There is no evidence that any kind of shock, including being awakened from a sound sleep, can cause diabetes. “We have enough understanding of the means by which both type 1 and type 2 diabetes develop to know that a single episode of stress or fright cannot cause diabetes,” says Dr. Stephen Elbein, a professor […]
Medical Myths
Can Sitting in Hot Water Have an Effect on a Man’s Ability to Reproduce?
You might want to rethink buying that hot tub if you’re planning to have children in the near future. According to Dr. Graham Greene, an associate professor in the UAMS Department of Urology, elevated water temperature can effect spermatogenesis, or the process of sperm formation. “I advise any male interested in fathering a child to […]
Can Standing Up Straight for a Long Period Cause Fainting?
People faint for a variety of reasons. Standing, particularly when associated with heat or emotional stress, can cause blood to pool in the lower extremities. “If dehydration is present the situation is worsened,” explains Dr. Richard Nicholas, one of our orthopedic surgeons at UAMS. “The low rate of blood return to the heart in these […]
Should Pregnant Women Avoid Cats Because Cat Feces Can Cause Birth Defects?
There is some level of truth to this myth, although the chances of it occurring are slim. Toxoplasmosis is an infection that can be bad for a pregnancy if the fetus gets infected. The organism is carried in the feces of cats and other similar animals. Therefore, cats that are out in the wild, who […]
Can Drinking a Lot of Hot, Black Coffee Help You Sober Up After Drinking a Lot of Alcohol?
This question has been discussed by everyone from college students to respected scientists, probably for generations. Like many medical myths there is some “truth” to this notion. However, UAMS’ Department of Emergency Medicine says it’s important to know that coffee cannot reverse the effects of alcohol. Coffee cannot ‘sober you up.’ It does not get […]