FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

MYTHS: ANTIPERSPIRANTS CAUSE CANCER, STRESS PRODUCES ULCERS

For this week's column, I'm doing something a bit different. I often get letters with questions or comments that are interesting but the answers to which are too short to fill a column. This week I will address several of these short-answer questions that involve medical misconceptions or myths. I think the most important characteristic that has allowed "modern medicine" to become significantly more effective than that practiced just a century or two ago is the use of very careful observation -- in other words, the scientific method. We no longer bleed people to remove unbalanced humors or burn incense to chase away the bad smells that cause disease because these practices have been proven to be ineffective.

Question: Does using an antiperspirant really increase my risk of breast cancer?

There is no link between the use of antiperspirant or deodorant products and the subsequent development of breast cancer. It would be wonderful if the cause of this dreaded disease was that simple. If it were, there would be an increase in breast cancer in both men and women, and this hasn't happened. Use your deodorant or antiperspirant. Your friends will thank you for it.

Question: I used to hear that stress was the cause of ulcers. Is this still true?

Ulcers are open sores on the skin or on the lining of the digestive tract. Those in the first section of the small intestines (duodenum) -- often referred to by patients as "stomach ulcers" -- are NOT caused by stress. Most ulcers of this type are caused by a bacterial infection. Individuals who are under a great deal of emotional stress and who have ulcers are more likely to seek medical care for their malady than those who are experiencing less stress. This "self selection" by patients led many doctors to believe that there was a cause-effect relationship between ulcers and stress. As is human nature, we doctors were not particularly quick to abandon this pet theory and did so only when overwhelming scientific research revealed the real bacterial cause of most ulcers.

Question: Is it true that herbal medicines don't have side effects because they are all natural?

ANY medicine can have side effects. The term "natural," as it is used by advertisers today, gives a feeling of safety and purity. These statements are carefully crafted to create the impression that "natural is always better," thus encouraging the purchase of their products. I'd suggest that you remember that any advertiser has the objective of separating you and me from our hard-earned money. Consider yourself forewarned -- the use of herbal products may have undesirable side effects and cross-reactions with other drugs, and in rare circumstances, these can be serious and even lethal. If you want to use an herbal product, it would be a good idea to talk to your family doctor first.

Question: Is eating high cholesterol foods like meat and eggs the cause of high cholesterol?

Most cholesterol found in the blood is manufactured in the liver rather than originated from the cholesterol content of the food we eat. This overproduction by the body is a result of a genetic trait that turns fat into cholesterol at levels above ideal. This is why foods that are high in fat, particularly saturated fats, can increase blood cholesterol levels in those who have this genetic predisposition. Red meats and dairy products are common dietary sources of these fats.

I suggest that you be an informed health-care consumer. Listen to what your doctor, your neighbor, and the snake oil vendor have to say, but don't "buy" the story unless there is compelling scientific information to support it. Your health and your money are at stake.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701.