the Omicron strain invades the human body, the first thing to be invaded is the respiratory system, that is, the upper respiratory tract, usually with symptoms such as dry cough, sputum, and sore throat. But it does not destroy the human immune system like HIV, causing immune deficiency. After the new coronavirus is cured, it will not make it more susceptible to other diseases, and the new coronavirus can be cured.

Secondly, the transmission routes are different. There are three routes of infection for AIDS: sexual transmission, mother-to-child transmission, and blood transmission. The new coronavirus is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and can be transmitted through the air and objects as a medium.

Thirdly, the treatment plans are different. The most important point about AIDS is that it is currently incurable. The current drug treatment is mainly to control the AIDS virus and avoid complications. The new coronavirus can be completely cured. For people with normal immune function and no underlying diseases, they can recover after taking some symptom-relieving drugs (antipyretics, cold medicines, cough medicines) to relieve their discomfort, or taking new coronavirus drugs.

Although the new coronavirus is different from the HIV virus, they both use RNA as their genetic material and belong to the same RNA virus family. Therefore, some drug targets for treating HIV are the same as those for treating the new coronavirus. They can be used to treat the new coronavirus as well as other similar viral infections.

It is obvious that calling COVID-19 a "big flu" or a "small AIDS" is inappropriate. COVID-19 is COVID-19. Calling it a "big flu" may underestimate its impact, while calling it a "small AIDS" may cause unnecessary fear. We need to understand COVID-19 more rationally and objectively, rather than covering it with a coat that is easy to be misunderstood.

6. Chinese scientists determine the age of the moon to be 2.03 billion years

gossip:

Chinese scientists analyzed and studied the lunar samples brought back by Chang'e 5, and ultimately accurately determined the age of the moon to be 2.03 billion years.

the truth:

The scientific community generally believes that the actual age of the moon is more than 4 billion years and close to 4.5 billion years. The statement that "the moon is 2.03 billion years old" is a misunderstanding of recent lunar soil research results.

First of all, the age of lunar soil is not the same as the age of the moon. This study precisely measured the lunar basalt in the lunar soil. Lunar basalt is a rock formed by the magma formed by the partial melting of the lunar mantle and the cooling and crystallization of the volcanic eruption on the lunar surface. It cannot represent the true age of the moon. Chinese researchers accurately measured the age of the lunar soil sample to be "2.03 billion years", which represents the youngest lunar volcanic activity time discovered so far, but it is not the age of the moon since its birth.

7. The new National VI B gasoline will make existing cars "unsuitable"

gossip:

National VI B (or National VIB) standard automotive gasoline will be launched nationwide soon, but existing cars will not be able to adapt to the new gasoline.

the truth:

There is no need to worry about oil upgrades causing damage to your car. Compared with National VI A, the main difference between National VI B gasoline is that it lowers the upper limit of olefin content, making it cleaner and more environmentally friendly. The short-term mixing of the new National VI B gasoline and the previous National VI A gasoline will not affect the use of the car. Not only that, since olefins are thermally unstable, it is easy to increase carbon deposits in the engine. Long-term use of National VI B gasoline can also reduce carbon deposits and colloid deposition in the engine, reduce engine failure rates, extend engine service life, and reduce vehicle maintenance costs.

The core purpose of oil product upgrading is to control air pollution. In recent years, the number of cars in my country has continued to rise, and automobile exhaust emissions have increasingly polluted the atmosphere. Data show that motor vehicle emissions affect PM_2.5 fine particles by 20% to 30%, which is an important cause of haze and photochemical smog. Oil quality is an important factor affecting automobile exhaust emissions. Oil product upgrading is to prevent and control environmental pollution from the source and protect the health of the general public. The National VI gasoline and diesel standard is one of the most stringent emission standards in the world, and some indicators exceed the EU standard. The comprehensive use of this standard gasoline can further reduce pollutant emissions and help accelerate the improvement of ambient air quality.

8. Setting off fireworks can disinfect

gossip:

Firecrackers contain sulfur, which is sprayed out when they are set off, which is equivalent to disinfecting the air.

the truth:

Trying to disinfect by setting off fireworks will only cause more harm than "not disinfecting" and the cost will not outweigh the gain.

There are two main ingredients of firecrackers: one is black powder (charcoal, sulfur and nitrates), and the other is silver powder, which is to replace the charcoal in black powder with aluminum powder. Metal salts that can produce flame color reactions are also added to fireworks. When fireworks are set off, a large amount of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and (or) metal oxides will be produced. The sulfur dioxide will react with water vapor to produce acidic sulfurous acid, which can be further oxidized to sulfuric acid; nitrogen oxides can also react with water vapor to produce nitrous acid or nitric acid. These acidic compounds are highly corrosive. However, the scientific community currently lacks corresponding research on the anti-virus effect of sulfur dioxide in aerosols - it is unclear under what conditions and at what concentration to achieve the effect of effectively eliminating viruses.

But it is certain that the human body will be significantly harmed in an environment containing high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide and the sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid produced by it are highly corrosive, especially to mucous membranes such as the eyes and respiratory tract. High concentrations of sulfur dioxide can even cause pulmonary edema.

9. Use air formaldehyde detector to detect excessive formaldehyde in bananas

gossip:

Cut the banana into pieces, and then test it with a card marked "Air Formaldehyde Rapid Tester Colorimetric Scale". The changing color means that the "banana formaldehyde content exceeds the standard."

the truth:

The formaldehyde detection kit is mainly composed of four parts: color developer, absorbent, absorption box, and colorimetric card. This type of product mainly uses the "phenol reagent colorimetric method" to measure the concentration of formaldehyde in the air, that is, using the property of formaldehyde being easily soluble in water, using the absorbent (phenol reagent) to absorb the formaldehyde in the air, adding the color developer, and judging the concentration of formaldehyde in the space based on the color after the chemical reaction and referring to the colorimetric card. However, this type of product is specifically used to detect the formaldehyde concentration in specific spaces such as indoors and furniture. Using it to detect the "formaldehyde content" in fruits and vegetables is the wrong measurement tool and method, and the conclusion drawn is obviously unscientific.

It is illegal to add formaldehyde to food in any way. However, formaldehyde is widely present in organisms as an intermediate of growth metabolism. Edible fungi, vegetables, fruits, meat products, dairy products, aquatic products and even the human body can produce formaldehyde. Some agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables will naturally metabolize and produce trace amounts of formaldehyde during the production process, but this is not caused by artificial addition or environmental pollution and is not harmful to the human body.

(Image source: Visual China, this issue's content sources: People's Daily Online, China Youth Daily, Science Popularization China, Healthy China, Science Refutation Platform, Economic Daily, Health Times, The Paper, Tianmu News, Tencent Jiuzhen, "Internet Joint Rumor Refutation Platform" WeChat official account)

Produced by: Science Central Kitchen

Produced by: Beijing Science and Technology News | Beijing Science and Technology Media

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